Jay Ballinger Stays the Course for Kids

Those of you who are die-hard Dierks Bentley fans probably have met funny guy and stage manager Jay Ballinger.  Little did we know, the Louisville native hosts an annual celebrity golf scramble, benefiting Louisville's Home of the Innocents, where Ballinger and his sister were both under the custody of when they were adopted at birth.

The second annual "On The Course For Kids" will be held on Monday, September 19 at Quail Chase Golf Club, 7000 Cooper Chapel Road, in Louisville, KY.   Celebrities scheduled to attend this year include country music artists Jake Owen, Josh Thompson, Bucky Covington, and Miss Willie Brown among others, all of whom have toured with Dierks Bentley.

The two man scramble will have a shot gun start at noon on Monday, September 19, with an acoustic concert following the awards ceremony at approximately 6:45 p.m. Registration for golfers is $100 per person. Tickets for the concert are $15 in advance or $20 day of show. All proceeds will benefit Home of the Innocents.

Fans are invited to come out to watch the scramble and meet and greet with the celebrities. Although there is no charge for watching, donations can be made at the registration table or by visiting Home of the Innocents. Return for the intimate acoustic concert and know that the entire purchase price of your ticket will benefit the Home.

According to Louisville.com, "Ballinger has now found such a comfortable place working with Dierks Bentley that he has turned down opportunities to join the tours of Kid Rock and Bon Jovi."

Jay Ballinger, side stage, Boone, NC - 7-23-11

“I feel really lucky,” said Ballinger. “I look at some of these kids, I feel lucky that I had great parents who adopted me, let me chase my dreams, and I never had to spend a day in that home. I never had to be in that situation and placed in foster care and all that stuff,” he continued.

Last year, in the first celebrity golf scramble, Ballinger and friends raised nearly $47,000 for the Home.

“I was one of the fortunate ones,” Ballinger said. “I’m in a place that I can give back. If you’re in place that you can give back and you can afford to give back, I feel like you should pay it forward. And that’s what I’m doing. I couldn’t think of anyone else that deserves it more than children.”

Best of luck, Jay!  We hope you beat last year's total and surpass $50,000!  We've got a lot of DB Congress reps in Kentucky that I'm sure will want to support this worthy cause!

See ya on the road!

~Ronna
DB Congress Chair
Florida

DBTV - Episode 33: Dierks Mountain Biking in Montana

Country & Cold Cans Tour Announced

Thanks to The Green Room PR, we have some info about a Dierks Bentley fall tour!

Multi-Platinum singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley will kick off the first leg of his Contry & Cold Cans Tour beginning Oct. 6 in Lacrosse, WI.  Special guests Jerrod Niemann and Eli Young Band will open for Bentley on the 22 city run that wraps up in Denver, CO on Nov. 19.  Fan club members can purchase tickets for the first date beginning tomorrow (Aug 16) at Dierks.com, while tickets for the general public will go on sale this Fri., August 19 through Ticketmaster.  Additional tour dates will be announced over the coming weeks.

"It's been a killer summer playing festivals all over the country and partying with the most die-hard country music fans out there," say Bentley.  "We're going to crank up the 'Country & Cold Cans' tour in the Fall and keep it going.  I can't imagine that I'll have to convince Jerrod or EYB to have a cold beer or two...they are always up for the party."

Bentley's current hit "Am I The Only One" is just a notch away from taking the top spot on the country single chart.  Bentley is currently in the studio finishing up his sixth Capitol Nashville studio album.  

I can't help but think that present company are a large part the die-hard fans DB is referencing!   He doesn't have to convince us to keep it going and have a cold beer either!  Jerrod and EYB are sure to be a fantastic addition to the party... Be sure to keep checking Dierks.com for new dates.

~Amy
DB Congess Rep
Delaware

Dierks charms the Northwest

Dierks and crew spent this week in the Northwest, with shows in Washington, Oregon, and Montana.

When they weren't fishing, rafting, or cliff jumping, Dierks and the boys were playing to record-breaking crowds and getting rave reviews.  It was truly a great week to be a part of Team Dude!

