Josh Thompson is a manly man, but that doesn't mean he didn't tear up when he heard Brad Paisley was going to record a song he'd written. 'A Man Don't Have to Die' will appear on Brad's upcoming album, 'This Is Country Music.'

"Brad told me the last date of the H20 tour in Denver," Josh tells The Boot. "He said, 'Hey, man. I found out that I've had a song of yours on hold for a while, and I just want to let you know that if you're not going to do it, I'm going to cut it Wednesday." I cried. [laughs] I hugged him, and said he could have it."

From how Josh describes the tune, it may bring you to tears, as well. "The inspiration is pretty much rock-bottom," he explains. "It's that point where it almost seems like there's nowhere to go and that can be a very real Hell. I think it's something that everyone's been through."

When you're writing such a personal song, is it tough to let another artist sing it? "It wasn't difficult at all to give it to Brad," Josh says. "It's such a great song that I'd be an idiot to keep it. To me, it's not giving them away, it's giving birth to them."

This isn't the first tune of Josh's that another artist has cut. He also penned 'Church Pews or Bar Stool' for Jason Aldean's 'My Kinda Party' album.

"Both the songs that Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley recorded, I absolutely love with every ounce my soul," Josh explains. "Those two artists are very special to me because I love them; I'm a very big fan of both of them. Aldean has a history of cutting nothing but great songs, and Paisley doesn't cut outside songs -- this is only the third one he's done, because he's such a great writer."

Although, Josh has hopes those singers can do more with the songs than he can at this point. "I was so honored to give those songs away, because those guys are at a point in their career where if they happen to release them on the radio, they could work," he admits. "Those songs are a little more racy than radio lets me get away with right now. It's hard enough for me to get a song up the charts that talks about owning a gun, having a Bible, working hard and drinking beer. 'Church Pews or Bar Stool,' you can guess what that's about, and one talks about strip joints.

"I'm a songwriter," Josh continues. "It is the utmost flattery for someone to record a song of mine."

Josh is currently out on the Jagermeister tour with Dierks Bentley. See his concert schedule here.

More From TheBoot