Kid Rock Defends Military Flights as Morale Boost, Dismisses Criticism

Musician Kid Rock pushed back against criticism of his recent flights with the U.S. military, stating his efforts aim to lift troop morale rather than seek personal benefits.

Robert Ritchie, who performs as Kid Rock, appeared on the "Will Cain Country" podcast to address the uproar over those flights and explain how his support for service members began decades ago.

"It really started with the bombing of the USS Cole," Rock said. "They were playing my music when that ship got towed out of the harbor and 17 sailors lost their lives. So, we ended up playing a show in Virginia and giving all that money to those families."

Al Qaeda suicide bombers attacked the USS Cole in 2000. Rock said encounters with the sailors shifted his patriotism into direct action to aid the military.

"That really started just a whole 'nother level of not just patriotism, but really doing my part to try and help out and go wherever the military called," he said.

Rock called his troop support some of the toughest work he has done, but also the most rewarding.

Last month, he drew fire after flying in a helicopter with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth near Washington, D.C. That ride followed a U.S. Army probe into an unscheduled flyover at Rock's Nashville home in March.

Some media and social media users questioned if taxpayer money funded celebrity jaunts. Rock brushed it off as "just noise," pointing to more than 20 years of base visits and military aircraft rides.

"You do stuff for the military, and they want to showcase to you what they do. So, whether they're showing you their technology or letting you shoot a gun or participate in something, you know, that's kind of what you do," he said. "I don't need to sit here and prove what I've done."

Rock said the Hegseth trip focused on filming for Memorial Day and the America 250 celebration. He announced his "Freedom 250" tour will offer 250 free tickets per show to veterans and their families.