According to the Commissioner at the Richland County Fair in Sidney, MT, "The sold-out concert by Dierks Bentley attracted fans...the night show was great, Dierks put on a good show". 

The local news in OR also took notice.  Here's a news story about the performance at the Douglas County Fair in Roseburg.

~Amy
DB Congress Rep
Delaware

Dierks Wishes Luke Bryan a Happy Birthday

Luke Bryan opened for Dierks Bentley on tour in 2008 and they've been friends ever since.  Check out Dierks and others wishing Luke a happy 35th birthday.  Dierks chimes in at the 2:13 mark, saying how good Luke looks at "46" and hoping he's not up in a tree stand wasting bullets (referencing Luke's "Drinkin' Beer and Wastin' Bullets" song from the Doin' My Thing album).

Dierks Bentley to Rock Richmond International Raceway Thursday, Sept. 8

Attention Virginia DB Congress!  Dierks Bentley will headline a Benefit Concert to drop the Green Flag on NASCAR Weekend at America’s Premier Short Track.  Our DBC president will kick off race weekend with a Thursday, September 8 concert at the Richmond International Raceway amphitheatre.

Dierks plays the track’s amphitheater for the first “Rockin’ the Raceway” to benefit the Cullather Brain Tumor Quality of Life Center at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital.

Bentley’s first five albums have sold more than 5,000,000 copies, producing seven #1 hits. Additionally, he has received 10 Grammy nominations. His song “Sideways” is recognizable among NASCAR fans for its inclusion in FOX’s NASCAR race television promotional ads.

The concert, which precedes the September 9, Virginia 529 College Savings 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race and the September 10, Wonderful Pistachios 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, serves as a festive way to drop the green flag on race weekend in Richmond.

“This is going to be a very special and exciting way to begin our ‘One Last Race to Make The Chase’ weekend,” said Richmond International Raceway president Dennis Bickmeier. “Dierks is an incredible music artist who resonates with our fans and I’m sure he will rock the Raceway on September 8.”

Tickets ($55 reserved, $35 general admission) go on sale this Friday, July 15, at 9:00 a.m. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here , via phone at 866-455-7223 and at Richmond International Raceway’s ticket office, located at 600 East Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA 23222.

See Dierks on the Opry: Buy One Get One Free!

The Grand Ole Opry has a special BUY ONE GET ONE FREE sale now through Friday, July 1 for shows through September 3. Dierks Bentley will perform July 19 so here's the perfect chance for you and a friend to go for the price of one!


48-HOUR SUMMER KICK-OFF SALE!

In honor of 4th of July and the beginning of summer, we have a special offer for you! From now through Friday, BUY ONE ticket to the Opry, GET ONE FREE for shows through Sept. 3! See the Oak Ridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Dierks Bentley, Loretta Lynn, and more! Use code SMR48 when you order tickets at opry.com or at (800) SEE OPRY. See the full schedule of upcoming shows.

DVR Alert: Am I The Only One Video Debut

Tune into CMT's Big New Music Weekend April 22-24th to catch the world premiere or Dierks' hot new video for "Am I The Only One."

You may remember Dierks' tweet a few weeks ago saying his stage manager Jay plays a bartender in the video, and DB's dog Jake makes an appearance, too!

Set your DVR and come back here and let us know what you thought about the video!  Don't forget to call, tweet, text, email your DJs to play the song daily!

Dierks Donates Handwritten Lyrics to eBay Charity Auction For Japan Relief Efforts

Now through April 15, Dierks Bentley and other artists are participating in an eBay charity auction to aide the Red Cross earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan, supporting victims of the devastation.

Dierks donated handwritten lyrics to his song, ‘Beautiful World,’ from the Feel That Fire album, plus a signed 'Up On The Ridge' CD, a signed photograph, Meet & Greet and concert tickets for four, and a signed football.

If you want to bid on these Dierks items and others, go to the official auction site. EMI has also generously pledged to match every donation up to $1 million Euros.

Dierks Discusses 'Diamonds' as Centerpiece for New Album

Dierks Bentley discusses his new upcoming album with Doug Pullen from Pulse.  Regarding his current single, "Am I The Only One," Dierks says, "It's a party anthem, appropriate for a tour sponsored by a liqueur consumed by the shot glass. "I'm finding out quickly every night that I am not the only one who wants to have fun."

