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Dierks Bentley

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Dierks Bentley
Bentley in 2010
Bentley in 2010
Background information
Birth nameFrederick Dierks Bentley[1]
Also known asDouglas "Doug" Douglason
Born (1975-11-20) November 20, 1975 (age 48)[2]
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, banjo, tuba
Years active2001–present
LabelsDangling Rope, Capitol Nashville
Member ofHot Country Knights
Websitedierks.com

Frederick Dierks Bentley (/ˈdɜːrks/; born November 20, 1975)[2] is an American country music singer and songwriter. In 2003, he signed to Capitol Nashville and released his eponymous debut album. Both it and its follow-up, 2005's Modern Day Drifter, are certified Platinum in the United States, and his third album, 2006's Long Trip Alone, is certified Gold. It was followed in mid-2008 by a greatest hits package. His fourth album, Feel That Fire, was released in February 2009, and a bluegrass album, Up on the Ridge, was released on June 8, 2010. His sixth album, Home, followed in February 2012, as did a seventh one, Riser, in 2014. Bentley's eighth album, titled Black, was released in May 2016,[3] and his ninth, The Mountain, was released in June 2018. His tenth studio album, Gravel & Gold, was released in February 2023.[4]

Bentley's studio albums have accounted for 27 singles on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, of which 18 have reached No. 1: his debut single, "What Was I Thinkin'", "Come a Little Closer", "Settle for a Slowdown", "Every Mile a Memory", "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)", "Feel That Fire", "Sideways", "Am I the Only One", "Home", "5-1-5-0", "I Hold On", "Drunk on a Plane", "Say You Do", "Somewhere on a Beach", "Different for Girls", "Woman, Amen", "Living" and "Beers on Me". Eight more of his singles have reached the top 5, and he has an additional No. 1 as a part of "Forever Country", and one on the Canada Country chart as a featured artist on "New Old Trucks".

Early life

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Bentley was born on November 20, 1975,[2] in Phoenix, Arizona, as the son of Leon Fife Bentley (August 16, 1923 – June 1, 2012), a bank vice president, and Catherine Childs. His father was born in Glasgow, Missouri, to Richard Thomas Bentley Jr. and Mary Cecile (née Fife) Bentley, and was a First Lieutenant in World War II. His middle name, Dierks (which he now uses as his first name publicly), is also his maternal great-grandmother's surname. He attended Culver Summer Schools and Camps in Indiana[5] and graduated from The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey in 1993.[6] Afterward, he spent a year at the University of Vermont (UVM) before transferring to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he graduated in 1997.[7][8]

Music career

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2003–05: Dierks Bentley and Modern Day Drifter

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Bentley worked at The Nashville Network (now Paramount Network), researching old footage of country performances. During this time, Bentley was banned from the Grand Ole Opry for trespassing on the grounds of the Opry House for research purposes, a ban that would be lifted when Bentley's first album was released.[9] In 2003, Capitol Nashville released Bentley's self-titled debut album. The album's first single, "What Was I Thinkin'", reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts[10] later that year. The next two singles from the album – "My Last Name" and "How Am I Doin'" – reached No. 17[10] and No. 4,[10] respectively. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Bentley's second album, Modern Day Drifter, was released in 2005. It spawned two No. 1 singles in "Come a Little Closer"[10] and "Settle for a Slowdown",[10] as well as the No. 3 hit "Lot of Leavin' Left to Do".[10] The album was also certified Platinum.

In 2005, Bentley won the CMA Award for the Horizon Award (now Best New Artist) and was invited to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.[11] The induction took place on October 1, 2005. Bentley stands as the third-youngest member after Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner.

2006–08: Long Trip Alone and Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003–2008

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Dierks Bentley performing in Saginaw, Michigan, March 31, 2007

On June 10, 2006, Bentley released his third album, Long Trip Alone. The album produced two No. 1 hits in "Every Mile a Memory"[10] in 2006 and "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)"[10] in 2007. The title track reached No. 10 on the country charts,[10] while the fourth single, "Trying to Stop Your Leaving", peaked at No. 5.[10]

In 2007, Bentley released a live DVD titled Live and Loud at the Fillmore, which was filmed in Denver, Colorado.

