Showing posts with label Black. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black. Show all posts

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Dierks Adds Personal Touch to Upcoming ACM Awards

With the Academy of Country Music Awards a little more than one month away, elements of the show are starting to be revealed. The news coming out this week is certainly welcomed! It's been announced that Dierks is bringing a personal touch to the event. Here's what we know about this awards show (and why you should tune in!).

1. The Black music video was nominated for Video of the Year
Others nominated in the category include:
"It Ain’t My Fault" - Brothers Osborne (Dierks' touring buddies in 2018!)
"Legends" - Kelsea Ballerini
"Marry Me" - Thomas Rhett
"We Should Be Friends" - Miranda Lambert

Last summer, when talking about Black, Dierks said, "It's about my wife; watching this one rise to the top of the chart is extra sweet.” Seeing the video nominated in this category--with the song and imagery inspired by his wife, Cassidy--is, no doubt, worth any award.
2. Dierks will NOT be returning as host with Luke Bryan ...
In February, Dierks let it slip at a Country Radio Seminar interview that he and Luke will not return for a third year as hosts.

"We got fired this year," Dierks jokingly said. "We're out. We are no longer. Is that public knowledge? I assume it is. We won't be back. It was fun! We did two years. I love Luke to death; he's one of my favorite people. ... It's hard not to have fun with Luke. The ACMs are great and [they] were so good to me."

A DB Congress member was in the audience and caught the conversation on video. This topic is discussed at 17:23.



The Academy has not yet announced who will be presenting awards. We're holding out #hope.
3. However, Dierks WILL be performing!
With Woman, Amen--the first single off Dierks' upcoming album, The Mountain--climbing the charts, the Academy announced the song will be performed live during the show.

Perhaps #patience should have been a key to the mountain, because I certainly need some right about now!

A post shared by Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley) on

Other artists scheduled to take the stage include: Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, and Thomas Rhett.


4. YOU could be part of the performance
This is where we see Dierks' personal touch come through. ACM and CBS announced a special opportunity for fans to be part of his performance during the show.

"Dierks Bentley will be performing his hit WOMAN, AMEN and he’s looking to YOU to help him out. Who have been your female everyday heroes, your inspiration ... mom, sister, wife, relative, friend, teacher, coworker, doctor, teammate, coach, or role model? You could be a part of this celebratory anthem by submitting a personal picture of the woman you want to honor."

The Academy explained the selected images will "be featured on screens behind Bentley during the live telecast of his performance."

If the posts we are seeing with #WomanAmenACM are any indication, DBC members will likely see some familiar faces!






Click here to see the full contest rules and submission instructions.


 The Dierks we know and love will absolutely be taking the stage in true fashion--#humble, #grateful, full of #grace, honoring, fun, and loving the women in his life.

DB Congress viewing party, anyone?

 The 53rd ACM Awards, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, will air live Sunday, April 15, at 8 p.m. (EST) on CBS. 

Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe
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Friday, December 29, 2017

Dierks Bentley Highlights from 2017

Looking back on 2017, the year was packed with memories! With the What the Hell tour, chart-topping singles, award shows, and humanitarian efforts, it was, no doubt, a busy one for Dierks and the guys. Here is a timeline of highlights from this year:

 Jan. 3--Dierks was one of only two artists to earn two RIAA awards for 2016: “Somewhere on a Beach” was designated platinum while his duo with Elle King, “Different for Girls,” earned gold status. In this same announcement, Dierks received RIAA gold album honors for "Feel That Fire," "Home," and "Riser."

Jan. 4--"Somewhere on a Beach" was announced as a nominee for the Country Song of the Year category at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Jan. 13--After teasing the video through social media channels the week prior, the "Black" music video was finally released. And it was so worth the wait. Featuring Dierks' wife, Cassidy, as the female lead, though filmed in frigid Iceland, the video was pure fire.



Jan. 21--Dierks fulfilled his dream of playing at the famed Bridgestone Arena. "What an honor it is to finally get here ... The chance to play Bridgestone Arena in my adopted hometown of Nashville, Tenn., to a sold-out crowd is something I've only dreamed of in my biggest dreams. Everything, I feel like, in my career has led to this moment here.