After the last album, "Up On The Ridge," had a hard time breaking into the top 20 at radio, Dierks' next album, due out in August, will be more commercialized and radio-friendly.

He's thinking of calling it "Diamonds" for his new song "Diamonds Make Babies."

"For me," he said, "it's about girls in general, the years trying to put a diamond on a girl's finger ... and what happens after, like having babies. It's the centerpiece of the album."

The new record is "based on where I am in life" as a musician, husband and father of two daughters, ages 2 and 3 months. "I get on the bus every night with the guys in the band and play video games and guitars and drink beer and go to parties where people yell and I act like an idiot," he said. But Bentley said he was "lucky to marry a girl I had a crush on in the eighth grade (Cassidy Black) and have two beautiful little girls. I really feel like it all works its way into the music."

For Bentley, doing a rockin' tour after a bluegrass-flavored album makes perfect sense.

"I'm kind of yin and yang. I do one thing long enough and I want to do something else, so the amps are cranked up to 11, we're loud and rocking. The show is sponsored by Jager," he said. "But we break it down in the middle of the show, that's why it's great to have "Ridge," because we can break out the acoustic bass and banjos."

Read the whole article here: Dierks Bentley country star headlines show at the Inn of The Mountain Gods By Doug Pullen / For Pulse

DBTV - Episode 11 - The Making of "Am I The Only One?"

Dierks, Jim Beavers and Jon Randall wrote,  "Am I The Only One?" up on the ridge.  Dierks says he can't wait to hear what the fans think of this song, so leave a comment!

DBTV - Episode 12 - American Chopper, Leno and The Talk

Follow Dierks as he visits Paul Jr. and Vinny of American Chopper, and later poses with Jay Leno and shows off his girls on The Talk.

Dierks Announces Next Single: Am I The Only One?

Dierks Bentley announces his next single will be, "Am I the Only One?" in this interview:

Dierks Bentley Ready to Rock: Country star leads Jagermeister tour into House of Blues
By ROBERT DiGIACOMO, For At The Shore pressofAtlanticCity.com

Dierks Bentley is planning a party for Atlantic City. "My goal with every show is to leave everyone in the room without any voice," says Bentley, who headlines this year's Jagermeister Country Tour, which makes a stop this weekend at the House of Blues, inside the Showboat Casino-Hotel.

"I want them to scream and yell. I want it to be the most fun time of the year for the fans who come to these shows. When you're sponsored by Jagermeister, you might as well throw it all out there."

Bentley, who is one of the most popular Nashville artists to emerge during the past decade, arrives in Atlantic City following last year's well-received all-acoustic record, "Up on the Ridge" (Capitol Records).

He plans to include some of that material in a special set, as well as preview his new single - "Am I the Only One?" - from his forthcoming album.

Ahead of the show, he talks about his surprising New Jersey connection and why he never aspired to be the next Garth Brooks.

Question: Not many Nashville stars attend high school in New Jersey. How did you land at The Lawrenceville School?

Answer: I grew up in Phoenix, and lived there for the first 14 years of my life. I had troubles in my younger adolescence, and my parents decided to send me away to boarding school.

If I hadn't gone there, I would never have discovered country music. I made some great friends - and had a love of Jersey girls - but country reminded me of home and Arizona.

Q: Did being a kid from the Southwest, by way of Jersey, make it harder to break into Nashville?

A: It's weird, growing up in Arizona, I thought country music was Western music. When I got to Nashville, I realized it's a big Southwestern thing. I grew up where Waylon Jennings got his start, and Marty Robbins.

Q: What was it like when you moved to Nashville at age 19?

A: I didn't know anybody. I had to start from the ground up. It was a classic story of persistence and determination paying off in the end. I worked nonstop, pounding on doors and playing bars for tips.  It took about eight years to get a record deal.

Q: Unlike many fledgling country artists in the mid-'90s, though, you didn't want to be the next Garth Brooks. Why not?

A: I wasn't in love with the music coming out at the time. Everyone was trying to be Garth Brooks. I love Garth Brooks, but it wasn't my thing to wear a cowboy hat.