In a March 2008 interview, Bentley said he would let his fans be the executive producers of his first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003–2008. The album was released on May 6, 2008. An album cut, "Sweet & Wild", reached No. 51 on the Hot Country Songs chart.[10] The song was an uncredited duet with fellow country singer Sarah Buxton.

2009–10: Feel That Fire and Up on the Ridge

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Dierks Bentley
Bentley opening for Brad Paisley at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario, February 14, 2009

Bentley's fourth studio album,[12] Feel That Fire,[13] was released in February 2009. Its title track, co-written by Brett Beavers and The Warren Brothers, became Bentley's sixth No. 1 hit[10] in February 2009, and the album's second single, "Sideways", became his seventh[10] in summer 2009. The third and final single, "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes", peaked at No. 2.[10]

Bentley released his fifth studio album, Up on the Ridge, on June 8, 2010. The title track was released on iTunes on April 20, 2010. The song peaked at No. 21 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart,[10] becoming Bentley's first single to miss the Top 10 since "My Last Name". The second single from the album, "Draw Me a Map", reached No. 33.[10]

2012–13: Home and Country & Cold Cans EP

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Bentley meeting with service members before a concert during Military Appreciation Day in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, May 8, 2013

Bentley's sixth album, Home, was released on February 7, 2012, led by the single, "Am I the Only One", which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Singles.[10][14][15] The second single off the album is "Home", which was co-written by Bentley, Brett Beavers and Dan Wilson, and also reached No. 1[10] on March 24, 2012. A third single, "5-1-5-0", was released shortly after "Home" fell from No. 1 on the country chart.[10] Dierks has been quoted by American Songwriter, explaining: "I wrote too many songs. I wrote 70. I wrote a lot. There's 64 that are never going to see the light of day. That's 64 days that I can't get back."[16]

On August 21, 2012, Bentley released the Country & Cold Cans EP on iTunes. It includes five songs, including a radio edit of the track "Tip It On Back" from his album Home. Bentley paid for the studio time to record the EP himself.[17] On October 23, Bentley and Miranda Lambert announced the co-headlined 33-show Locked and Reloaded Tour, which began on January 17, 2013.[18]

2014–2015: Riser

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Bentley's seventh album, Riser, was released on February 25, 2014.[19] The album's first single, "Bourbon in Kentucky", was released to country radio on June 10, 2013. It peaked at No. 45 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart,[20] becoming Bentley's lowest-charting single to date. The album's second single, "I Hold On", was released on August 26, 2013, and became his first No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart[20] in April 2014 and his 11th overall to do so. The third single, "Drunk on a Plane", followed that same month and reached No. 1 on Country Airplay in August 2014 and was also a strong commercial hit, reaching No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.[10] The album's fourth single, "Say You Do", was released on October 6, 2014; it reached No. 1 on Country Airplay in May 2015. The title track became the album's fifth single in June 2015.

Bentley, along with Eric Paslay, is featured on Charles Kelley's debut solo single, "The Driver", which was released on September 28, 2015. The song received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.[21]

2016–2017: Black

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Bentley released his eighth album, Black, on May 27, 2016.[22] The album's first single, "Somewhere on a Beach", was released on January 25, 2016.[23]

Bentley co-hosted the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards on April 3, 2016, where he was also nominated for the Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year awards.[24]

Bentley released a series of four short films for songs from Black, with episode 1 being the song "I'll Be the Moon" featuring Maren Morris. The following episode serves as the video for "What the Hell Did I Say".[25] The album's second single, "Different for Girls" featuring Elle King, was released to country radio on June 6, 2016.[26] It reached No. 1 on Country Airplay in October 2016. The album's title track was released to country radio as the third single on November 14, 2016.[27]

He was also selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mashup track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again" and "I Will Always Love You", which celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards.[28]

2018–2021: The Mountain and Hot Country Knights

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On June 8, 2018, Bentley released The Mountain, his ninth studio album, via Capitol Records Nashville. All three singles from the album – "Women, Amen", "Burning Man" and "Living" – reached No. 1 (the second of which, however, only being recognized by Mediabase).

