Kid Rock has gone full gospel. The Detroit-born rocker has announced a new Christian music album titled Halfway to Jesus, and he’s enlisted Eminem, Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, and Jimmie Allen to help him get there. The 17-track record drops October 17th, and the lead single, “James 1:17 (Jesus Is King),” is already out.
The album artwork shows Kid Rock literally halfway to Jesus, with the devil at his back. It’s a bold visual statement from an artist whose career has never been known for subtlety. The tracklist runs from “Freedom” through “God Bless the USA,” and it includes a guest spot from Eminem on “7 Sins.”
The Guests on the Album
Eminem appears on “7 Sins,” a track that finds the Detroit rapper collaborating with his longtime friend. Gary LeVox and Jimmie Allen join forces on “Halfway 2 Jesus.” LeVox is the lead singer of Rascal Flatts. Allen is a rising pop-country star whose crossover hits have earned him a substantial following.
The combination of rock, rap, and country voices across the record suggests Kid Rock is serious about making this a genre-blurring project. He’s not just doing a straight rock album with religious lyrics — he’s pulling in artists from different corners of the music industry.
What Kid Rock Said About Faith
In August, Kid Rock spoke to Fox & Friends about the project. His admission that church music bored him as a kid is the kind of honesty that makes the album feel less like a publicity stunt and more like a genuine creative shift.
“I was always like, ‘I have to confess this is boring. This music is terrible,’ and I’d go to Baptist churches and non-denominational just looking for the music that I wanted to hear, and there’s some good stuff, but it was always a little bit of this dark place,” he said.
“So I decided to write the songs that I kind of wanted to celebrate Jesus and my faith with, which are rock ‘n’ roll, country, hip-hop.”
The Tracklist Breakdown
The album opens with “Freedom,” a title that sets the tone for the record’s themes. “James 1:17 (Jesus Is King)” follows, and the track is described as sounding a helluva lot like Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler.” It’s unclear if the similarity is intentional, but the comparison is notable given the song’s 1978 origins.
The middle stretch of the record includes “Why Don’t You Look into Jesus,” “Water into Wine,” and “I Don’t Drink the Whiskey Anymore.” These tracks sit between the Eminem collaboration and the LeVox/Allen duet.
The second half of the record closes with “God Bless the USA,” which is presumably a cover of the Lee Greenwood anthem. The final track positions the album as a patriotic celebration, even as the title suggests a spiritual journey.
The Video Premiere
A music video for “James 1:17 (Jesus Is King)” will premiere at 7 p.m. ET today. The video gives fans their first visual look at the project.
How the Album Fits His Career
Kid Rock has spent decades zigzagging between rock, country, and hip-hop. The album’s title, Halfway to Jesus, is a simple statement of intent — he’s heading toward faith, and he’s bringing collaborators along for the ride.
The decision to make a Christian album is a logical extension of that restless creativity. He’s putting his faith front and center, and he’s doing it with some of the biggest names in the business.
The Singles So Far
“James 1:17 (Jesus Is King)” is the lead single, and it’s the track that has been circulating since the announcement. The Kenny Rogers comparison is a strange one, but it’s the kind of unexpected reference that makes Kid Rock’s work memorable.
The album also includes “7 Sins” with Eminem and “Halfway 2 Jesus” with LeVox and Allen. Both are collaborations that bring different strengths to the project. Eminem brings the rap edge, while LeVox and Allen bring the country warmth.
Release Schedule
| Event | Date / Time |
|---|---|
| Album announced | Now |
| Single released | Lead single out now |
| Video premiere | 7 p.m. ET today |
| Album release | October 17th |
The schedule is tight. The album is out in less than two months, and the single is already doing its job of building buzz.
Our View of the Project
This is a bold move from Kid Rock. He’s not hiding behind irony or distance — he’s putting his faith front and center, and he’s doing it with some of the biggest names in the business.
The album’s blend of rock, rap, and country is a natural fit for an artist who has always refused to stay in one lane. And the fact that he’s willing to admit he found church music boring speaks to a sincerity that’s rare in this genre.
Whether the album succeeds depends on execution. Kid Rock has the talent and the ambition — now the record has to prove it.
The record is a gamble. But then, Kid Rock has always been one for those.
Key Facts Box
– Album: Halfway to Jesus
– Guests: Eminem (“7 Sins”), Gary LeVox & Jimmie Allen (“Halfway 2 Jesus”)
– Lead single: “James 1:17 (Jesus Is King)”
– Release date: October 17th
– Track count: 17
– Video premiere: 7 p.m. ET today
See the video the story is built around at Consequence.
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