Q: Instead, you learned a lot from the bluegrass artists who played at Nashville's Station Inn, and came full circle with your last album, "Up on the Ridge." What inspired you to go unplugged now?

A: I'd been on the road for about six years. I realized I was losing creativity. I wanted to make a heavily bluegrass, country music record.

That meant I was stepping away from the game a bit. I made a record I poured my heart into.

Q: For your next project, you're changing direction again?

A: I spent the last five months working on a record coming out in August. It's electric country, with a lot of bass and drums.

The first song is a big party song. It's called "Am I the Only One?" and it's a song about trying to drag your buddies out to have a good time.

Q: Is there anything else on your mind before we go?

A: If The Boss is reading this, I would love to have him get out to the show.

Q: You must have crossed paths with Bruce Springsteen at some point?

A: I haven't met him, but several people close to him told me was a fan of "Up on the Ridge." That means a lot to me.

Dierks Bentley Remembers 10 Grammy Winning Country Classics

Reposted from CMT.com:

Dierks Bentley is up for three Grammy Awards in recognition of Up on the Ridge, the bluegrass-influenced project he released last year. Along with a nod for best country album, Bentley is rooted in two slots in the category of best country collaboration with vocals: one for "Bad Angel," featuring Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson, and the other for "Pride (In the Name of Love)," featuring Del McCoury and the Punch Brothers.


"With this record in particular, it seems fitting to be a part of the Grammys because it's an album that encapsulates a lot of different types of music under the country music umbrella," Bentley tells CMT.com. "For me, personally, it's really exciting. It's exciting for my producer, the musicians and all the writers and collaborators on this album. I think it's a fitting way to end this album, just being nominated. It's nice to come back and have one last chance to visit Up on the Ridge and do it in the setting of the Grammys."
With the Grammy Awards scheduled to air Sunday night (Feb. 13) on CBS, Bentley shares his personal thoughts about 10 Grammy-winning country classics.

"El Paso," Marty Robbins

1960, Best Country & Western Performance

A great storytelling song by one of the greatest voices of all time in country music. It's a lost art, to have a song that really pulls you in like that.



"Foggy Mountain Breakdown," Flatt & Scruggs

1968, Best Country Performance, Duo or Group -- Vocal or Instrumental

Earl Scruggs invented the three-finger style of banjo picking that was never better played than on a song like "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." That three-finger roll is on great display there. It probably blew people's minds when they first heard that. It's not every day that somebody invents a style of playing like Earl did. It's a very deserving song.



"Folsom Prison Blues," Johnny Cash

1968, Best Country Vocal Performance, Male

That's one of the most-played songs of any bar or state fair in America. (laughs) It took me a long time to get that one out of my set list. We played it so many times. It's probably the most recognizable Johnny Cash song there is out there. It encapsulates what is so great about country songs, which is storytelling. It has that dark element to it, which draws people in.



"Forever and Ever, Amen," Randy Travis

1987, Best Country Song (Songwriters: Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet)

What a great country voice singing a great country song. In the love song category, that's a song about never-ending devotion. You hear that pure country sound coming out at a time when country had been popped up a little bit. Here comes a guy that's a real traditional country singer with a great country love song. It was a turning point in country music.



"From the Bottle to the Bottom," Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge

1973, Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group

A total innovator -- Kris Kristofferson and his writing. To think about the kind of country songs that were out in the 1970s, no one was writing the way Kristofferson was writing. The alliteration and the poetic style of writing ... but also the realness of it. It's about a real down-and-outer. It's a style of writing that he unleashed upon Nashville that nobody else had done before.



"Gentle on My Mind," Glen Campbell

1967, Best Country & Western Solo Vocal Performance, Male

1967, Best Country & Western Recording

1967, Best Country & Western Song (Songwriter: John Hartford)

1967, Best Folk Performance (for Hartford's version)

It's a great John Hartford song. I love that song so much because it allowed Hartford the financial freedom to be [himself] the rest of his life. How do you write something like that? It's so out there as a writing style. He definitely wasn't trying to write a hit. He was just writing a great song. You can tell when you listen to it, it's a song that came from his heart. It has a little bit of that left-fieldness that makes it one-of-a-kind.