Bentley's side project, a '90s country parody band called Hot Country Knights, signed on with Bentley's label Universal Music Group Nashville as a separate recording act in 2020. The act consists of Bentley and his road band, all of whom operate under stage names; Bentley uses the name Douglas "Doug" Douglason.[29] They released their debut single, "Pick Her Up" – which was co-written by Bentley with Jim Beavers and Brett Beavers, and features guest vocals from Travis Tritt[30] – on January 23, 2020.

Bentley released a new single, "Gone", on October 22, 2020.[31] The song was his highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 since his 2003 debut, "What Was I Thinkin'". On July 29, 2021, he released "Beers on Me" featuring Hardy and Breland.[32] He also joined James Barker Band on the single "New Old Trucks" in October 2021.[33]

2022–present: Gravel & Gold

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On July 29, 2022, Bentley released the lead single, "Gold", from his tenth studio album, Gravel & Gold, which was released on February 24, 2023.[4][34] On November 19, he released "High Note", a bluegrass track featuring Billy Strings.[35]

Personal life

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Bentley married Cassidy Black on December 17, 2005, in Mexico.[36] They live in Nashville, Tennessee with their three children and his two dogs, George and Bear.[37] The couple have two daughters[38][39] and a son.[40] One daughter makes a vocal appearance on the song "Thinking of You" from Bentley's 2012 album, Home,[41] and their son appears in the music video for Bentley's 2019 single, "Living".[42]

Bentley holds a private pilot license. He owns a Cirrus SR22T[43] and flies a Cessna Citation CJ4.[44]

Tours

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Headlining

Discography

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Main article: Dierks Bentley discography

Studio albums

As Part of Hot Country Knights

Awards and nominations

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Grammy Awards

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Year Recipient/Nominee Award Result
2007 "Every Mile a Memory" Best Male Country Vocal Performance Nominated
Best Country Song Nominated
2008 "Long Trip Alone" Best Male Country Vocal Performance Nominated
Best Country Song Nominated
Long Trip Alone Best Country Album Nominated
Live & Loud At The Fillmore Best Long Form Music Video Nominated
2010 "Beautiful World" (featuring Patty Griffin) Best Country Collaboration with Vocals Nominated
2011 Up on the Ridge Best Country Album Nominated
"Bad Angel" (with Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson) Best Country Collaboration with Vocals Nominated
"Pride (In the Name of Love)" (with Punch Brothers & Del McCoury) Nominated
2013 "Home" Best Country Solo Performance Nominated
2015 Riser Best Country Album Nominated
2016 "The Driver" (with Charles Kelley and Eric Paslay)[21] Best Country Duo/Group Performance Nominated
2017 "Different for Girls" (with Elle King) Nominated

Country Music Association Awards

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Year Recipient/Nominee Award Result
2004 Dierks Bentley Horizon Award Nominated
2005 Won
2006 Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
2007 Long Trip Alone Album of the Year Nominated
2010 Dierks Bentley Male Vocalist Nominated
Up on the Ridge Album of the Year Nominated
"Bad Angel" (with Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson) Musical Event Nominated
2012 "Home" Song of the Year Nominated
Single of the Year Nominated
Home Album of the Year Nominated
2014 Dierks Bentley Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Riser Album of the Year Nominated
"I Hold On" Song of the Year Nominated
"Drunk on a Plane" Single of the Year Nominated
Music Video of the Year Won[45]
2015 Dierks Bentley Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
2016 Nominated
Black Album of the Year Nominated
"Different for Girls" (with Elle King) Musical Event of the Year Won
"Somewhere on a Beach" Music Video of the Year Nominated
2017 Dierks Bentley Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
2018 Nominated
The Mountain Album of the Year Nominated
"Burning Man" feat. Brothers Osborne Musical Event of the Year Nominated
2019 Single of the Year Nominated
Music Video of the Year Nominated
Dierks Bentley Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated

