Music therapy

A small-town Georgia boy played his way into the hearts of those who attended the first night of College Fest. But before the country rocker Brantley Gilbert took the stage, I had the opportunity to interview him and get to know him on a different level.

Gilbert is a man whose past has shaped his future and who is today. His life before his call to fame consisted of school and numerous odd jobs. Gilbert was working on a degree in psychology at the University of Georgia with hopes of becoming a marriage counselor. It wasn't until a near-fatal accident that he began to pursue music.

"My music kind of brought everything back," Gilbert said. "It reminded me of all the things I've been through."

Listen to just one of his songs. It tells a story and you can tell it's heartfelt. Although some of his songs talk about letting loose ("My Kind of Party"), others show his soft side as he sings of love ("My Kind of Crazy").

"I wrote those songs for me. I didn't really write them for the market," Gilbert said. "People say music is expression, but for me it's therapeutic. It's like counseling. Instead of punching a wall, I wrote a song."

I would go as far as saying Gilbert is a lyrical genius. With more than 273 songs written, he knows how to capture a memory in just over three minutes. Jason Aldean's new single, "My Kind of Party," was actually written by Gilbert, and the hit is on its way up the charts. It debuted at number 36 on Billboards Top 100 Country songs and has made its way up to 30 in just a week.

Although the song was given to Aldean, Gilbert still plays it on his setlist. College Fest was just one of the stops on his jam-packed tour.

"That's my biggest worry, that I'm going to miss so much," Gilbert said about being on tour.

Spending a whole day with Gilbert and his band showed me what a humble man he is. He seems completely unaware of his persistent clan of fans. But they're there, trust me. Standing in the crowd before he came on, I heard middle-aged women vowing to give up their husbands if they knew they had a chance with him. He has devoted fans, and I'm proud to say I'm one of them. If I hadn't been before the interview, I would be converted by now.

If you happened to miss out on his concert, you need to check out Gilbert's new album, "Halfway to Heaven." It's a definite must. Red dirt, honky tonk, rock and pop fans alike can find something to appreciate in every song.