Jan. 24--Three members of the Dierks Bentley team walked away winners from the CMA Touring Awards: Dan Hochhalter (@fiddlinDan) as Touring Musician of the Year; Chris Reade (@chrisreade) as Lighting Director of the Year; and Tom Addison (@TMtomAddison) as Tour Manager of the Year. Can we give the entire team awards?

Feb. 1--DBCongress.com celebrated eight years! Since that launch, a couple thousand blogs have been written with hundreds of reps looking on, totaling more than 650,000 views! Thank you for making this fan club and website a success!

Feb. 12--Though they didn't walk away with the win, Dierks and Elle King secured a nomination for "Different for Girls" in the Country Duo/Group Performance category at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. This was the 13th nomination for Dierks and the third for Elle.

A post shared by Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley) on

Feb. 23--Dierks' eighth studio album, "Black," earned RIAA gold. The certification made it the only ACM “Album of the Year” nominated project to reach this mark.

Also Feb. 23--DB Congress welcomed a new blogger to the team. Jessica is a rep for the state of Washington (@AllTheWayToMe). Her Dierks love was instant and it's been an unforgettable road ever since! You can see her blogs here throughout 2017.

March 5--"Days of Dark" was released on the major motion picture "The Shack" soundtrack. "The idea of the song is there are these days of dark that need to be overcome. It has kind of a dark title but in the end it's kind of an emotionally uplifting song."



March 7--Dierks' third Whiskey Row opened, this one in Glibert, Ariz. In addition to food and drinks, this location features indoor corn hole, ping pong, a dance floor and stage. The fourth restaurant, this one in Nashville, should be open soon.

March 16--Dierks, along with "an extraordinary collection of music stars," put on an all-star concert-- "The Life and Songs of Kris Kristofferson" at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. This event "brought together fans, friends and music icons to honor the songs of Grammy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning singer-songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson."

 April 2--Dierks and Luke Bryan teamed up once again to host this year's ACM Awards. Dierks brought charm, wit, four wardrobe changes (okay, we lost count), and raw talent to the stage. At this event, Dierks had the opportunity to perform "Black" live. Dierks, Luke, and Eagles rock legend Joe Walsh kicked off the night in a pleasantly surprising way with a high-energy, musically-loaded tribute to the late Chuck Berry. Near the end of the night, “Flatliner” with Cole Swindell, had the entirety of Vegas rocking! Dierks was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for "Black," and Vocal Event of the Year with Elle King. Though he didn't walk away with a physical award, we can all agree he won in our books.


April 6--Dierks performed "If We Make It Through December" at the Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard tribute in Nashville.

April 17--Dierks' wife, Cassidy, ran the Boston Marathon, all in the name of charity. Running for the Safe Haven Family Shelter in Nashville (which was featured in Dierk's Riser video), Cassidy successfully raised $25,000 for the shelter.

May 1--An award-winning day for Dierks, his team announced that “Different For Girls” hit RIAA platinum, while “Black” turned to RIAA gold even before topping country radio charts.

May 7--The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners announced Dierks had accepted the seat as the Industry/Commerce/Finance representative. “I love Nashville and I love aviation,” he said in a recent interview about this appointment. “There are many big changes happening in our city right now as it continues to grow so rapidly. I am very excited to get a chance to be involved in facilitating and managing that growth as it pertains to our airports and aviation services.”


May 15--Ben Hanback, featured in the "Drunk on a Plane" music video, released a book, "Never Leave the Locker Room of the Super Bowl". In this collection of articles on relationships and leadership, he mentions Dierks and DB Congress throughout.

May 20--Dedicated DB Congress member, Laura Parrish, passed away, spurring Dierks and his manager to post about her passing. It's clear the connection between Dierks and his fans is at the heart of all he does.



May 28--Making our world go black, one year after the release of what is considered to be Dierks Bentley’s “most fully-formed release of his career,” the title track, "Black," made it to the #1 position in MediaBase charts. This was his 16th career #1 single. It later became the #1 video on CMT.

June 5--Dierks had the opportunity to fulfil a bucket list dream--singing the national anthem in the Stanley Cup Finals. (Icing on the cake was his team, the Nashville Predators, were playing.) Despite being on vocal rest, with his iconic "whiskey-soaked grit in his voice," Dierks reverently sang our nation's anthem.