"He Stopped Loving Her Today," George Jones

1980, Best Country Vocal Performance, Male

It's a song that a lot of people consider to be one of the greatest songs of all time. When it comes to great country songwriting, the best songs always leave a little twist in there for you, that you don't expect to see coming. "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is the example of the best twist, the best turn, that you can do. He did that punch you're not expecting, and he does it better than anybody. You take a great song and mix the greatest voice with it, you're going to get a Grammy.



"High Lonesome Sound," Vince Gill and Alison Krauss & Union Station

1996, Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

What a great collaboration. The harmony in that song touches anybody in any genre of music. Whether they're a country or bluegrass fan, or a rock and pop fan, you hear that and you can't help but be moved by the hauntingness of the vocals and the content of the song.



"O Death," Ralph Stanley

2001, Best Male Country Vocal Performance

Dr. Ralph represents that mountain music, that unpolished version of bluegrass. To hear someone sing so starkly like that, it's a really cool thing. And it talks about a subject matter that we all try to avoid. And he takes it straight on and talks about it! (laughs) It's a one-of-a-kind song.



"On the Road Again," Willie Nelson

1980, Best Country Song (Songwriter: Willie Nelson)

Willie Nelson at his best. It's very personal. It's about Willie and it's about his lifestyle. You wonder if other people would be able to connect with it, but people really do. They get to wear Willie's shoes a little bit and feel the vibe of the road through that song. I see myself in that song a lot. Even before I was traveling around, I just loved that song.

Source

Welcome New DB Congress Reps!

Logo created by Stephanie Lanham, MO Rep

Welcome to all our newest Dierks Bentley Congress Members!

♪ Dyanna, Florida
♪ Holli, Nebraska
♪ Lisa and Kimberly, New York
♪ Kyleen, North Carolina
♪ Stevie, South Carolilna

We're nearing 650 DB Congress members, who represent all 50 United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Europe, and Asia!  At 639, our goal is to reach 650 by Valentine's Day!  Can we do it?  Yes, and you can help!  Just tell all your friends who are Dierks Bentley fans to join the fan club (only $9.99 right now on dierks.com) and then join our DB family of reps who support him daily and be listed for free on the Representatives page here on dbcongress.com!

As soon as the new single is released we'll be updating the Current Campaigns page, but for now just spread the word and let's grow our family!

If any of you who have been a member of the DB Congress less than a year and would like to be considered for a "Featured New Rep of the Week" blog story, please email me at Ronna@dbcongress.com.

February of Firsts For Dierks

After an emotional week long live video (and sometimes audio) feed from the recording studio in Asheville, NC, Dierks Bentley has a February full of firsts ahead of him.  Not only has no other artist ever invited fans into the recording process as they were working on an album, but modern technology allowed him to interact with fans through the U-Stream chat as well, throughout the week.  It was an awe inspiring experience to say the least!

As if that wasn't enough, Dierks will perform along with Jack Ingram at the "Bud Light Hotel," dubbed the biggest tailgate party in Dallas, prior to Super Bowl XLV on Sunday (Feb. 6). The performance will air online here.

That takes us to Feb 12, where Bentley will travel to Los Angeles for a Dierks Bentley & Friends pre-GRAMMY show at the Troubadour before presenting on February 13 at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards live on CBS. Bentley is nominated for Best Country Album for his critically acclaimed "Up On The Ridge," and Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for the album’s “Bad Angel” featuring Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson and “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” featuring Del McCoury and Punch Brothers. *Fingers crossed for the10-time Grammy nominee to bring home a trophy!

Another first for Dierks includes a commission by NASCAR to record a special version of his Number One hit, "Sideways," for Fox Sports in 2011. The song will be the theme song and air prior to all races throughout the season. Bentley will debut the song live from the Daytona 500 on February 20.  FOX is the exclusive television home to the Daytona 500 along with 12 other point races during the year.

We are so proud of our DB Congress President and wish him luck on all his "firsts" in February 2011!

Dierks is 'The Buzz' in Country Weekly!

