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 16^th 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 Jan 13, 2017 at 10:13am PST

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!”

A post shared by Dierks Bentley (@dierksbentley) on Jan 13, 2017 at 5:32pm PST

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

Dierks Bentley Watches Faces of Front Row Fans; Hosts His Own Riser Screening in Nashville

@cmtcody and @DierksBentley

Dierks Bentley hosted his own life-story on the big screen tonight in Nashville at The Rosewall.  The Tennessean says Dierks almost pulled his pants down!

""We could save a lot of time here and I could just pull down my pants and show you my butt,” Bentley told the audience, who laughed in response. He said he felt like the film was so exposing it was almost the same thing."

While 100 music industry folks were invited to his upcoming documentary “Dierks Bentley: Riser” about the making of his latest album, “Riser,” which will be in stores on Tuesday, a few "fans" won tickets from CMT, who will air a special edition on Saturday, 2/22 at 2 pm eastern.

Kelsey Hodges just happens to be a DB Congress member as well, living in Nashville, and she took her fellow DBC-er friend Randy Alan Shaffer, along for the ride to the screening.  She's our guest blogger tonight!

============================================

Dierks and Kelsey

So we were across the street, parking, when we noticed Big White ('it's just an old beat up truck') riding down the road. We saw Dierks walk in the place and the hype began. We were hanging out outside of the venue waiting to go inside, seeing producers, engineers, and all of the band walking in. Randy and I along with 6 other fans got to sit on the front row and center. Cody Alan (CMT) walked up and introduced Dierks. 

Dierks said it was kind of hard watching this film, but he was glad he could hold on to something like this. The movie was great. I wanted to cry and wanted to break out laughing at parts, too. It showed personal moments from his home life playing with his girls to being with Cassidy in the emergency room for Knox's birth. 

Dierks came up onstage after the movie and said he was watching our row the whole time wanting to see our face reactions.  He walked straight to us and asked what we thought--he wanted honest opinions.  I told him it was all good, that I loved it! There were so many parts in the movie that made me want to cry and laugh.

I got to talk to him about songwriting, talked about some mutual writer friends we have in town and about how big of a role he played in me moving here four years ago. He went in for a hug afterwards and I totally accepted (haha)! 

Afterwards, Randy and I hung out, got some beers and just took in the moment.  The guys in the band, Cassady Feasby, Dan Hochhalter, and Brian Layson were all just chilling out.

As we were walking out, Red Light MGT gave us two copies of Riser--the full album!  Needless to say it has been playing in my car all night ever since!

Kelsey Hodges

DB Congress Rep (TN)

============================================

Thanks, Kelsey!  We can hardly wait until Tuesday to get our hands on the full album, too!

Watch the full length film on Palladia Saturday, 2/22 at 8:00 pm central.

Dierks Bentley: Touring Musician and Family Man in "RISER", a one-hour documentary film on CMT Feb. 22

02/03/2014

DIERKS DOCUMENTS MOST INTIMATE MOMENTS IN UPCOMING FILM DIERKS BENTLEY: RISER

Over the course of his career, Capitol Records’ award-winning singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has given fans behind-the-scenes access on the road, in the studio and even at home. But never before have fans seen him like they will in DIERKS BENTLEY: RISER, a film documenting the ups and downs following the death of his father through the birth of his first son - the story that inspired his upcoming seventh studio album RISER.  Fans can preview a special edit of the film exclusively on CMT on Feb. 22 at 1:00P CT, and the full length will premiere the same day on Palladia at 8:00P CT.  The project will also be available for purchase in the coming weeks.

“The two phrases ‘touring musician’ and ‘family man’ were never meant to go hand-in-hand…it’s just hard. It really hurts your heart to walk out the door on your kids. It’s like the two loves of your life pulling at you – your family and your love of music,” said Bentley. “I wanted this album to be that deeper look at who I am and who I try to be, and so I guess it's the same with this film too.   The first time I watched the rough edit, I actually got physically uncomfortable because it's all in there…my whole life right there on the screen for the whole world to see."

