Country Stars’ Real Names: Kid Rock

Real Name: Robert James Ritchie

Shockingly, Kid Rock is not the name the rapper/ rocker/sometimes country artist was born with. The Romeo, Mich. native star came into the world as Robert James Ritchie, but those close to him refer to him as Bob. One story tells that Kid Rock got his nickname while deejaying parties in suburban Detroit. People liked watching "that white kid rock" -- and a career was born. Ritchie actually regrets the stage name now, though. "I'll be an eighty-year-old man -- 'call me the Kid.'" he told Esquire.