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Dierks Bentley
Bentley in April 2010
Background information
Born	20 November 1975 (1975-11-20) (age 34)[1]
Origin	Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Genres	Country, Bluegrass
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	2003-present
Labels	Dangling Rope, Capitol Nashville
Associated acts	Brett Beavers, Deric Ruttan, The Warren Brothers
Website	http://www.dierks.com/

Dierks Bentley (born November 20, 1975 in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American country music artist who has been signed to Capitol Records Nashville since 2003. That year, he released his self-titled debut album. Both it and its follow-up, 2005's Modern Day Drifter, are certified platinum in the United States. A 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.

Bentley's studio albums have accounted for fourteen singles on the country singles charts, of which seven have reached No. 1: his debut single "What Was I Thinkin'", as well as "Come a Little Closer", "Settle for a Slowdown", "Every Mile a Memory", "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)", "Feel That Fire" and "Sideways". Four more of his singles have reached Top Five on the country charts as well.

[edit] Personal life

Bentley is married to Cassidy Black. They live in Nashville, Tennessee with their dogs Jake (who has appeared in a few of Dierks' videos) and George.^[2] The couple welcomed their first child, Evalyn Day Bentley, on October 4, 2008.^[3] On July 22, 2010, the couple shared they are expecting their second child just in time for Christmas.

Bentley spent a year at the University of Vermont before transferring to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, failing to graduate. He was initiated into Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity while at Vermont.

[edit] Music career

This section requires expansion with: Critical reception, musical stylings.

Dierks Bentley opening for Brad Paisley 14 Feb 2009 at Scotiabank Place, Ottawa

[edit] Dierks Bentley and Modern Day Drifter

Bentley worked at The Nashville Network (now Spike TV), researching old footage of country performances. In 2003, Capitol Nashville released Bentley's self-titled debut album. The album's first single, What Was I Thinkin'," reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts later that year. Two other singles from the album were released and charted: "My Last Name" reached No. 17, and "How Am I Doin'" reached No. 4. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Bentley's second Capitol album, Modern Day Drifter, was released in 2005. It featured two No. 1 singles on the Hot Country Songs chart, "Settle for a Slowdown" and "Come a Little Closer." A third single, "Lot of Leavin' Left to Do", reached No. 3. The album was also certified platinum.

Later 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. The induction took place on October 1, 2005. Bentley stands as the third youngest member after Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner.

[edit] Long Trip Alone and Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008

Bentley performing in Saginaw, Michigan, March 31, 2007

On June 10, 2006, Long Trip Alone was released. The album produced two No. 1 songs, "Every Mile a Memory" in 2006 and "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)" in 2007. The title track reached No. 10 on the country charts. A fourth single, "Trying to Stop Your Leaving," hit No. 5.

In 2007, Bentley released a live DVD recorded and filmed in Denver, Colorado entitled Live and Loud at the Fillmore.

A March 2008 interview, Bentley said he would let his fans be the executive producers to his first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008. The album was released on May 6, 2008.^[4] An album cut, "Sweet & Wild," reached No. 51 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The song features an uncredited duet with fellow country singer Sarah Buxton.

[edit] Feel That Fire and Up on the Ridge

A fifth studio album, Feel That Fire,^[5] was released in February 2009. Its title track, co-written by Brett Beavers and The Warren Brothers, reached Top 40 in October 2008 and became his sixth Number One in February 2009. The second single from the album Feel That Fire is "Sideways", which was released on March 2, 2009, and went on to become his seventh Number One in the summer of 2009. The third single from the album Feel That Fire is "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes", which was released on September 13, and peaked at No. 2.

Bentley's next studio album was released on June 8, 2010. The first single from the album, "Up on the Ridge", was released to iTunes on April 20, 2010.

[edit] Tours

• Free and Easy Summer Tour (2007)
• Throttle Wide Open Tour (2008)
  • with Luke Bryan and Bucky Covington
• Paisley Party Tour (2009)
  • with Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker
• American Saturday Night Tour (2009)
  • with Brad Paisley and Jimmy Wayne
• Up On The Ridge Tour (2010)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

• Don't Leave Me in Love (2001)
• Dierks Bentley (2003)
• Modern Day Drifter (2005)
• Long Trip Alone (2006)
• Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008 (2008)
• Feel That Fire (2009)
• Up on the Ridge (2010)

[edit] Awards and nominations

This section requires expansion with: nominations.

[edit] Film and television

• Narrated and appeared in The Rise of Kahne (2009), a biography of NASCAR driver, Kasey Kahne. Bentley is featured in the DVD during an event benefiting the Kasey Kahne Foundation.^[7]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dierks Bentley

• Official web site