Country Weekly's, "The Buzz," features Dierks Bentley in the January 31, 2011 issue.  Storme Warren, host of GAC's Headline Country, cleverly wrote the "Fishin' for a Grammy" article, demonstrating his obvious personal rapport and pride for our DB Congress president and his recent project, Up On The Ridge, which is nominated for a Grammy.

Storme says, "When Ridge was first released, I texted Dierks this message:  "Hold on to this text.  You will win a Grammy for this album."  His response? "Thanks!  I'm hanging on to it.  But what category? Bluegrass or country?"

The Jan. 24th issue includes Dierks and a fan on the Stars Up Close page.  Be sure to pick up your Country Weekly magazines to read both stories!

Dierks & Cody Celebrate 500th CMT Radio Live!

Dierks Bentley was a guest on the very first show and recently helped Cody Alan celebrate the 500th episode of CMT Radio Live! That calls for cake!

Broadcast on radio stations across America, CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan originates from Nashville and is CMT’s premiere country music and entertainment radio show. Cody’s wit, energy and charm shine with big star guests and live interaction with listeners.  That's why he was named the ACM 2010 National On Air Personality of the Year! Dierks says, “Cody’s show always feels fresh and current. Cody cares about country music’s past and future, and has always worked to make his shows exciting, interesting and personal.”

During the 7-minute interview, Dierks asks Cody to dish on the highlights of the 500 shows.  Cody admits Dolly Parton was memorable and Dierks shared his favorite Dolly story.  Listen to find out why DB was horrified!

On the subject of hockey, Cody wanted to know what penalties Dierks is known for and if he's ever been hurt.  Dierks jokes he's had more injuries running around on stage (I have witnessed some of those falls in person!). The topic turns to babies and Dierks tells the story of Jordan's Christmas birth and offers to trade birthdays.  What a good daddy!

YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG--OR OLD TO BE A DIERKS FAN!

Granny Ann has been a Dierks Bentley fan since...well, seems like forever. She was the first DB Fan Club Member to reach out to me as a newbie in 2005, and we've been friends ever since. She's the one who prompted me to start a thread three years ago on dierks.com to rally Fan-clubbers to help Long Trip Alone move up the video countdown charts...and that's when I thought, "It's gonna take an act of congress!" That and watching Dierks' 2006 interview saying his Fan Club was like his congress.

Ann convinced her whole family to be a DB fan, including her grandson, Grayson. Here is a video of Grayson singing Sideways. "I just thought it was so cute and so natural of two little children enjoying Dierks' music," says Ann. Grayson is only 3 and Skyler is 4.

Ann took Grayson to his first Dierks Bentley concert in Atlanta, Georgia in August 2009 at The Tabernacle. "He didn't fall asleep until about half through the show. I've never seen anyone so amazed at a concert like he was," Ann admits. "Grayson reminds me of the little boy in Randy Houser's video, "Boots On" because he is always singing in his car seat. He loves Zac Brown, "Chicken Fried", Billy Currington, "God is great, beer is good and people are crazy" and so many more songs. He's just like his grandmother, he just loves country music."



Granny Ann is one of the original DB Congress dozen, proudly representing Alabama.

Ronna
DBC Chair

HULLABALOU FEST ADDS DIERKS

What's all the hoopla about? Dierks Bentley will perform at HullabaLOU Music Festival at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on July 23.

Designed to be an annual event, the HullabaLOU Music Festival features a wide range of artists that blend the sounds of classic rock, country, adult contemporary and Bluegrass on five stages throughout Churchill Downs' sprawling 147-acre facility.

Sounds like a perfect place for Dierks to pitch his new bluegrass songs from his upcoming album! The Friday night line up also boasts Sam Bush, one of Bentley's idols and co-performer from Bonaroo a few years ago. Other country artists include hot newcomers Gloriana and legendary rockers The Doobie Brothers and Bon Jovi.

I know our Kentucky DB Congress reps are going to have a hard time passing up seeing Bentley in their back-yard!

The inaugural three-day music festival, scheduled for July 23-25 at the home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby, will showcase more than 65 bands on five stages with Kenny Chesney (July 24) and Dave Matthews Band (July 25) serving as the headline acts for Saturday and Sunday.

Check out hullabaloufest.com for all the details and tickets.