DETROIT, July 26 -- The mother of Kid Rock's 7-year-old son is suing the platinum-selling rapper accusing him of defaming her in a 1998 song, "Black Chic, White Guy," allegedly inspired by the couple's stormy relationship.
Kelly Russell, also known as Kelly South, filed the suit in November charging Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, invaded her privacy, defamed her and intentionally inflicted emotional distress. The case gets under way Thursday when lawyers exchange witness lists.
Russell, a former girlfriend who attended high school with Ritchie, also is suing Atlantic Records, and Spin and Rolling Stone magazines.
The suit claimed magazine stories contained "harmful, false and misleading information about" Russell. One lyric in Kid Rock's song referred to an abortion Russell had while in high school. However, lawyers for Kid Rock, the record company and both magazines said they disclosed information available from public record.
Lyrics in "Black Chic, White Guy," which appears on the album "Devil Without a Cause," said "the slut" began dating in the eighth grade, had three children by different men, was beaten by her drug-dealing boyfriend and "had no man, no money and no clue."
On Monday, a Michigan judge ordered the couple to work out custody and summer visitation rights for their son. Kid Rock has had custody of the boy since 1995 but Russell contends his touring schedule harms the child.
Kid Rock's attorney, Orin Snyder, told the Detroit Free Press song lyrics are a matter of free speech and predicted the suit would be thrown out of court.
"For centuries, artists have been telling their life stories in song, poetry and literature," he said. "The law honors and protects this right and does not permit plaintiffs to censor artistic expression by filing lawsuits."
Kid Rock's new album "The History of Rock," has sold more than 1.3 million copies since June.
