Brantley Gilbert wrestles with faith and forgiveness after Charlie Kirk's death

Brantley Gilbert says Charlie Kirk's death has him wrestling with faith and forgiveness, describing anger over the senseless killing and the challenge of extending grace in a fractured era. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, the country singer said he is trying to return to church after his wife urged him back, noting that Kirk had been an encouraging figure in this stage of his life. Gilbert said his wife is more steadfast in faith and grace, while he is still angry and navigating the difficult path back to belief.

Gilbert has said he has tried to step back from politics because of the country’s divisiveness, but he finds it harder to withdraw as the public square grows ever louder. He told Fox News Digital that some leaders call for violence and then distance themselves from it only after the fact, a pattern that has left him feeling frustrated and worn down. The singer referenced the fallout on ordinary people, including families affected by violence, describing how two kids wake up without a father and a wife wakes up without a husband, leaving a country that once looked to a figure dedicated to its improvement without that leadership.

Last week Gilbert, who is on tour, led a moment of silence for Kirk during a Maryland show in what he called a powerful display of restraint amid political rhetoric. He reflected that silence can be powerful and that the freedom of speech remains essential, even as he urged people to reject acts of cowardice. The moment drew thousands in attendance, and Gilbert described it as deafening in its immediacy.

Kirk, 31, was killed at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Sept. 10; he died later that day. The activist traveled around the country to college campuses, where he conducted Q&A sessions and discussed political issues. Authorities identified the murder suspect as Tyler Robinson, 22, who was living with a 22-year-old roommate who was transitioning from male to female.

Prominent political figures were slated to speak Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, at an event honoring Kirk, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others. The event site FightForCharlie listed additional speakers, including Kirk's widow Erika Kirk, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr., Stephen Miller and Sergio Gor.

Despite the country's divisions, Gilbert said he prays for unity and hopes for a way forward that centers on faith. He emphasized that, even with anger, he believes the country won't return to a better place unless faith is reintroduced, adding that he believes in God and the Bible and is trying to steer his platform toward messages of positivity and service to active duty members, veterans, and kids.

On the Tattoos Tour 2025, Gilbert continues to use his platform to promote positive messages and to steer the conversation away from political strife, while acknowledging that the country’s mood remains unsettled. He described his own journey back to faith as ongoing and said that the greatest hope lies in the possibility of national healing grounded in shared beliefs.