Other awards

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Year Organization Award Result
2004 CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year – "What Was I Thinkin'" Won
Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Artist Won
2006 Academy of Country Music Awards Top Male Vocalist Nominated
2009 CMT Music Awards CMT Performance of the Year – "Country Boy" with Alan Jackson, George Strait and Brad Paisley Won
2011 Academy of Country Music Awards Album of the Year – Up on the Ridge Nominated
2012 Academy of Country Music Awards Song of the Year – "Home" Nominated
American Country Awards Album of the Year – Home Nominated
2015 Academy of Country Music Awards Video of the Year – "Drunk on a Plane" Won
Album of the Year – Riser Nominated
Single Record of the Year – "Drunk on a Plane" Nominated
Song of the Year – "I Hold On" Nominated
Vocal Event of the Year – "The South" Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
2016 Academy of Country Music Awards Video of the Year – "Riser" Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
People's Choice Awards Favorite Male Country Artist Nominated
2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Song of the Year – "Somewhere on a Beach" Won
Billboard Music Awards Top Country Collaboration — "Different For Girls" with Elle King Nominated
Academy of Country Music Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Album of the Year – Black Nominated
Vocal Event of the Year – "Different For Girls" with Elle King Nominated
CMT Music Awards Video of the Year – "Different For Girls" with Elle King Nominated
Collaborative Video of the Year – "Different For Girls" with Elle King Nominated
2018 Academy of Country Music Awards Merle Haggard Spirit Award Won
Video of the Year – "Black" Nominated
2019 Academy of Country Music Awards Music Event of the Year – "Burning Man" feat. Brothers Osborne Won
Male Artist of the Year Nominated
Album of the Year – The Mountain Nominated
Video of the Year – "Burning Man" feat. Brothers Osborne Nominated
2020 Academy of Country Music Awards Male Artist of the Year Nominated
2021 Academy of Country Music Awards Nominated
Video of the Year – "Gone" Nominated

Film and television

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Year Series Role Notes
2009 The Rise of Kahne Himself A biography of NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne; Bentley is featured in the DVD during an event benefiting the Kasey Kahne Foundation[46]
2010 Live From the Artists Den Himself Live performance at the Ravenswood Billboard Factory in Chicago
2012 Weeds Himself Sang the theme song for Season 8, Episode 9; aired on Showtime (TV network)
2014 CMT Crossroads Himself OneRepublic aired on March 14
2016–2017 Academy of Country Music Awards Himself/co-host With Luke Bryan; replaced Blake Shelton
2018 The Voice Himself Season 15 finale results
2021 The Voice Himself Advisor to Team Blake