June 8--The Tennessean named Dierks as a top 5 moment from the CMA Music Festival. Playing everything from "Tip it on Back" to "What the Hell Did I Say," along with cracking jokes at Garth Brooks' expense, his performance simply "rocked."

June 19--Dierks and the band were hiding in plain sight at a handful of What the Hell Tour shows before people caught on to the act. Calling themselves the "Bolo Boys" with a new questionable band name in every city, their antics and outfits kept their secret.



June 22--Dierks once again participated in the ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp in Nashville, working with "Black" producer Ross Copperman to write a new song with camp attendees. Their final product, "I Love Big," was later performed by Chris Young at the Grand Ole Opry. "When you a visit a children’s hospital or something, you go in there thinking, 'I’m going to bring something to the table. I’m going to lift them up,' and then you walk in there and you’re like, 'Oh they’re going to lift me up.' They inspire you so much."

June 26--"What the Hell Did I Say" hit the radio airwaves as the fourth single off the "Black" album. “We named the tour after this song hoping that it would be a single this summer because it perfectly captures the anything-goes spirit out there this year."

June 29--Nashville's Hutton Hotel added a Dierks-branded songwriting room in their new music venue. "Dierks drew from his Arizona roots—the use of Saltillo tile, rustic elements and Navajo area rugs—to create his motif. In addition to recording equipment and a vocal booth, Dierks’ room is furnished with a leather couch and chairs."

July 10--The Bentley family welcomed two four-legged family members to their home, rescuing them from the local animal shelters. EmmyLou Who and Patch Adams joined George, who had gotten lonely without his buddy Jake.


July 18--Just months shy of his 12th anniversary of being a Grand Ole Opry member, Dierks performed at the Opry, noting how much of an honor it was to be there. "I hope you all have the best time in Nashville--this great city. [It'd] be nothing without these great country music fans." 

Also July 18--Dierks found himself the answer (or shall we say question?) to a Jeopardy clue in (one of two in 2017). This one asked, "Naturally, Dierks Bentley sang of "Bourbon in" this state." 

Aug. 14--In collaboration with Cole Swindell, "Flatliner" hits #1, the seventh consecutive #1 for Cole who opened for Dierks on the What the Hell Tour.

Aug. 21--Where else would Dierks be during the once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse? Flying the path of totality at 41,000 ft.! Ever the jokester, he donned his homemade eclipse glasses in this photo (where he's clearly having too much fun!):



Aug. 25--To help preserve the parks for future generations, Dierks partnered with the National Park Foundation and National Park Service to help celebrate the 101st birthday of the national parks through their ‘Parks 101’ campaign.



Sept. 12--Dierks, along with 100 other celebrities across three cities, teamed up for the Hand in Hand Telethon to raise money for hurricane victims. Together, they raised a reported $44 million.



Sept. 14--In a New Orleans concert, 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." Dierks and U2 frontman, Bono, are long-time friends, but this was the ultimate compliment and surprise to our DBC president.



Sept. 20--Dierks and Luke Bryan took the stage together (this time with actor Kevin Costner's band!) for the grand opening of the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo. Other a-listers at the event included former presidents George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter. With all of the airport traffic that day, one can only assume Dierks' plane was one of them.

Sept. 22--"Hold the Light" was released on the "Only the Brave" soundtrack. The song quickly went viral and is expected to be an Oscar contender. The movie is literally and emotionally close to home for Dierks, as it addresses the loss of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died while fighting a wildfire in his home state of Arizona. “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.”



Sept. 26--The long teased and awaited Carpool Karaoke with Sheryl Crow was worth the wait! 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." 

Sept. 28--What the Hell Tour with Jon Pardi and Cole Swindell earned Billboard's distinction as the number one hot tour of 2017. The tour sold more than 750,000 tickets in 51 cities (including 22 sellouts).  “To the fans and all the people who filled every seat in the house, who stood on their feet for hours and spent their hard-earned money to come see a show, you have made this an unforgettable journey."


Oct. 9--Dierks visited the University Medical Center in Las Vegas to perform a private concert for survivors, first responders, doctors, nurses and staff; even the food was provided by the man himself. In the aftermath of the devastating shooting one week prior, Dierks felt helpless; this was a way to bring light to a dark situation and do what he could to help bring smiles to these heroes.


