Mississippi
Country star Brantley Gilbert stops Mississippi concert to help wife deliver baby on tour bus: ‘Craziest night of my life’
Country music rocker Brantley Gilbert rushed off the stage in the middle of his concert Friday night to help his pregnant wife deliver their baby on a tour bus during “the craziest night of my life.”
Gilbert’s wife, Amber, went into labor just as the multiplatinum musician started his set at the Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo, Miss. during his “Off The Rails Tour.”
The “Bottom Up” hitmaker shared a video on Instagram capturing the events of the evening as he was suddenly pulled aside for an “emergency backstage.” That’s when he found out Amber was about to welcome their third child on their tour bus.
“Last night might have been the craziest night of my life. Watching such an amazing woman do such an amazing thing is something I’ll never forget,” Gilbert wrote on Instagram.
As the video featured his 2019 ballad “Man That Hung the Moon” — a song about a father’s love for his baby boy — the singer had an emotional Facetime conversation with his mother.
She asked the singer how he was doing and he responded, “not as good as you are about to be. You got a new grandbaby.”
“I got a new grandbaby? I do?” she responded in excitement as the social media video featured black and white images of him holding the newborn.
When his mom asked how Amber was, he responded that she was “a freaking savage” before adding that he was “going to finish the show.”
Gilbert rushed back on stage to reveal the news of his family’s newest addition to his fans.
“We got a baby!” he exclaimed to a sea of supporters who responded with roaring applause.
“Thank you to our road family for rallying around us, Brittany Thornton for helping us bring this little dude into the world, Tupelo, Mississippi for showing us mad love and support, and most of all… Amber Gilbert, for letting me love you and showing me EXACTLY how incredibly strong a woman can be. I love you.”
He also shared the special video on his Instagram stories page with the caption “We’ve got a new addition to the Gilbert family… God is good.”
Country Rebel reports that a midwife was on the bus assisting with the birth.
The newborn’s name has not yet been revealed but the child will share a historic birthplace with Elvis Presley, who was also born in Tupelo.
The new baby will have two older siblings, Barrett, 6, and Braylen, 5.
Brantley and Amber Gilbert, the founder of a hybrid homeschool group, met in high school and reconnected years later.
In a 2014 interview on “The Bobby Bones Show,” Amber said their relationship was “on and off for a few years” before they got engaged in 2014. They got married in 2015.
Jim Stewart Allen, also known as Broccoli Guy, is still trying to wrap his head around the last two weeks.
What started as a short trip from his home state of Washington to support Oregon in the Eugene Regional of the NCAA softball Tournament has turned into a trip to the Women’s College World Series as Mississippi State softball’s unofficial mascot.
“I’ve dreamed about going to a softball World Series,” Allen told the Clarion Ledger. “I didn’t know when it was going to happen. And so, to be able to finally go is one thing, but to be able to go with such a meaningful connection with one of the teams, with Mississippi State, it just means the world to me.”
Allen plans to be in Oklahoma City for every step of the Bulldogs’ WCWS journey, beginning with their opening game against No. 11 seed Texas Tech (57-7) on May 28 (11 a.m. CT, ESPN) at Devon Park. It will be the first WCWS game in MSU (43-19) program history.
Broccoli Guy surprised Mississippi State at super regionals
Allen has brought broccoli to games for nearly every Seattle professional sports team. It’s about more than just being a fun way to support the teams. It’s also about maintaining a fun environment and encouraging unity.
After watching Mississippi State use broccoli as a rally prop in its regional final win, Allen knew he had to travel to Oklahoma for super regionals. He surprised the Bulldogs in Norman and saw them hand Oklahoma its first super regional loss since 2015.
“It was very exciting,” Allen said of watching Game 1, which Mississippi State won 11-9. “It was just very clear during that whole game that Mississippi State came to play. They had the energy and they had the hunger.”
All weekend, Allen got to see firsthand how much his presence was appreciated by supporting and opposing fans alike.
“The environment was incredible,” Allen said. “I was nervous about how I would be received by Oklahoma fans. … I didn’t really know what to expect, but I got so much love from Oklahoma fans.”
