By Michaela Gordoni
Country star Brantley Gilbert decided to homeschool his children so he could teach them what he wants, instead of the state government.
He told Fox New Digital his three kids learn what they “need to know and not so much what, you know, certain people in this world feel like they’d like them to know,” he said, adding that social media takes “so much” from his kids.
“I’m kind of — when I come off the road, like, these shows and being out here on the road is my ‘wild and crazy’ now,” Gilbert said, adding that he is 14 years sober. “I get back home, I don’t really leave the farm. I’m not — and this is probably not a great thing to say for what I do for a living, but man, I don’t live on social media.”
He rarely even looks at it.
“I actually barely ever look at it,” he continued. “Just as a husband and a father of three, you know, between that and the music business, I don’t really have enough time and enough effort to put into something that could take so much away from them.”
Since he’s been back from his recent tour, he’s only left the farm to go to church and ball games. He and his brother work on the farm while his wife, Amber, runs a hybrid homeschool group.
“She actually started a school three years ago. It’s like a homeschool school — teaching kids what kids need to know and not so much what, you know, certain people in this world feel like they’d like them to know,” the “Bottoms Up” singer said.
Related: This Country Star Lives Her Best Farm Life and Grows Closer to God in Tennessee
“It’s a really important thing, so I try to help out there where I can. I believe she’s doing something extremely important there,” Gilbert said.
On Mondays and Fridays, the kids “work” instead of study.
“You know, my brother and my dad come pick them up, and they wake up, and they’re out the door a million miles an hour, and they actually have them working. And they get to play, but they have to work first,” he explained.
The singer recently partnered with Real American Beer, Hulk Hogan’s company, to create a non-alcoholic beer called RAB ZERO.
“Growing up, I thought Hulk Hogan was the second coming. And I’ll never forget, having Hulk Hogan text my phone and texting back and forth with him. Dude, I don’t know that I’ve ever been starstruck until that moment,” Gilbert said.
His sobriety was essential to him being a capable parent.
“I don’t know that I could have been a dad. I definitely couldn’t have been the kind of dad that I want to be and try to be on a daily basis. I’m sure there would have been an adjustment in life and I would have prioritized that, but man, I’ll be completely honest, had I not got that out of my life, I don’t think I would have been a dad. I wouldn’t have been a husband,” he explained.
Gilbert continued, “That’s the greatest, scariest, most important job I’ve ever had is being a dad. My wife coming back in the picture making that possible. I’ll forever be thankful. I don’t think I ever see any of that if I had not made that lifestyle choice.”
Gilbert brought his family with him on his current tour.
He recently shared a video of waiting to sing backstage while holding his sleepy toddler.
“On-call for dad duty 24/7 😂🤘” he wrote.
His wife shared photos of their kids enjoying their dad’s concerts and exploring new areas on the tour.
When Amber created her homeschool group, she said, “I am thrilled to be on this journey with these families and at peace knowing children in our area, including my own, are being given the opportunity to learn in a completely new environment. I’m thankful God put the unrest in my heart years ago because it led to this…another option for families when it comes to education.”
It seems like for the Gilberts, raising and schooling their kids on their farm has been one of the best decisions parenting decisions they’ve made.
Read Next: Homeschooling Numbers Continue to Rise — But Why?
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
– Content: +1Share:
– Content: +1