Oct. 17--Good Morning America had DB Congress members on their toes all summer, anxiously awaiting the announcement of who would host the summer block party, featuring none other than Dierks and the band. While a DBC member didn't win, a few were lucky enough to be in the crowd. We got a behind-the-scenes look from a DBC lobbyist from Texas. You can read her story here!

 Oct. 19--Dierks headlined a tribute to bluegrass pioneer Ralph Stanley in a concert at the Grand Ole Opry.

Nov. 4--DBC members weighed in on their favorite memories from the What the Hell Tour. From personal opportunities to talk with Dierks, to memorable family moments at a Dierks show, the responses came in by the handfuls! Here are a few stories as you travel down memory lane.

Nov. 7--The ASCAP awards showed a lot of love to Dierks' songwriters! Ashley Gorley, songwriter of "Black," was named the ASCAP and NSAI Songwriter of the Year. "Somewhere on a Beach took home the prize as Song of the Year. "Different for Girls" also walked away with the honor of being on the "Ten Songs I Wish I'd Written" list.

Nov. 8--Dierks was nominated for the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year. Though he didn't walk away with the trophy in hand, DBC reps have made sure he knows he's our male vocalist of the year. That has to count for something!

 Nov. 9--It's just like Dierks to share the love following the highly successful What the Hell tour. He did so reminding other artists to be sure to thank their teams, noting #NoBandNoMusic #NoCrewNoShow.


Nov. 12--Dierks along with nearly a dozen other country stars teamed up to raise money for hurricane and Las Vegas shooting victims. Together, at Bridgestone Arena, they put on the "Country Rising: Nashville Gives for Hurricane Relief" concert, which raised a reported $4 million.

Nov. 18--Just in time for Dierks' birthday (Nov. 20), a dozen DB Congress members took on Durant, Ok., all wearing shirts made by a DBC Louisiana rep! The group even made one for Dierks to match.


Dec. 10--Dierks finally got accolades for something DB Congress members have known all along--Dierks is an amazing guy with a huge heart. Country Radio Broadcasters announced Dierks was selected to receive the Artist Humanitarian Award at the 2018 Country Radio Seminar. This award recognizes the "humanitarian achievements of country artists." With everything from hosting the Miles and Music for Kids to matching funds at a fundraiser for the Safe Haven shelter, Dierks has taken his natural platform and made it a voice for good.

Dec. 16--As a Christmas gift to DBC members, Dierks surprised the 15 or so reps who lined the stage at the shows in Vegas by performing not just one, but two new songs that are anticipated to be on his new album that should be released the beginning of next year. "Burning Man" and "Living" were absolute winners as soon as we all heard them. If these songs are any indication of what to expect with this new album to be released in 2018, let the countdown begin!





When members from the DBC had the chance to meet up with Dierks at that last show in Vegas, he wanted to pass on a message. He wanted to make sure you all know how grateful he is for your support and encouragement. Coming off of the "best tour of my life," he "hopes the fans feel the connection."

Dierks, this is why are honored to do what we do! We cannot wait to see what 2018 has in store!




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Saturday, October 21, 2017

Behind the Scenes at GMA's Block Party, Featuring Dierks Bentley

The summer of 2017 held countless barbecues and block parties for DB Congress reps around the country. But there is one block party that brought a few DBC reps together and had the entire nation looking in--and it featured our president, Dierks Bentley.


On Tuesday, Oct. 17, Good Morning America with King's Hawaiian hosted a Summer Block Party in Austin, Tx. The location was selected as the host site as a result of a contest that was announced in May. Thousands of photo and video entries were submitted, all vying for the chance to host a summer concert with Dierks Bentley, right in their neighborhood. While a DBC member wasn't selected, a handful of reps had the opportunity to attend. It was a morning they will never forget (and the lost sleep was completely worth it).

GMA host Ginger Zee, when gearing up for the show, even had the chance to talk with DBC reps in the audience.



Here is a behind-the-scenes look from Texas DBC Lobbyist Meredith Mauer:

"[Attending the block party] was unplanned and unexpected on my part, so when I found out at 10:30 p.m. the night prior that this was happening, I made the decision that I was just going to be pulling an all-nighter!

