Brantley Gilbert first burst onto the country rock scene 15 years ago with his 2009 debut album, A Modern Day Prodigal Son, and quickly rose to fame. Since then, the singer, songwriter and producer has enjoyed record-breaking popularity, churning out hit song after hit and amassing more than 8.3 billion career streams.
To date, Gilbert’s most impressive honors include back-to-back platinum albums and seven No. 1 hits, including the RIAA 7x platinum “Bottoms Up.” 2x Platinum “A Nation Should Be a Whole Country.” 2x Platinum “You Don’t Know Her as Well as I Do.” 2x Platinum “One Hell of an Amen” and Lindsay Ell, certified Platinum. “It Happened in a Small Town” starring.
Country music lovers may not be aware that Gilbert also plays an important role behind the scenes. He co-wrote “Dirt Road Anthem” with fellow Georgia native Colt Ford, which was later recorded by Grammy-nominated artist Jason Aldean and became a 4x platinum country-rap game-changer. He has also toured with everyone from Willie Nelson to Toby Keith.
Despite his incredible success in the mainstream, the Academy of Country Music, American Music Award, and Country Music Association Award winner is known for his humble Christian faith, high school He credits his nearly 10-year marriage with his ex-lover and his children for being ingrained in him.
On October 11th, something heartwarming happened to the Gilberts. Their third child, a son, was born during a surprise arrival on a tour bus. Gilbert was in the middle of performing at a concert in Tupelo, Mississippi, during the Off the Rails Tour, when he was called by his manager to leave the stage.
“It was amazing,” he recalled. “We were preparing with a midwife who was on the tour bus in case that happened, and the midwife has become part of our family. My wife and I I slept through the night before giving birth, so the idea of having a baby was just too far away. When my manager came on stage, I thought there might be a security problem, but I didn’t hear him say, ‘Baby.’ ” I dropped the microphone and ran. ”
The proud father released his seventh studio album, “Tattoo,” in the fall of 2024. This is another milestone in the Georgia native’s world. To discuss his favorite personal tattoos, whether he plans to get more ink, how he’s evolved as an artist over the years, and how he balances home life while traveling , I decided to reach out to Inked.
the art of storytelling
The “Bottoms Up” singer said his seventh studio album, “Tattoos,” is his favorite so far. “Every album I’ve made has told the story of a chapter in my life, but this album is really special,” he said. “If you listen to my album, you’ll get a good idea of where I stand. My tattoos also tell a story. They’re full of tributes and memories. They’re my We’ve been doing the same thing that our albums have been doing for years. With 10 songs, the ground we’ve covered is crazy.”
Over the years, Gilbert has collaborated with everyone from Jamey Johnson to Jelly Roll, and the 10 songs on “Tattoo” include a list of surprise guest appearances. “I got to collaborate with a lot of cool artists on ‘God Isn’t Country,’ like Gary Revox of Rascal Flatts,” Gilbert said of the album ‘Tattoos.’ “No one expected something like that to happen, but Gary and I have been friends for years. We’re both moms, so we wanted to create a song together that both moms could listen to.” It is.
“Justin Moore is one of the most underrated vocalists. When you hear ‘Dirty Money,’ you can’t think of country when you hear it.” Ashley Cooke is on fire right now, starring in ‘Over When We’re Sober.'” She continued, “Over the years, including her performance in ‘Blue on Black,’ We were able to do a lot of collaboration.” With a five finger death punch. I’ve also written songs with Vince Gill, Hank Williams Jr., and Alison Krauss. ”
The ‘One Hell of an Amen’ songwriter said naming the album ‘Tattoo’ was a natural choice due to his love of tattoos. “Getting a tattoo is like a mental break for me,” he said with a laugh. “And riding motorcycles. My relationship with tattoos is my favorite part of the whole process. Carl Grace is my boyfriend. He’s an incredible guy. My relationship with tattoos is my favorite part of the whole process. Like some of the songs, my favorite tattoos are about my wife and kids. I have a clock and a guardian angel tattoo, but it’s about them. It’s a reminder that your time is limited.”
With additional song titles such as “The Hell That Raraise Us” and “Out Here,” fans will hear stories about Gilbert’s small-town teenage years and the experiences that shaped him into the man he is today. Similarly, Gilbert’s tattoos tell stories of hardship and hope.
“Like everyone else, I’ve gone through some trials and tribulations in my life,” he said. “I am a work in progress, just like my tattoos. I have gone through some things in my life that have led me to where I am. Those experiences set my course. I struggled with addiction quite a bit, but I’ve been sober for 13 years. I hope people understand that I’m a man of faith who loves his family and loves his country. We’ve all been through a lot. Wearing it always reminds me of that.”
Gilbert said the album, like his tattoos, offers a glimpse into each chapter of his life. “If someone wants to know who I am, what I’ve been through, where I stand, they can be heard from the beginning,” he said. “So I couldn’t deny the title ‘Tattoo’ because my tattoos also tell a story. Like most people, they’re about our victories and struggles.” is.”
Because there are only so many areas of his body that can be inked, Gilbert said he plans to get more tattoos and is waiting for his wife’s approval. “I have one left on my left hip and I’m planning to get a tattoo for my son. If my wife is okay with it, I’ll have it on my neck. I like hugging, so she has to agree.” he said with a laugh.
Despite touring with some of country music’s biggest names, including Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw and Eric Church, Gilbert is still figuring out how to balance family life while on the road.
“I talked about this with Jellyroll recently, and I don’t know what balance you need to find. You need to find out what your limits are. Listen to your head, your heart, your body. “You have to tilt it,” Gilbert explained. “I have a two-week rule that I’m never away from my family for more than two weeks. I have a wonderful wife and wonderful children and it’s so great to be able to say I’ve been doing this for 20 years. I am very lucky because I have a very special family along the way.”
Fifteen years after the release of his debut album, “A Modern Day Prodigal Son,” Gilbert said he is still learning and growing despite his success as a country musician.
“What we’ve learned over the last 20 years is that if you sit down to write a number one song, 75 percent of the time it’s going to be bad,” he said. “That’s because you rarely achieve what you set out to do, and having a purpose makes it more relatable than putting out a wide collection of music.
“As the years go by, I find myself getting more and more outside influences into the way I write. “My next project builds on my previous project,” he explains, adding, “This generation of listeners is listening to the evolution of an artist. I’m not interested in that, so the songwriting process is very different from now, and my time management is also different from now.” , especially having a family. The most rewarding thing is when someone tells me that one of my songs helped them or motivated them to do something. Those are things that are closer to the heart and things that everyone else resonates with. ”
With his family and music catalog blossoming, Gilbert is starting to think about what 2025 will bring. “I want to decide who to tour with and when, and hopefully release some new music.”
Gilbert recently announced that he and his band will embark on the 2025 Nationwide Tattoo Tour, which begins February 15th in Okeechobee, Florida. “With tickets starting at $25, we hope people can enjoy a fun night out with their families or give mom and dad the chance to hire a babysitter and spend the night away from the stress of everyday life.” “They,” he announced in a press release. “Music has always brought people together and provided relief from fatigue, even for a few hours.”
