Kid Rock Says He Used AI on Upcoming Album 'Halfway 2 Jesus' as He Defends It as 'Another Tool'

Kid Rock has defended his use of artificial intelligence on his upcoming album Halfway 2 Jesus, due out on Saturday, 17 October.

He told Billboard that Suno created choir and orchestral passages, while he recorded most of the album with Nashville musicians and members of Twisted Brown Trucker at his Dixie Ridge Studio.

His move towards Christian music predates the album. A cover of Cody Johnson's 2021 song 'Til You Can't', featuring a new verse about devoting one's life to Jesus, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart. Whiskey Riff reported more than 3.7 million streams and 51,000 units sold.

Kid Rock Explains Why He Turned To AI

Rock described Suno as a way to realise particular sounds without relying on the software to compose his material. The distinction matters because he presented the technology as part of the recording process rather than as a replacement for the musicians working on the album.

'I really do view it as another tool...like how I would love to use different samples. It lets me get what I hear in my head to my audience... without (AI) writing the song. I agree it can be a huge problem down the line. I think it's to be determined.'

He illustrated that argument with a construction analogy, comparing traditional methods with a nail gun. 'Until then... you can build a house with pound of nails and a rock, or you can get a nail gun. So it's another tool.'

Kid Rock Faces Questions Beyond the Studio

Artificial intelligence isn't the only reason Halfway 2 Jesus is attracting attention. Its guest list includes Eminem, Lil Wayne, Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts and Jimmie Allen, with criticism directed at some collaborations before the release.

Rock previously addressed objections to Allen's involvement and to Eminem appearing on the album. In a video posted earlier this week, he explained that Lil Wayne had replaced Eminem on the track '7 Sins', but that Eminem would instead feature on another song, 'Heal My Faith'.

He defended the decision to work with people holding different views. 'I just want to reiterate that thinking differently and having the freedom to do so is what makes this country great.' He also stressed that the wider group of musicians, writers and engineers did not share identical opinions.

Kid Rock's AI Stance Draws Scrutiny Over Music Revenue

The use of Suno has prompted separate objections in Whiskey Riff, whose commentary argues that AI music can divert attention and revenue from human performers. Those concerns extend beyond Rock's particular use of generated backing parts to the wider question of how such services develop and monetise music.

The report cited a Kapwing study estimating that AI music acts Breaking Rust and Cain Walker had earned almost $750,000 from Spotify and YouTube listening activity. Those estimates do not establish that the same money was diverted from any particular human musician.

The commentary also referenced Luke Bryan's description of songwriters employing AI-generated versions of his voice when preparing demos to pitch to him. That example concerns a different application of the technology from the choir and orchestral sounds Rock described.

The album is scheduled for release on 17 October, but the interview excerpts don't identify which tracks feature the Suno-created arrangements or how extensively they appear.