Meet Mariana Bowring, Dierks Bentley's 'Stand-In' Guitarist In Georgia

If you've been to a recent Dierks Bentley show, you know he usually gives one fan--who looks like they're rockin' and having a good time--an "on-stage experience of a lifetime" by pulling them out of the crowd to the stage, strapping his #7 red Fender Telecaster guitar on them and letting them jam with the band to the rest of "Lot of Leavin' Left To Do."

DB Congress member, Mariana Bowring from Georgia, was the lucky fan during the September 19, 2013 Lakewood Amphitheater show in Atlanta, Georgia.

Although Mariana's first live DB show was only a few years ago, she's been a fan "ever since I've loved country music," she admits to DB Congress.  She is a dedicated DBC-er, posting, tweeting, promoting and requesting Dierks daily!

Here's her Dierks back-story:

"The first time I saw Dierks Bentley perform was CMA Fest 2011, but I'd known about him for as long as I've loved country music. During his set he sang "Up On The Ridge" and "Draw Me A Map" (neither of those songs had I heard before) and I instantly fell in love and had to hear more of that music! So I bought the "Up On The Ridge" album, and because I loved that so much, I bought a banjo (I just had to make that same kind of music). 

Then the "Home" album came out and that became the second Dierks album I bought and I loved every song! So I decided I needed to see Dierks on tour and in concert! I joined the fan club and stalked the dates for something near me. But because I kept moving, we kept missing each other. 

The second time I saw him was CMA Fest 2012 and by then I was dying to see him at a real concert! He was finally coming to where I lived, but we ended moving again a month before that show. I was heart-broken. After moving, for some reason, they added an extra date and it was gonna be only two hours from me! That was the Macon, GA show where I got a Meet & Greet and got pulled on stage the first time! 

I do play banjo (although I am a beginner, not at all that good at it!) And because Dierks is the reason I got a banjo, I got it signed by him at LCB (Last Call Ball annual fan club party) in June! I play guitar, sing and write songs, too. (I'm attempting a country singer-songwriter career). 

The Atlanta show on September 19th was my 10th Dierks Bentley show and one that I had been looking forward to since the date was announced back in December.  I was in the pit, right up at the catwalk and only two people between me and the front of the stage.  The Cadillac Three and Randy Rogers Band were awesome openers and I especially wished RRB had done more songs!  

Then, Dierks Bentley!  It was my favorite show yet (they get better and better every time)!  My favorite songs he did were "I Hold On," "5-1-5-0," "How Am I Doin','" "Feel That Fire," "Home," and of course, "Lot of Leavin' Left To Do." 

I was wearing a 'The Departed' ball cap which Dierks was wearing also, so during the instrumental of LOLLTD, he turned his usually facing backwards cap around and came over to me and pulled me on stage! I was in total shock, since he had already pulled me on stage in Macon!  It was so fun to jam on the guitar and with the band! (Back in March, Dierks left the stage to let me finish the song, so I thought he'd done the same thing this time.  Turns out he was sitting behind me on stage jamming out!) 

Dierks and Mariana

Mariana and Dan Hochhalter

Dierks pulls Mariana up on stage at the 2:40 mark of this video:

Later, at the end of singing, "Feel That Fire," Dierks called me out singing "This girl wants to play my guitar at the Atlanta, Georgia show," and blew me a kiss! 

After "Home" and the final bow, Dierks came over with a guitar, asked if I had one yet (which I didn't), signed it, and gave it to me! I broke down crying--it was the BEST night of my life! 

It was such a great concert, I'd go to it over and over!  Can't wait for show #11 in October!

What Do You "Hold On" To?

Dierks Bentley's newest single, "I Hold On," is steadily making it's way up the charts, but we could use your help!  As you know, in the song Dierks talks about holding on to things in his life that mean the most--his 200K mile truck "Big White" that he and his dad drove to TN; his Willie Nelson and George Jones autographed Martin Guitar; his faith and love for his family; and our freedom in the USA.

What do you hold on to?  Join your fellow DB fans and tweet, email, call, post on Facebook and tell your your story of what the song means to you!  Be sure to tag the DJ and/or radio station and request that they play the song. Also, tag @DierksBentley on Twitter and hash tag #IHoldOn.

Here's an example from Renee ‏@CTcowgirl, DB Congress Rep in Connecticut:

"Here's a pic of what "I Hold On" to @DierksBentley @dbcongress @977wcty I sure am a lucky girl, 7 years in Oct 💞 pic.twitter.com/mMyp54OGJI"



Let's give it all we got to give, congress and campaign to move "I Hold On" to #1 on the charts!

Dierks Performs on America's Got Talent

He wasn't there to compete--no need.  Dierks Bentley showed his true talent when he performed on the NBC America's Got Talent finale last night with country singer contestant, Jimmy Rose.  The duo sang Dierks's newest single, "I Hold On" (a shortened-for-TV version).

Jimmy started out the song, "It's just an old beat up truck..." and although Dierks was away from the microphone, he visibly mouthed the words along with the up and comer, not satisfied to stand silent to his own-penned lyrics!

Jimmy is from Kentucky and served in Iraq and worked briefly as a miner.  Nice job pointing to the American flag when singing, "like the stripes to the flag, like a boy to his dad..."  We're thinking "Down In The Mine" might have been an appropriate encore!

Jimmy left in third place, but we're thinkin' he will show up in Nashville soon!

Watch the performance here:

Dierks Holds On to Hosting Duties, Honors Keith Whitley

Holding on to a second consecutive year of hosting duties for the ACM Honors, Dierks Bentley was "blending informality and irreverence made possible by the lack of network television cameras with a genuine appreciation of the night's award winners," according to USA Today. 

September 9, 2013 - Source: Rick Diamond/Getty Images North America

Tuesday night's seventh annual event at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville was sold out and featured a mix of live music, historical video retrospectives and current video tributes and interviews with industry veterans honoring Special Awards recipients. 

DB Congress Reps were in the audience and shared their impressions of the evening:

Kelsey Hodges - TN
Dierks was so great Tuesday night, he definitely needs to host more shows! He said he was going to join Blake and Luke with the ACMs next year as "Blierks!" haha. He opened the show with "I Hold On," then a performance with Ricky Skaggs to honor Keith Whitley which was out of this world. It was an amazing night, and, it was also cool to share the night with other Congress members!

Mariana Bowring - GA
Dierks was such an awesome host! He opened singing "I Hold On" which really set the mood for the rest of the night in a great way! He kept the show moving right along delivering all his lines strongly and always throwing in some humor whether it was poking fun at Lady A or how much beer he'd been drinking! Later in the night he sang an awesome duet with Ricky Skaggs and then sang a song in tribute Keith Whitley which was beautiful! After the show was able to catch him as he was headed to his truck and got him to sign my hat! Awesome night!

Cecia Guidry Benoit - LA
I had a wonderful night! Dierks really started the show off with a bang by playing "I hold On" and also sang a duet with Ricky Skaggs, "Don't Cheat In My Hometown" AND the BIGGEST highlight was when Dierks sang "I'm Over You" as a tribute to the great Keith Whitley!
Cecia drove right back home so she could see Dierks in Mississippi Wednesday night!

Among the honorees were Blake Shelton and Lady A, and both had tweets for Dierks afterward:

Dierks was equally excited and tweeted a pre-show prep photo:

And Ricky Scaggs had kinds words for Dierks too!

Honorees included a few studio musicians who have played on several of Dierks' album cuts:  Aubrey Haynie (Fiddle Player of the Year) and Guitarist of the Year J.T. Corenflos.

For a complete list of performers, presenters and honorees, click here.