Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer shows love to Eminem

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer joins The Track Star Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation that travels from Motown roots to the sound of modern Detroit, using music as a lens to explore the state she represents.

Reflecting on icons like Madonna, Aretha Franklin, and Eminem, Whitmer speaks on her upbringing in Michigan, the state’s rich musical legacy, and how Detroit grew into a global hub for sound—from the Motown assembly line to rock and hip-hop.

The discussion also expands into a deeper perspective on leadership: how listening can be more powerful than speaking, why asking the right questions matters, and how the often-overlooked systems of everyday life—roads, water, and schools—ultimately determine whether people have the freedom and opportunity to create.

“I love Eminem. I love his music. He’s such a great ambassador for the city of Detroit. I think he crosses so many different interesting intersections. Everyone at the Lions game, we always look for Eminem. He has produced so many great things. Of course he’s very talented performer but he also produces some incredible things in the city of Detroit. We just redid the big train station downtown Detroit and Eminem produced all of the talent around the big unveiling and it was just incredible show and he performed as well.” said Gretchen Whitmer.

Then she continued: “8 Mile is his movie and his story is really growing up in the city where there’d been a lot of disinvestment frankly. And I think it was 2009 and TIME magazine did this horrible article, ‘The Tragedy Of Detroit.’ And then in 2022, it was listed as one of the best cities in the world, Detroit, Michigan. We’ve come a long way and Eminem’s 8 Mile is kind of about that hard times but now he’s got a big hand in a lot of the great things that are happening in the city. It’s really an interesting story to tell through his experience.”

When the interviewer asked if she’s friends with Eminem, she replied: “I’ve met him and I would love to be friends with him. Marshall, I love you. I met him and he’s very reserved. I think he’s kind of shy. Which is so interesting when you see the talent that he displays on stage and the why he interacts with people. I think a lot of folks in Michigan is proud that he’s great ambassador for us all.”

You can watch the interview below: