Dierks and Sheryl Hit The Streets of Nashville in Carpool Karaoke

For those of us who follow Dierks Bentley on social media, we knew it was coming.
For those who follow happenings in downtown Nashville, you knew even sooner than that.

Carpool Karaoke (Goes Country) edition, featuring Dierks Bentley and Sheryl Crow, finally aired this week, and it was worth the wait.

On July 31, Dierks dropped this teaser:

@carpoolkaraoke w/ @applemusic 🚘

A post shared by Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley) on Jul 31, 2017 at 3:50pm PDT

With that bit of information in our pocket, a look back at an April 5 post from Legends Corner gave us a little more insight on what we could expect from this highly-anticipated episode:

#dierksbentley and #sherylcrow stopped in at this afternoon to sing a song. 🤠 You never know who will pop in and jump on stage at #legendscorner  #sherylcrow #dierksbentley #tennessee #honkytonk #countrymusic #nashville #tennessee #visitmusiccity #carpoolkaraoke

A post shared by Legends Corner (@legendscorner) on Apr 5, 2017 at 3:26pm PDT

The episode was available on iTunes and Apple Music as of Sept. 26. You can watch it here (though you will need an account to do so). It didn't disappoint.

For those who don't have an account (or who want to relive the magic), here's a brief recap!
*spoiler alert*

With Dierks in the driver's seat and Sheryl riding shotgun, the comfortable pair took a drive down music memory lane, singing personal hits such as "All I Wanna Do," "Picture," "What Was I Thinkin'," and "Drunk on a Plane." (Though it's questionable if Sheryl knew all of the words, she nailed the majority of the song!)

They even pull in a random musician strolling down the street to have him sing "If It Makes You Happy." Surprising the pair, he gets the chance to sing one of his own. They picked a winner. Dierks even replies, "If I had the button to turn my seat around right now, I would! You're great man!" As it turns out, the musician is David Oakleaf who was a top 5 finalist on CMT's Can You Duet? in 2008. According to his Instagram post, he's still on a Dierks and Sheryl high six months later.

After finding out pretty much no one knows how to spell either of their names, Cheryl and Derk decide to take the challenge of seeing how many gigs they can accomplish in their remaining 30 minutes. The only rules--pull over, run in, play something, run out.

With stops at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and (a very familiar venue for Dierks) Legend's Corner, they successfully fit in four shows in 30 minutes (with an entertaining bonus fifth show in the last minute in a back alley!). Classic country was on the menu with songs such as "Good Hearted Woman" and "I Hear That Train A Comin.'"

For those who want to see behind the scenes, these lucky fans happened to be at Tootsie's and Legend's when the pair took the stage:



With prior duets at the 2014 ACMs and the 2013 ACM Fan Festival, a special Miles and Music for Kids in 2012, and even social media jokes last year, it's clear the two have a friendship filled with laughter and "some fun" performing together.

With Whiskey Row opening in the coming months in Nashville, my guess is DB Congress members will be taking to the streets in droves, looking for their chance of a drive by!


Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe

Dierks Bentley and U2 Connection, Years in the Making

As die-hard, card-carrying members of DB Congress, we know what it's like to be super fans.

We listen to--and know--all the songs; we travel--sometimes around the world--to see him; we have the homemade t-shirts to prove it.

But what if you had Dierks Bentley's phone number in your cell? That's reaching dream status. Am I the only one?

Dierks knows that feeling. He, himself, is a card-carrying member of U2's fan club (literally--he carries the card in his wallet). AND he is in regular contact with frontman Bono.

A post shared by Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley) on Sep 14, 2017 at 8:06pm PDT

Their history goes farther back, and is more intricate, than many realize. It all started with a "mutual interest in helping people out and trying to use our celebrity currency for good."

But a very public nod from Bono to Dierks this month drew the attention of country music (and U2) fans everywhere.

In a New Orleans concert on Sept. 14, U2 stunned the audience--and very clearly, Dierks Bentley--with a cover of "Drunk on a Plane" as an interlude in their hit "Beautiful Day."

trying to process... U2 breaking into drunk on a plane last night in New Orleans. Can't make this up. @u2 #drunkonaplane #beautifulday @onecampaign Thank you whoever posted this video. I need a drink... maybe several!

A post shared by Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley) on Sep 15, 2017 at 4:31pm PDT

One could argue that is the ultimate compliment.

The feeling is mutual. In addition to publically noting U2 was the best concert Dierks has ever seen, for those of us who are familiar with Dierks' bluegrass album, Up on the Ridge, the song "Pride (In the Name of Love)" is actually a U2 cover.

Dierks even contacts Bono before every new album release, sending a song or two for Bono's feedback. A recent example is "Freedom" from the Black album.

"The third verse of the song was kind of inspired by something he said to me once," said Dierks. "He said when people in other countries see the American flag, they don't just see a geographical location, they see an idea of freedom. And they want a piece of that idea. So I sent him the song, and he sent me a pretty thoughtful email back. ... He couldn't be more supportive. It was pretty cool to get that email."

