Music legend Kid Rock endorsed State Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s newly redrawn 9th Congressional District.
Taylor announced the endorsement Friday on X, sharing a short video. In the clip, Kid Rock says: “Hey Tennessee, I’m Kid Rock, and like President Trump, I’m endorsing Brent Taylor for Congress. Get out and vote.”
KID ROCK ENDORSES BRENT TAYLOR FOR CONGRESS!
Like President Trump, country music legend Kid Rock knows TN-09 needs an America First fighter in Congress. I'm honored to have his complete and total endorsement.
Early voting ends tomorrow, and the Republican Primary is Thursday,… pic.twitter.com/Sklsikdn7e
— Brent Taylor (@BrentTaylorTN) July 31, 2026
“Like President Trump, country music legend Kid Rock knows TN-09 needs an America First fighter in Congress. I’m honored to have his complete and total endorsement,” Taylor wrote in the accompanying post. He noted that early voting ends Friday and the Republican primary is Thursday, August 6, urging supporters to “Join Kid Rock and vote for Brent Taylor to Take Tennessee to the Top!”
The celebrity endorsement adds to a growing list of high-profile support for Taylor. President Donald Trump formally backed the state senator in mid-July, calling him a “Highly Respected State Senator” and “successful businessman” in a Truth Social post. Trump highlighted Taylor’s backing from Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty and issued his “Complete and Total Endorsement,” praising Taylor’s commitment to growing the economy, securing the border, supporting law enforcement, and protecting the Second Amendment.
Taylor has also received endorsements from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Speaker Mike Johnson, several members of Tennessee’s U.S. House delegation, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, and numerous state legislators, district attorneys, and local officials.
A successful small business owner who built a funeral services company starting with a $60,000 home equity loan in the mid-1990’s, Taylor previously served on the Memphis City Council, Shelby County Commission, and as chairman of the county election commission before winning election to the state Senate.
Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District was redrawn in a special legislative session in early May 2026. Following a late April U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited the use of race in drawing districts under the Voting Rights Act, Republican lawmakers, with encouragement from President Trump and other party leaders, approved a new map that split the previous Memphis-centered, majority-Black Democratic stronghold.
Portions of the old district were distributed among three districts, transforming the new 9th into a Republican-leaning seat that stretches from parts of the Memphis area eastward along the state’s southern border. The changes eliminated the state’s only remaining Democratic-held House seat and positioned all nine of Tennessee’s congressional districts as favorable to Republicans. Taylor announced his candidacy shortly after the map’s passage.
Early voting ends Friday, and primary election day is set for August 6.
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Christina Botteri is the Executive Editor of The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow her on X at @christinakb.
