Most people probably aren’t even aware that Kid Rock is a father, let alone a grandfather! But the musician became a granddad at the age of 43, which he joked helped to keep his “redneck street cred in good standing.” Although he feels blessed to have his granddaughter, fans are probably wondering who his son is?!
That would be Robert James, Kid Rock’s only child, and the product of a relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Kelley South Russell. He was raised by a dad who was trying to make it as a rockstar, and although there are a few similarities between these two men, for starters, they’re both musical, there also plenty of differences! Robert James has skipped the partying gene, and he appears to have had more success in his romantic relationships, but below are a few other facts you should know about him!
18 Kid Rock Became A Grandpa Pretty Darn Early...
Kid Rock became a grandfather at the age of 43. This is pretty young for most people to become grandparents, but his son fathered a daughter when he was in his early twenties.
Kid Rock has joked with Rolling Stone that becoming a granddad so early has kept his “redneck street cred in good standing.”
17 ...And That’s Because His Son, Robert James Ritchie Jr., Became A Dad In His Early Twenties
So, you may be wondering who exactly is Kid Rock’s son? His name is Robert James Ritchie Jr., and he is the musician’s only child.
Robert James and his girlfriend welcomed a daughter, Skye, when he was in his early twenties, Country Rebel reports. Us Weekly also reported the news in 2014, when Robert James’ girlfriend was pregnant with their daughter.
16 Robert Is The Son Of Kid Rock And Kelley South Russell, And It Must Have Been Bad If The Rocker Won The Custody Battle
Kid Rock’s son was the product of his relationship with ex-girlfriend Kelley South Russell, and according to Us Weekly, he was born in 1993. Robert James’ parents were involved in a custody battle over him in 2000, and it was a battle that Kid Rock won, with the courts ordering Russell to pay $25 per week in child support.
15 Kid Rock Raised His Son While Trying To Make It As A Rock Star (And He Had No Clue How To Do It)
Kid Rock won custody of his son, and according to Us Weekly, he raised him “mostly on his own.” This must have been tough for Rock, who was trying to make it as a musician at the time.
“He was dropped on my doorstep at six months when I had no money and was trying to be a rockstar,” he told The Guardian, adding, “I didn’t have a clue.”
14 Like His Dad, Robert James Also Loves Music And Is An Aspiring Singer
An obvious similarity between Kid Rock and his son is that they are both musical. Kid Rock needs no introduction, but Robert James’ profession is just starting, and according to his social media page, he is very “melodic," and his vocal influences are diverse, ranging from Bruno Mars to Jackie Wilson.
13 There's Not Much Competition Between These Two (At Least With Regards To Their Music)
It seems that Robert James and his dad have different styles, and there does not appear to be any competition between them. In fact, Kid Rock has openly supported his son’s decision to pursue a career in the music industry. When Robert James released his first single, Kid Rock took to social media (via Detroit News) to inform fans of the news, adding that he was “very proud” of him.
12 Robert Is A College Graduate, And Kid Rock’s Comments About Him Make It Seem Like He Is On The Right Track!
When Kid Rock discussed becoming a grandfather with Rolling Stone, he also suggested that people should not be concerned about his son, because he’s on the right track!
“Listen, my son graduated college and he has a job,” he said. He then went on to state that this was a “relief” because he couldn’t imagine what he put his own parents through.
11 When It Comes To Priorities, Family Is One Of The Most Important Things In His Life
There is not that much information about Robert James that has been made public, but what we do know about him is that his family is one of his main priorities. His social media gives us a glimpse into his life, and he often posts sweet messages about his loved ones.
10 Let's Just Say He's Had More Sucess In The Women Department Than His Dad!
Speaking of Robert James’ loved ones, they include his fiancé, Marisa, who he has praised on social media for being “the absolute best mother to our daughter Skye.” He also commented on how she had been a stay-at-home mom for several years but had recently made the decision to go back to school, and clearly, he couldn’t be more proud.
9 Kid Rock Feels ‘Blessed’ To Be A Grandpa, But His Son Is His Biggest Inspiration
When you see photos of Kid Rock and his granddaughter, you see a different side to him from his professional persona. He has stated on social media that he is “blessed” to spend time with his grandchild, but he has also previously mentioned in an interview with The Independent, that his son is his “greatest inspiration.”
8 Robert Has Acknowledged That He Has A Celebrity For A Parent, But That Doesn’t Define Who He Is
Being Kid rock’s son may be a tough act to follow!
Kid Rock has admitted in an interview with The Independent that having a child gave “balance” to his life, which is something he was “seriously in need of.” For Robert James’ part, he has also discussed having a celebrity for a parent, writing on social media that despite this, he is still his “own person.”
7 Kid Rock Could Have Set A Better Example For His Son, But He Turned Out Well
Kid Rock has done the best job he could with his son, but he also told The Guardian, “I could have set a better example for my son” — he was referring to the constant stream of women in his life.
But Robert James has turned out well, and he appears to be an all-round nice guy.
6 It Would Seem That, Like Many Of Us, He Is A ‘Star Wars’ Fan
If a picture speaks a thousand words, then what exactly does this picture say about Robert James? Well, it would seem he is a fan of the Star Wars film franchise (why else would he post a photo in front of a poster). Of course, we approve of his film choice!
5 Also, Unlike Kid Rock, Robert James Is Not A Party Animal
Kid Rock has been known to love a good party, but his son does not share that love. The musician told The Guardian that “the partying gene skips a generation,” and explained that although he has been “really wild,” his son is the complete opposite. Actually, if he does go out, it’s not long before he is ready to go home.
4 Robert (And His Adorable Daughter) Are Fans Of The Detroit Lions Football Team
Kid Rock loves his granddaughter, and Robert James has a whole lot of love for his child, too. He often posts photos of himself and Skye, including this one of them enjoying the football season together. They also have a favorite team, which is none other than their home team, the Detroit Lions.
3 He Doesn’t Drink Coffee (Which Is Interesting Because We Can’t Function Without It)
Sometimes, we want to hit snooze on our alarms five times in the morning, and then when we do eventually crawl out of bed, we need at least two cups of coffee to function! But you won’t find Robert James doing this, because he’s not a fan of coffee. He told fans on social media that if ever you see him with a coffee cup, “it’s usually tea w/honey or hot chocolate” because he doesn’t drink our favorite caffeinated beverage.
2 Kid Rock Is Reported To Have Divorced Pamela Anderson Because She Disrespected His Family, In Front Of His Son
If you think back to 2006, you may remember one of the biggest celebrity weddings of that year: Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson got hitched! Their relationship didn’t last long though, and according to Us Weekly, that could have something to do with Anderson’s actions.
Here’s what the publication had to say on the matter: “Anderson reportedly criticized his [Kid Rock’s] mother and sister in front of Bobby Ritchie Jr.” and that is why he is reported to have filed for divorce after just five months.
1 He's The Son Of A Rock Star, But Surprisingly Normal!
Imagine growing up with a rockstar as a father? There are some obvious pros to this situation when you consider the wealth and influence, but also some cons because a rockstars life is usually quite different from the average persons. But Robert James appears to be unaffected by his father’s fame and appears to be a very normal, positive person.
Sources: Rolling Stone, Us Weekly, Country Rebel, The Guardian, Robert James Facebook, Detroit News, The Independent.