It's not just professional feedback between the two artists. When Dierks' dad passed away in 2012, Bono reached out with a letter of condolence. The words that stuck out most to Dierks were, "I don't know how close or far away you were, but it's just a stinker." That message held a lot of meaning in a very difficult time.

Just two months before, Bono--a lover of country music himself--had the privilege of introducing Dierks at the ACM Awards.



"Dierks Bentley's music reaches all the way from Nashville into my kitchen in Dublin."

As DB Congress representatives globally, we would have to agree, Bono.

Now the only question that remains: Has Bono joined our ranks a DB Congress member?
If not, sounds like he has honorary member status already established.
Now, to get him a card ...



Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe

Emotional New Dierks Bentley Song Featured on "Only The Brave" Soundtrack

What Dierks Bentley teased earlier this summer has finally come to light.

so honored to have a song in this film. it sheds light on the lifestyle of wilderness fire fighters and honors these men and their families.

— Dierks Bentley (@DierksBentley) July 20, 2017

Today, he released a new song that will be featured on the “Only the Brave” soundtrack.

A new Dierks song always brings about excitement. But this one comes with an emotional pull you might not have been prepared for.

“This is at the top, if not the most meaningful experience I’ve ever been a part of,” said Dierks. “It hits me harder than any other song I’ve had a chance to be a part of.”

That statement is no exaggeration.

The song, “Hold the Light,” written by Dierks, Bon Iver’s Sean Carey, Joe Trapanese, and Jon Randall, graces the soundtrack of a movie that tells the story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. 

On June 28, 2013, 19 of the 20 Hotshot firefighters were killed in the Yarnell, Ariz., wildfire. What looked to be a relatively straightforward firefighting day turned tragic when the winds unexpectedly shifted, trapping the men.

After an early viewing of the movie, director Joseph Kosinski asked Dierks if he would contribute to the rough version of the closing song.

"My first reaction was 'This song is perfect [as is].' But I was honored to be asked and thought maybe I could take it up a notch and put my voice on it," said Bentley.

"The message of the song is that you are never alone," said Kosinski. "It shows the enduring sense of camaraderie and support for one another at the core of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, whether they were working on the fires, or back home just living their lives."

The lyrics are emotional and reflective, coupled with the hope of seeing your loved ones "on the other side." The music itself is haunting, flooding the listener with a process of pain to hope. Just a few seconds in and it's clear this song is motion picture quality.

"Hold the Light" is available now on iTunes and on Amazon.

Dierks was one of the first to publically to help the families of the Hotshots (the 19 men left behind many loved ones, including 51 children). That July, Dierks headlined a “Country Cares” concert fundraiser in Prescott Valley, Ariz., where the Band Perry, Randy Houser, and David Nail joined him on stage. The event raised an incredible $476,000, all of which went directly to the families of the fallen firefighters.

As Dierks said at that time, “I want to help honor the memory of these 19 brave firefighters, to be part of the healing process for the community and to raise money for the families left behind. I was and still am devastated by this tragic event in my home state. I certainly can’t imagine what these families are enduring, but I do believe in the healing power of music.”

The lone survivor from the Hotshots team, Brendan McDonough, joined Dierks at the concert, along with the families of the fallen.

Thank you to KMLE 107.9 from Phoenix, Ariz., for this photo, taken from their Twitter page.

"Over the last couple years, I’ve met and gotten to know Brendan ... and my mom has met with some of the guys’ families, and it’s still unfathomable to put yourself in any of their shoes," said Dierks.

The day after the 2017 ACM Awards, Dierks and his mom visited the Hotshots memorial site in Yarnell, Ariz.

mom and I stopped by yarnell az on the way home from @acmawards to pay our respects to the #granitemountainhotshots #granitemountain. Thoughts and prayers for family and friends as always.

A post shared by Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley) on Apr 3, 2017 at 7:41pm PDT

Within the week, at the Country Thunder concert, Dierks shared an inspired song he wrote after visiting the memorial. Deborah Power, DB Congress Rep from Arizona, captured this never-before-heard song, “Hotshots.”

"It's such a powerful, important story that hits home to me so hard."



Only the Brave will be in theaters nationwide on Oct. 20. The movie stars Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Taylor Kitsch, Jeff Bridges and Jennifer Connelly.

Lyrics:

If it wasn’t known

That our love will carry on

I will be the wind

That echoes on the canyon wall

One more day with you

To walk around our neighborhood

We will never know

Like it was understood

You never say goodbye

Just let me hold the light

If you’ve given up

I will call an end to this

I will be your rock

From my perch

If you walk the ridge

You will find the marks and scars

Kneel down by the tree

Under the setting stars

You never say goodbye

Just let me hold the light

We never say goodbye

I’ll see you on this side or the other

Where the desert sun kisses the sky

Baby hold the light

Keep it in your eyes

And promise that you’ll dream of me

Beyond the walls of time

In the end we lay beside

Just look up at the light

Just let me hold the light

Let me hold the light

This is the second motion picture song for Dierks. Earlier this year, his song "Days of Dark" was featured in "The Shack."


Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe