Shannon Curfman has never talked about her famous boss in the media—not once in 15 years. But now, after much hesitation, the outspoken singer and guitarist from the Twin Cities finally got permission to speak about the man she calls “Boss” at work and “Bob” outside of it.
The world knows him as Kid Rock—the party-loving, beer-drinking, outspoken musician who supports Donald Trump and has been one of the most controversial stars of the past 30 years.
Curfman has mixed feelings about Kid Rock, whose real name is Bob Ritchie. This was clear from what she wore during a lunch interview in Minneapolis—a Taylor Swift Eras Tour sweatshirt and a gold “American Bad Ass” necklace that Kid Rock gave her years ago.
She and Kid Rock don’t see eye to eye on many things. She leans liberal, while he is strongly conservative. But she says their conversations continue, which is what matters most to her.
“He loves talking and learning. He’ll discuss politics with anyone at any time,” Curfman said. “He’s never gotten mad at me about it. I’ve gotten mad at him, though.”
Despite their differences, Curfman says Kid Rock listens, even if he doesn’t change his views.
“I try to change his mind. He’s never really tried to change mine,” she said. “He’ll explain where he’s coming from.”
Curfman understands that many families and friends go through similar disagreements, like at holiday gatherings when people argue about politics. But for her, the bond with Kid Rock goes deeper than politics.
“I’ve known Bob since I was a kid, long before politics became a big deal,” said Curfman, 39. “When you know someone for so long, it’s easier to see beyond political views. We may not agree on everything, but we care about each other.”
She saw this care firsthand during her eight-year relationship with a woman, who helped raise her now 16-year-old daughter. Ritchie not only accepted her family but protected them.
Curfman once asked him, “Do you love me as a bisexual or pansexual person, or do you just happen to know one? How can you say certain things about the LGBTQ community but still tell me you love me?”
His response surprised her: “If you want to get married, I’ll marry you guys. I’d be honored.” That only made things more confusing for Curfman.
Her then-partner sometimes faced harassment at Kid Rock concerts, which upset Curfman. Kid Rock didn’t seem aware of it.
“That’s the disconnect,” she said. “People at his level don’t always know what’s happening in their audience.”
Curfman also believes Kid Rock doesn’t fully realize how much influence he has. Some fans take his words at face value without thinking critically.
In 2020, she noticed a big change when Kid Rock became very vocal about rejecting COVID-19 rules, criticizing Dr. Anthony Fauci, and claiming the election was stolen from Donald Trump.
“There was a shift—he became so outspoken and controversial. For a while, Bob and Kid Rock seemed like two different people. Then they started feeling like the same person,” she said. “I think a lot of what he said and did during the pandemic was out of boredom.”
But Curfman admits that Kid Rock is not just a party guy—he’s also highly disciplined.
“He’s so smart, always reading and working,” she said. “Monday through Friday, he’s in bed by 9 p.m. and up by 2 or 3 a.m. He works out, hikes, plays pickleball every day, and listens to audiobooks. He’s very structured.”
When they go out, though, he can’t just have a normal night—he’s always in performance mode. Years ago, Curfman and her daughter would stay with Ritchie and his son at his home in Detroit.
“It felt like a normal family dinner—Bob, his son, me, and my daughter. But when I say it out loud, it sounds crazy. It’s like we’re talking about two different people.”
