Kid Rock shares 'Rock Steady' memory of Aretha Franklin

Kid Rock is sharing his memories of Aretha Franklin including the time she barred him from cursing on stage. 

In an emailed statement to the News, Rock spoke glowingly of the time he performed with the Queen of Soul and her son, Teddy, during a "Divas Live" tribute to Franklin at New York City's Radio City Music Hall in 2001. 

"I will forever cherish my time spent with Aretha," Rock said. "Her grace, dignity and SOUL was a force this world will never forget!

"My favorite memory will always be performing with her and her son Teddy at Radio City Music Hall. The producer that day came up to me before rehearsals and said Aretha told him, 'I like Kid Rock but I am not gonna be up on this stage with him if he is gonna use those curse words, I am a woman of the church!!' Of course I know she was, I did not, and I thought it was a wonderful performance of my favorite song by her “Rock Steady” - and it always brings a smile to my face when I think about it.

"God bless you Aretha, condolences to Teddy, the rest of your family and all your fans all over the world." 

During the performance, Franklin shouts out Kid Rock. "I know who that is. I've seen him before. It's Kid Rock!" she says. "I know who it is. He's from Detroit! It's Kid Rock!"

agraham@detroitnews.com

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