References

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  1. ^ Magazine, Glamour (May 26, 2015). "Dierks Bentley Reveals the Real Story Behind His Name and How He Knew His Wife Was The One". Glamour. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Jeffries, David. "Dierks Bentley". AllMusic. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  3. ^ "Dierks Bentley Reveals Details for Upcoming 'Black' Album". Tasteofcountry.com. March 29, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Dierks Bentley Learns to Enjoy the Ride in New Song 'Gold'". Rolling Stone. July 29, 2022.
  5. ^ cite web | url=https://alumni.culver.org/page.aspx?pid=903
  6. ^ "NOTABLE ALUMNI". The Lawrenceville School. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  7. ^ "Dierks Bentley Opens Up About His Childhood and Finds a Fan in Bruce Springsteen". Tasteofcountry.com. March 22, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  8. ^ "Country music star Dierks Bentley jumps into hockey with both boots". ESPN. May 24, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  9. ^ West, Lacey. "Dierks Bentley Is the Only Country Singer To Be Banned By The Grand Ole Opry Before Ever Performing There". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Dierks Bentley Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  11. ^ "Opry Member List PDF" (PDF). April 23, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  12. ^ Caimmanica, Jon (February 2, 2009). "Critics' Choice: New CDs: Dierks Bentley". The New York Times. p. C4. ProQuest 1030653514.
  13. ^ "Dierks Bentley In Studio Performance at Sessions@AOL". Sessions@AOL. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  14. ^ "Dierks Bentley Goes No. 1 With 'Am I the Only One'". Tasteofcountry.com. August 22, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  15. ^ McDonnell, Brandy (September 8, 2011). "Dierks Bentley, Joe Walsh, Jerrod Niemann and Eli Young Band to play OKC Zoo Amphitheatre's Family Jam Oct. 14 | News OK". Blog.newsok.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  16. ^ Schlansky, Evan (February 24, 2012). "Great Quotations: Dierks Bentley". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  17. ^ "Dierks Bentley's 'Country & Cold Cans' EP: Hear 'Back Porch' here – EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. August 15, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  18. ^ "Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley Announce 2013 Locked and Reloaded Tour". Taste of Country. October 23, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  19. ^ Whitaker, Sterling (January 6, 2014). "Dierks Bentley Sets Release Date for 'Riser'". The Boot. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Dierks Bentley Album & Song Chart History – Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  21. ^ a b Vain, Madison (December 7, 2015). "Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelly reacts to his Grammy nom for 'The Driver'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  22. ^ Nicholson, Jessica (January 11, 2016). "Dierks Bentley Prepping Eighth Studio Album, 'Black'". MusicRow. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  23. ^ "Single Releases". MusicRow. Archived from the original on February 12, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  24. ^ "Dierks Bentley Unveils Black Short Film Series". Dierks.com. April 1, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  25. ^ Dunkerley, Beville (April 1, 2016). "See Dierks Bentley's Provocative 'I'll Be the Moon' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  26. ^ "Future Releases for Country Radio Stations". All Access. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  27. ^ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  28. ^ "30 Country Music Stars Join Forces for Historic CMA Music Video". ABC News. September 22, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  29. ^ Freeman, Jon (January 2, 2020). "Dierks Bentley's Faux Band Hot Country Knights Signs Real Record Deal". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  30. ^ Freeman, Jon (January 23, 2020). "Dierks Bentley's Hot Country Knights Sing With Travis Tritt in New Song 'Pick Her Up'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  31. ^ "Dierks Bentley Ghosts Friends and Family in His New Song 'Gone'". Rolling Stone. October 22, 2020.
  32. ^ Whitaker, Sterling (July 29, 2021). "Dierks Bentley Enlists Breland + Hardy for 'Beers on Me' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  33. ^ "James Barker Band Teams Up With Dierks Bentley for "New Old Trucks"". The Country Note. October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  34. ^ Liptak, Carena (January 12, 2023). "Dierks Bentley Rolls Out Plans for His 10th Studio Album, 'Gravel & Gold'". Taste of Country. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  35. ^ Dierks Bentley and Billy Strings Get Baked for the Apocalypse in 'High Note' Rolling Stone.
  36. ^ "News : Dierks Bentley Elopes to Mexico". CMT. December 21, 2005. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  37. ^ "Dierks Bentley: Baby Bliss". People. Retrieved October 5, 2008.
  38. ^ "Dierks Bentley Welcomes Daughter Evalyn Day". October 5, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  39. ^ "Dierks Bentley and Wife Cassidy Welcome Daughter No. 2". The Boot. December 25, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  40. ^ "Dierks Bentley Welcomes Son Knox". October 10, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  41. ^ "Dierks Bentley "I'm Thinking of You" with daughter Evie at Ryman 'Home' Show". February 3, 2012. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2014 – via YouTube.
  42. ^ Liptak, Carena (April 18, 2019). "After 'Living', Dierks Bentley Might Have to Make a Music Video With Each of His Kids". The Boot.
  43. ^ Betts, Stephen (October 3, 2012). "Dierks Bentley Finds a New Way To Fly". The Boot. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  44. ^ "News : Bentley Reaffirms 'I'll Always Take That Call' As A Business Aviation Advocate'". NBAA. December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  45. ^ "Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban + Miranda Lambert Are Early 2014 CMA Awards Winners". Taste of Country. November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  46. ^ "Wayback Machine". July 14, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2017.[dead link]
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