A recent Fox News interview featuring Kid Rock has stirred up heated reactions after the musician blamed America’s low birth rates on what he called “ugly, broke, crazy, deranged” liberal women. The comment drew sharp rebukes from critics, including Dolly Parton’s sister Stella. Who fired back with her own colorful language about the rock star’s dating prospects.
But behind the inflammatory rhetoric lies a genuine demographic crisis that experts say has little to do with political affiliation or personal attractiveness.
Behind the Insults, A Real Problem
During the Fox News segment, Kid Rock laughed when asked about concert attendees with female armpit hair. Then replied that America’s low birth rate suddenly made sense to him. “Who’s going to sleep with these ugly, broke, crazy, deranged, TDS liberal women? You look at these rallies, it’s like a bunch of women that no guy wants to sleep with and a bunch of dudes that want to sleep with each other.”
When Newsweek contacted Rock for clarification, he doubled down, saying, “I meant to say super duper ugly liberal women.”
Stella Parton fired back at Kid Rock. Dolly’s sister is known for her political views and often criticizes Trump. “Liberal women don’t sleep with stinky, nasty, dirty, poor hygienic, man babies who whine and disrespect them. They marry and sleep with real men!” she posted on X, garnering over 3,000 likes.
She later added another sharp comment. “Seems that lil weasel Kid Rock will have to go F*** himself, no way he is gonna get laid the way he disrespects women!”
Seems that lil weasel Kid Rock will have to go F*** himself, no way he is gonna get laid the way he disrespects women!
— Stella Parton (@StellaParton) May 17, 2025
While Kid Rock’s explanation lacks any scientific merit, the demographic trend is real and worrying for policymakers. The U.S. fertility rate dropped to an all-time low of 1.599 children per woman in 2024, down from 1.621 in 2023, according to CDC data. The general fertility rate decreased by 3% from 2022. Now reaching a historic low and marking the second consecutive year of decline. To maintain a stable population, countries typically need a fertility rate of about 2 children per woman.
The fertility decline began during the Great Recession and has shown no signs of meaningful recovery. Over the past 17 years, there were 11.8 million fewer births than would have occurred had pre-Great Recession fertility patterns been sustained.
The Real Reasons Americans Stopped Having Babies
Leading economists Melissa Kearney and Phillip Levine found “no evidence that any particular policy, economic factor, or social trend has changed in recent years in a way that could explain the steady, widespread decline in US birth rates.” Instead, they attribute this decline to shifting priorities across recent generations of young adults.
The researchers discovered “changes in how much value people place on different life choices, generally reflecting a greater emphasis on personal fulfillment and career.” Multiple surveys showed that people now rate having an enjoyable career and close friendships as far more important than having children.
The decline appears driven more by women choosing not to have any children at all rather than stopping at fewer children the researchers noted.
Money Problems Make Everything Worse
While cultural shifts may be the primary driver, economic pressures remain part of the equation. Rising housing costs, student debt burdens, and recent inflation have made it harder for young adults to afford children. Many delay starting families until they feel financially secure, and some decide the costs are simply too high.
The expense and limited availability of childcare, uneven access to family leave, later marriage, delayed childbearing, and women focusing on their careers. Are likely contributing to the fertility decline. Nobel Prize-winning economist Claudia Goldin offers another perspective.
Her research suggests that “fertility is higher when men and women share more in household and child-care, and is lower when men do little in the home.” She argues that women need assurances that caring for their children will be a shared responsibility.
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Why Today’s Women Want Different Things
The most telling finding is that women born after the mid-1980s are having fewer children at every stage of life. This isn’t just about delaying motherhood. Today’s younger mothers have smaller families from start to finish compared to previous generations. The trend represents a permanent shift in how people view family formation.
Several factors explain this change. Women today have better access to contraception and education, giving them more control over their reproductive choices. Social expectations have shifted, too. People no longer feel pressure to follow traditional timelines for marriage and children.
Environmental concerns add weight to these decisions. Sperm counts appear to be declining, possibly due to chemical exposure in our environment. Many young adults question whether to bring children into a world facing climate change and political instability. These worries, combined with personal priorities around career and lifestyle, have reshaped how this generation approaches parenthood.
Throwing Money at the Problem Won’t Help
The Trump administration is pushing for higher birth rates, with Vice President JD Vance saying he wants “more babies in the United States.” Trump has also dubbed himself “the fertilization president,” and the White House is weighing proposals to incentivize childbirth, including a $5,000 cash bonus to mothers after delivery.
Experts doubt such policies work. Korea already tried this approach. A 2021 study of South Korea’s baby bonus program found that 74% of spending went to ‘infra-marginal births,’ births that would have happened anyway.
America’s declining birth rate appears to come from cultural, economic, and social changes that cash incentives can’t fix. While Kid Rock and Stella Parton trade barbs about romantic desirability, the real drivers remain how society structures work, family, and fulfillment. Better policies require understanding these factors rather than blaming.
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