Anytime they needed a boost, the Bulldogs held broccoli in the dugout for good luck. After losing Game 2, MSU leaned on broccoli to power past the Sooners in Game 3, posting pregame pictures and videos highlighting the vegetable.
Allen didn’t need to see the overflow of broccoli content to know that MSU had what it took.
“I woke up that morning on Sunday thinking, ‘I’m going to have to stay here probably because they’re going to win this game,’” Allen said. “… And then I saw pictures on Instagram of … someone holding a bag of broccoli on the bus and I went, ‘Yeah, I’m staying in Oklahoma.’”
What Mississippi State softball means to Broccoli Guy
As the Bulldogs secured the final out in Game 3, the ESPN broadcast showed Allen in the stands with tears in his eyes.
He joked that this was a result of the exhaustion of dancing in the hot sun and his tired acceptance of a trip to the WCWS. In reality, it was an outpouring of joy for the team he’d come to love.
“That’s just been two weeks of following this team at a pretty intense level, game by game, seeing them work” Allen said. “… I think right after that, the team ran over to me, and we had our own moment, which is so, so humbling.”
For as much as Allen enjoys watching the Bulldogs play, the players enjoy having him in the stands. Infielder Nadia Barbary said seeing him dancing during the games helps them remember to have fun and stay loose in tough moments.
This relaxed style of play is what helped them get past Oklahoma. The Bulldogs even thanked Allen for his contributions by letting him hold their super regional trophy.
“It’s just been great,” pitcher Alyssa Faircloth said. “He’s such a sweet guy, so just the fact that we can bring him along and celebrate him with our broccoli in our dugout and just make him feel a little bit special has been great.”
The wider MSU community has also embraced Allen. Leila Ammon’s dad, Charles, started a GoFundMe to help cover Allen’s WCWS travel expenses. It had received $4,165 in donations as of May 26.
Unsurprisingly, Allen believes the Bulldogs have a good shot to win the title, noting it would be a fantastic finish to his and their journey.
“For them to even get this far is just incredible,” Allen said. “… Mississippi State is representing what it means to be a hungry, energetic softball underdog and they’re doing it so well. … Anything they do, I’m going to be super proud of, and I’m not surprised if they win it all.”
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
Mississippi
Bobby Harrison: Obsession with Bennie Thompson leads to cases of TDS for Mississippi politicians
NEWTON, Miss. (WTOK) – Friends, family, and comrades braved stormy conditions this morning, for the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
While the crowd wasn’t large, the message was clear.
All gave some, some gave all, and today is the day to recognize those who have done just that.
“We didn’t have a large crowd compared to previous years. We anticipated that, but those who showed up, we wanted to make sure that we did what we could to honor America’s best. You know, when you talk about the weather and how it can affect people getting out, we understand that, but at the Mississippi VA, we also understand those folks that made the ultimate sacrifice didn’t have the luxury of sunny days every day,” said Ray Coleman with Mississippi Veterans Affairs.
“They did what they had to do, gave up their lives in the name of freedom, and so on Memorial Day, we honor that. No matter the weather, rain, sleet, hail, we’re going to be here to make sure that those family members and the fallen understand that we respect them, we honor them, and we appreciate what they did for our great nation.”
Over 12 hundred American heroes rest in the cemetery, each one of them remembered today by family, comrades, and those who came to show their respect.
“I think it’s important for us to remember that this day is not a day of recreation, but a day of somber reflection where we come together and remember that our freedoms are not free. I’m proud to be an American, and it’s been great to celebrate with everyone here today in Newton,” said Justice Jenifer Branning with the Mississippi Supreme Court.
“While you are barbecuing and grilling and while you are hanging out with one another, remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Remember those family members who lost their loved ones. This holiday is a solemn one for them. So while you’re celebrating, take a moment, as Justice Branning said, to slow down and honor those who made that ultimate sacrifice, and remember their families. You might know some personally, believe it or not, that lives in your community. Remember to honor them as well on this very special day,” said Coleman.
Copyright 2026 WTOK. All rights reserved.
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