A post shared by Meredith Mauer (@itsmere1) on

"I downed a couple cups of coffee, threw on my jeans, boots, Riser hat, and DB Congress sweatshirt before heading out the door for my 2-hour drive. When I reached the neighborhood where the block party was taking place, the whole place looked pretty much asleep. I parked my car, then headed to the stage area on foot, walking by a sleeping [Dierks Bentley] Goldie Bus. It was literally set up in the middle of the street, with homes on both sides. Production equipment and tents were set up in front yards, and there were maybe a dozen people present when I got there. ... Over the next couple hours, I watched a few more people trickle in and listened to the production meeting in front of the stage, so I was able to get a general idea on how this was going to play out.


"The area in front of the stage was set up for VIPs on the left, first responders in the center, and ADA accessible on the right. The area directly behind was for the first 200 people in line with wristbands. The area behind them was pretty much general admission with wristbands. Those who live on the street were given lawn passes, which allowed them to watch the concert from the lawn on the left side of the stage. I'm not exactly sure how many showed up, but I did hear someone mention 1,000 people were expected.

"Once 5 a.m. rolled around, it didn't take long for the crowds to start flooding in. King's Hawaiian sponsored the block party, and provided a fun area for concert goers to grab a water, a sandwich made with their yummy rolls, a t-shirt, sunglasses, and some game fun, such as a giant game of Jenga. Standing on the lawn with those who live on the street, I spent some time talking to a few. I didn't realize that at one point I was standing next to Scott and Ashley Cooper, the winners of the block party. I learned that the block got to enjoy watching Dierks and the guys do a soundcheck the day prior, and Dierks spent some time with the Coopers.


"Once GMA started on the East Coast, things started happening. Without a doubt, it was a production put together for live TV. There was a crew of about 10 people there from GMA New York. There was a live teleprompter attached to the camera near me, and I watched it scroll as Robin Roberts was speaking in NY. ... Before coming to the stage, Dierks was escorted into the crowd to do a quick live shot in the middle of the crowd, saying "GOOD MORNING, AMERICA!"


From there, they took him to the King's Hawaiian party tent, and did another live shot of him playing Jenga with a child from the crowd. Meanwhile, our guys from the band came up on stage for a short soundcheck. From the look on Cassady's face, it looks like they may have just crawled out of bed on a cold, dark morning!

A post shared by Meredith Mauer (@itsmere1) on

"They warmed up with "I Hold On," with Carlos strumming along using Dierks' guitar. Those of us in the lawn were able to participate in a number of live shots, from the weather with Ginger Zee to Dierks passing between us on the way to the stage. Of course, what was live on television took a few minutes prior to set up. I only participated in the live shot of Dierks heading to the stage. I was standing closest to the stage with my DB Congress sweatshirt on!


"Dierks played five songs. He performed "5-1-5-0" while it was still dark out, then talked to the crowd a little bit about his time in the neighborhood. About 18 minutes later, he got on stage and joked about being so cold (it wasn't, really) and the irony of his next song "Somewhere on a Beach" for a GMA live performance. At least the sun was coming up at this point!

A post shared by Meredith Mauer (@itsmere1) on

"He then joined the first responders in front of the stage for some pictures, selfies and a live shot. They were some excited fans! It tickles me to see others appreciate the great guy Dierks is! Soon after, Ginger did a live interview with Dierks from the stage where he praised the first responders, mentioned the tragedy in Las Vegas, talked about the movie "Only The Brave."



"Dierks then performed "Black" live.

A post shared by Meredith Mauer (@itsmere1) on

"For the next live shot, they brought the Coopers, their neighbors and the first responders on stage. He performed one more song for the crowd, "Riser," then was whisked away to catch his shuttle to NY for his appearance on Fox News with Dana Perino.

"As the crowd dispersed, I waited to walk back by the buses to my car. I was glad to find my car wasn't towed, and drove off to find my next cup of coffee for the drive home. It was definitely worth the all-nighter!"

A post shared by Good Morning America (@goodmorningamerica) on

(You can watch the entire concert here.)

With recent (potential award) buzz about Dierks' hit song, "Hold the Light" for the movie "Only the Brave" and his advocacy for first responders in light of the Las Vegas tragedy, more and more people are learning about the man we already know and love. This was one more way for the DBC and the country to see him in action. What an unforgettable morning!

Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe
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Monday, July 10, 2017

"What The Hell Did I Say" Hits The Airwaves Monday (Plus A NEW Music Video!)

