Kid Rock has come a long way since Devil Without a Cause.
Twenty-eight years after the rebellious album made him a national star, the Detroit musician is releasing a faith-based record centered on Jesus Christ—and reuniting with Eminem for one of its most closely watched songs.
Kid Rock released “James 1:17 (Jesus Is King)” on Thursday ahead of Halfway to Jesus, a 17-track album scheduled to arrive Oct. 17. Eminem appears on “7 Sins,” reconnecting two artists who first recorded together during Kid Rock’s breakthrough era.
The new single reveals a dramatically different message from the hard-partying persona that defined Kid Rock’s early career. The song addresses his past, his sins and the realization that fame and fortune could not provide what he found through faith.
“When I got right with Jesus Christ,” Kid Rock sings in a portion of the song quoted by Parade. He continues by describing the discovery of something money cannot buy. The title points to James 1:17, which identifies God as the source of every good and perfect gift.
Kid Rock said the album grew out of his desire to hear Christian music performed in the rock, country and hip-hop styles he enjoyed.
He decided to “write the songs that I kind of wanted to celebrate Jesus and my faith with,” Kid Rock told “Fox & Friends” in August, according to Blabbermouth.
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Other songs on the album include “Water Into Wine,” “Me and Jesus,” “God Is Good” and “Why Don’t You Look Into Jesus.” Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts and country singer Jimmie Allen join Kid Rock on the title track.
Yet it is Eminem’s appearance that has generated the greatest surprise.
Eminem contributed to Devil Without a Cause in 1998, years before the two Detroit musicians became known for standing on opposite sides of the political divide. Kid Rock is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, while Eminem has repeatedly criticized Trump.
Some fans initially questioned whether the reunion was genuine. Complex reported that a representative from Eminem’s camp confirmed that “7 Sins” is an official collaboration that will appear on the album.
Kid Rock said their political disagreements have not destroyed their friendship.
“We differ politically and on other things, but we’ve stayed friends through it all,” he wrote in the album’s foreword, according to Complex.
“We hope that sets an example,” he added.
The album’s first music video also carries a personal meaning. Blabbermouth reported that the “James 1:17” video was filmed at Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk in Nashville and dedicated to longtime keyboard player Jimmie Bones, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2024.
It was also dedicated to Kalvin Lynch, a fan with an inoperable brain tumor whose Make-A-Wish request was to play drums with Kid Rock.
Nearly three decades ago, Kid Rock and Eminem joined forces on an album called Devil Without a Cause. Now they are together again on a record filled with songs about sin, God and Jesus Christ.
For an artist who built his career on rebellion, Halfway to Jesus represents more than a new sound. It marks a striking new message.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
