Jon Bon Jovi Gave Chris Christie Permission to Use His Music in Presidential Bid Announcement

A day after Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea hosted a fundraiser for Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, the New Jersey native’s music was used to introduce the candidacy of Republican Chris Christie.

Tuesday morning (June 30), Christie played a handful of Bon Jovi tracks when he announced his 2016 presidential candidacy during a rally at his old high school in Livingston, N.J. NJ.com reports that "Because We Can" and "It's My Life" were played before his speech, "We Weren't Born to Follow" played as he left the stage, and "Who Says You Can't Go Home" with Jennifer Nettles was used afterwards. 

But despite being a longtime Democrat, Bon Jovi confirms that the music was used in confidence. "My friendships are apolitical and yes, I absolutely gave him permission to use the songs,” he told Billboard through a spokesperson. 

Christie, New Jersey’s governor since 2010, was born in Newark, N.J.; Bon Jovi grew up about a 40-minute drive south in Sayreville. 

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This isn’t the first time Christie has enlisted the music of a legendary Jersey rocker. A devout Bruce Springsteen fan, he attempted to get the Boss to perform at his 2009 inauguration party. The longtime Democrat declined, so Christie hired a Springsteen cover band. However, Springsteen applauded Christie for his recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy hit the Jersey shore in 2012 and announced that they had become friends. 

The 2016 election cycle is still in its early stages, so expect many more cases of music and politics interweaving (and occasionally butting heads, Donald Trump-style).