The fourth single to be released from Dierks Bentley's Black album, What The Hell Did I Say, is sure to climb the charts in a hurry. Can this summer anthem continue the trend and hit No. 1 like the three singles to come before it?


"We named the tour after this song hoping that it would be a single this summer because it perfectly captures the anything-goes spirit out there this year," Dierks explains.

Mission accomplished.

Though not a song penned by Dierks himself, it was written by the team who, with Dierks, wrote his single Drunk On A Plane--Ross Copperman, Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins. He knew he needed to have it on the album.

"I've learned over the years of making records that ... it's okay to have some of those fun songs on there," he shares.

It certainly brings a care-free spirit to the album and the tour, not to mention the social media craze with #WTH.

A song filled with regret, and a potential hangover, WTHDIS follows a man who clearly blacked out the night before. Waking up to a call saying "I loved every single word you left on my phone" leads the caller to try to determine "what the hell" he said last night.

The momentum-carrying intro practically begs the subject of the song to get it into gear to figure out what happened. The baseline teases of potential trouble in what he said. The chorus slams into the frustration (and humor) of not being able to remember. By the time you hit the bridge, you really start to get concerned (did he propose? promise expensive gifts?). While you never reach the answer, the journey is a sobering one set to a party song tune.

"My fans are really patient on this record [Black]," Dierks said in a recent media event. "We've taken a lot of twists and turns: Somewhere on a Beach was different. Different for Girls was different for me. And then Black, for that to go No. 1, it's not the typical song that does that. [My fans have] been really patient allowing us to do stuff. So to come back with a song that's a real down-the-middle, fun party song--it's kind of a good summer song, and I'm excited about it."

The new music video, filmed last month in Tampa on the WTH tour, was released at midnight EST. Watch it here:



You can help get this song to No. 1 by requesting it from your local radio station! Let's see how fast we can get this song up the charts and leave radio listeners saying, "'What the hell' was that song? Let's 'dial it up again'!"


Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe
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Saturday, June 10, 2017

Black: #1 in Our Hearts, and Now on the Charts!

One year after the release of what is considered to be Dierks Bentley’s “most fully-formed release of his career,” the title track, Black, has made it to #1.

Dierks secured his 16th career #1 single when Black topped the Mediabase radio chart on May 30. It’s also been climbing Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, reaching #2 this week. Following the Platinum Certified and award-winning singles Somewhere on a Beach and Different for Girls from the same album, Black has already been certified Gold.

“Every single we’ve put out this year has been a really important piece of the story of this album, but Black is the one that’s really the cornerstone of the whole project, and it’s about my wife,” Dierks said. “Watching this one rise to the top of the chart is extra sweet.”

A post shared by Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley) on


The album came together around this title track. According to Dierks, “I wrote the song Black and felt like it was the centerpiece of what the album could be: exploring relationships. It’s kind of dark and moody and sexy, and it’s also my wife’s maiden name, Black, so it has some personal layers to it for me. I felt like it was something I could really go deep on and build an album around.”

Not only is the song itself getting the recognition it deserves, but the video is climbing the charts, as well. The CMT Hot 20 Countdown, as of June 3, has the Black video in the #2 position.


We agree with The Boot in their assessment of the video: “It’s hard to decide what’s more breathtaking: the vast Icelandic scenery or the woman at the center of the clip … who just so happens to be Bentley’s wife, Cassidy!”



Well, we’d add Dierks to the “breathtaking” description, too.

“I had the idea of putting my wife in the video, which is totally taking her out of her comfort zone, but I just couldn’t imagine doing a video for this song without her in it and she reluctantly agreed. But then totally nailed it,” Dierks said. “It wouldn’t have been genuine without her.”


Filmed in picturesque Reykjavik, Iceland, (during a storm, no less), with director Wes Edwards, the video goes on a journey with Dierks as he follows Cassidy through the breathtaking landscape, finally reaching her at the video's end. At face value, it's sexy and beautiful; when you look at it knowing the relationship it’s describing, it becomes intimate, mature and full of trust.

There’s no question why this video is climbing the charts.

There’s still time to get Black to #1. Request it on your local radio stations and vote for the video!

*Update: Since writing this blog, Black reached #1 on the CMT Hot 20 Countdown, as of June 11!


**Bonus: Read Cassidy's interpretation of Dierks asking her to be in the video!

 Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe
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