Array of Intention

Brantley Gilbert quickly became a household name when he first emerged on the country rock scene 15 years ago with his 2009 debut album, “A Modern Day Prodigal Son.” Since then, the singer, songwriter, and producer has been on record fire churning out hit after hit and racking up more than 8.3 billion career streams.

Today, some of Gilbert’s most impressive accolades include back-to-back platinum albums and seven No. 1 hits, including the RIAA 7x Platinum “Bottoms Up;” 2x Platinum “Country Must Be Country Wide;” 2x Platinum “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do;” 2x Platinum “One Hell of An Amen;” and the Platinum-certified “What Happens in A Small Town” with Lindsay Ell.

Country music lovers may not realize Gilbert has also played a major role behind the scenes. He co-wrote “Dirt Road Anthem” with fellow Georgia native Colt Ford before Grammy-nominated artist Jason Aldean recorded it and went on to become a 4x Platinum country-rap game changer. He has also toured with everyone from Willie Nelson to Toby Keith.

Despite his incredible mainstream success, the Academy of Country Music, American Music Awards, and Country Music Association awards winner attributes staying grounded to his humble Christian faith, his marriage of nearly a decade to his high school sweetheart, and his children.

A heartwarming event occurred on October 11 for Gilbert and his wife when they welcomed their third child, a son, during a surprise arrival on their tour bus. Gilbert was in the middle of a performance at a concert in Tupelo, Mississippi, during his “Off the Rails Tour” when his manager called him off stage.

“It was amazing,” he recounted. “We had been preparing in case it did happen and were prepared with a midwife on the tour bus, who has become part of our family. My wife had slept through the night before she had him, so the idea she was having a baby was so far removed. I thought my manager had a security issue when he came onstage, but when he mouthed ‘baby,’ I dropped the mike and took off running.”

The proud father released his seventh studio album, “Tattoos,” in the fall of 2024, another significant event in the Georgia native’s world. He decided to catch up with Inked to discuss some of his favorite personal tattoos, if he plans to get more ink, how he has evolved as an artist over the years, and how he manages to balance family life while on the road.

The Art of Storytelling

The “Bottoms Up” singer said his seventh studio album, “Tattoos,” is his favorite so far. “Every album I have made has told a story of a chapter in my life, but this one is really special,” he said. “If you listen to my albums, you have a pretty good idea where I stand. My tattoos also tell a story. They are filled with tributes and memories. They have done the same thing my albums have done throughout the years. In 10 songs, it’s crazy the ground we covered.”

Over the years, Gilbert has collaborated with everyone from Jamey Johnson to Jelly Roll, and the 10 songs featured on “Tattoos” also feature a surprise list of guest appearances. “I got to collaborate with a lot of cool artists like Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts on ‘God Isn’t Country,’” Gilbert said of the “Tattoos” album. “No one saw that one coming, but Gary and I have been friends for years. We are both mama’s boys, so we wanted to do a song together that both our moms could listen to.

“Justin Moore is one of the most underrated vocalists. When you listen to ‘Dirty Money,’ you hear it and don’t think country. Ashley Cooke is just on fire now and she’s on ‘Over When We’re Sober.,’” he continued, adding, “Throughout the years, I have been able to do a lot of cool collaborations, including performing ‘Blue on Black’ with Five Finger Death Punch. I have also done songs with Vince Gill, Hank Williams, Jr., and Alison Krauss.”

The “One Hell of an Amen” songwriter said the name of the album “Tattoos” was a natural choice for him because of his own love of tattoos. “Getting a tattoo is kind of like a mental break for me,” he said with a laugh. “That and being on my motorcycle. My relationship with tattoos is what I love about the whole process. Carl Grace is my guy. He’s an incredible dude. Just like some of my songs, my favorite tattoos are ones about my wife and kids; they have an unfair advantage. I have tattoos with clocks and guardian angels to remind me I only have so much time with them.”

With additional song titles like “The Hell That Raised Us” and “Out Here,” fans will hear stories about Gilbert’s teenage years in a small town and the experiences that molded him into the man he is today. In the same vein, Gilbert’s tattoos tell stories of hardships and hope.

“I have had some trials and tribulations in life just like everyone else,” he said. “I’m a work in progress like my tattoos. I have been through some things in life that have gotten me to where I am. Those experiences have charted my course. I had a pretty hard battle with addiction but have been 13 years off alcohol. I hope people take away that I am a man of faith who loves his family and loves his country. We have all been through a lot. For me, putting something on my body is a constant reminder of that.”

Like his tattoos, Gilbert said his albums offer a peek into each chapter of his life. “If somebody wants to know who I am, what I’ve been through, and where I stand, they can start at the beginning and listen,” he said. “That’s why it was undeniable that ‘Tattoos’ should be the title because my tattoos also tell a story. Like most people, they are about our victories and our struggles.”

With limited areas left on his body to sport some more ink, Gilbert said he plans on getting more tattoos — he is just waiting for his wife’s approval on one. “There is one place left on my left lower back where I will get a tattoo for my son. I have got one planned for my neck, if my wife is ever OK with it. I like to cuddle, so she has to approve,” he said with a laugh.

Despite touring with some of the biggest names in country music, including Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, and Eric Church, Gilbert is still trying to figure out how to balance his home life when he’s on the road.

“I had a conversation with Jelly Roll recently about this and I don’t know there’s a balance to be had. You need to find what your limit is. You need to listen to your head, heart, and body,” Gilbert explained. “I have a two-week rule where I won’t go longer than two weeks away from my family. I have an incredible wife and incredible kids, and being able to say I have done this for 20 years is pretty cool. I am so lucky because it’s a special family out there on the road, too.”

It has been 15 years since his debut album, “A Modern Day Prodigal Son,” came out, and Gilbert said he is still learning and growing, even as a successful country musician.

“What I have found out over the last 20 years, if I sit down to write a number one song, there’s a 75% chance it’s going to suck,” he said. “That’s because you seldom accomplish what you set out to do. If you have a purpose, you become more relatable than by putting out a wide collection of music.

“As the years go on, you have outside influences on the way you write. I base my next project on the one before,” he explained, adding, “With this generation of listeners, they aren’t interested in the evolution of an artist, so the writing process is extremely different now and my time management is different now, especially having a family. The most rewarding thing is when someone tells me one of my songs helped them or motivated them to do something. Those are the ones that are closer to the chest — the ones that resonate with everyone else.”

With a blossoming family and music catalog, Gilbert is getting his head around what 2025 will bring. “I am going to figure out who I am going to be touring with and when, and hopefully putting out some new music.”

Gilbert recently announced he and his band are hitting the road for his coast-to-coast Tattoos Tour 2025 kicking off February 15 in Okeechobee, Florida. “My hope is that with tickets starting at $25, people can step away from everyday stresses and enjoy themselves—whether it’s making it a fun evening with the family or giving mom and dad the chance to hire a babysitter and have a night out just for them,” he announced in a press release. “Music has always been about bringing people together and offering a break from the grind, even if it’s just for a few hours.”