Dierks Bentley

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Dierks Bentley bigraphy, stories - American country musician

Dierks Bentley : biography

November 20, 1974 –

Dierks Bentley (born November 20, 1975) 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. A bluegrass studio album, Up on the Ridge, was released on June 8, 2010, and then a sixth album, Home, followed in February 2012.

Bentley’s studio albums have accounted for eighteen singles on the country singles charts, of which ten 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", "Sideways", "Am I the Only One", "Home", and "5-1-5-0". Four more of his singles have reached Top Five on the country charts as well.

Personal life

Bentley married Cassidy Black on December 17, 2005 in Mexico. They live in Nashville, Tennessee, with their dogs Jake (who has appeared in a few of Dierks’ videos) and George. The couple welcomed their first child, Evelyn Day Bentley (nicknamed "Evie"), on October 4, 2008. Their second daughter, Jordan Catherine Bentley, was born December 25, 2010. On June 2, 2012 he announced his father’s passing the day before.tasteofcountry.com

Early life

Bentley was born on November 20, 1975 in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended Culver Academies. After graduating from The Lawrenceville School, at the age of 19 years old Bentley moved to Nashville Tennessee. Bentley spent a year at the University of Vermont before transferring to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee where he graduated in 1997. He was initiated into Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity while at Vermont. He was offered a full ride to play wide receiver at the University of Alabama, but he turned it down to pursue his music career. At Vanderbilt, he did not play football, though he was a star on his high school team receiving for 4,000 yards and having 223 receptions and 85 touchdowns. Reports say that he ran a 4.3 40 and could bench 225 for 22 reps.

Music career

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. The next two singles from that album, "My Last Name" and "How Am I Doin’," reached No. 17 and No. 4, respectively. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Bentley’s second Capitol album, Modern Day Drifter, was released in 2005. It spawned two Number One singles, "Settle for a Slowdown" and "Come a Little Closer," and the Top 5 hit, "Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do." 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.

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

On June 10, 2006, Bentley released his third album, Long Trip Alone. The album produced two No. 1 hits, "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. The fourth single from the album, "Trying to Stop Your Leaving," peaked at No. 5.

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