Director Wes Edwards and multiple film crews shadowed Bentley over the course of the last two years, logging thousands of hours of tape, which were edited down by The Moving Pictures Boys (Nashville Docujournal, The Country Club Film) to the most pivotal moments.  The film covers everything from the most quiet, pensive moments from Bentley's bunk on the tour bus to the rush of excitement in the delivery room for the birth of his son Knox, and it's all set to the soundtrack of the album that these events inspired.

"I knew Dierks was a dynamic performer and charismatic guy," said director Wes Edwards.  "But, as a filmmaker it was a challenge to try and capture a portrait of a guy with so many different aspects to his life.  He’s a guy who can bring an audience of twenty thousand to their feet and a guy you can have a beer with in a dive bar.  He’s a guy that flies his own plane but uses a kitchen trash bag for luggage.  I hope this documentary accurately captures the Dierks I’ve had the honor to get to know personally - a guy with serious work ethic, love for his family and genuine respect for the people around him.  But most of all, I hope we are able to convey a true artist at work."

People has the first look of the film and fans can watch the trailer here:

 

Bentley will release his seventh studio album RISER on Feb. 25. To celebrate both the new album and film, he will host screenings over the course of the next few weeks in London, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York and Toronto.

See more here.

Dierks Bentley Uniquely Clues in Fans Via CMT's Twitter to Announce First Leg of 2014 Riser Tour

 

Dierks Bentley was 'up all night', thinking of his favorite color, 'neon' and how to get his new tour ready and set to roll.  So he walked in to CMT this morning and hi-jacked their Twitter account to announce his RISER tour, named for his upcoming album, due February 25.

Tweeting hints of the supporting acts and even covering their songs, Dierks found a unique way to engage the Twitter world, plucking us along like a banjo string to want more.

The first leg of the RISER Tour starts May 9 in Charlotte, NC, featuring Jon Pardi (Up All Night), Chase Rice (Ready, Set, Let's Roll) and Chris Young (Neon) as the opening acts.

We are beyond excited he will headline the 2014 RISER TOUR. Fans can purchase tickets beginning Jan. 24 for select cities as part of tour promoter Live Nation’s Country Megaticket at www.Megaticket.com and additional ticket information will be available in the coming weeks at www.dierks.com.

“This tour is the culmination of everything I've been working on for the past two years, both out on the road and in the studio recording RISER,” said Bentley. "I know what my fans want: a kick ass show, an affordable ticket and a good parking lot scene to get the pre-gaming going! The guys opening the show and getting the party started all know how to put on a great live show, and when it comes time for my set, I can promise that we are going big! I have never been more excited about a tour.”

 After his hack job at CMT headquarters, he "took the rest of the day off."  Time to fly!

 

Until May 9, we hold on!

 

~Ronna

DBC Chair, FL

 

First leg cities for 2014 RISER Tour:

 

Charlotte, NC
Raleigh, NC*
Virginia Beach, VA
Washington, DC
Holmdel, NJ
Bossier City, LA*
Robinsville, MS*
Detroit, MI
Philadelphia, PA
Scranton, PA
Hunter Mountain, NY*
Thornville, OH*
Craven, SK*
Eau Claire, WI* 
St. Louis, MO 
Morrison, CO 
Los Angeles, CA 
Phoenix, AZ 
San Diego, CA 
Mt. View, CA 
Las Vegas, NV 
Sixes, OR* 
Havelock, ON* 
Cincinnati, OH
Cleveland, OH
Indianapolis, IN
*Opening acts may vary, check concert listings for more details.

See more at dierks.com.

Dierks Bentley's Video for Tip It On Back Now on CMT!

Dierks Bentley's newest single is on the tip of the top 30, and the video is sure to make you feel good! Enjoy!

Be sure to vote on CMT.com when the video gets added to the Top 20 poll!

Get More: Tip It on Back, Dierks Bentley, Dierks Bentley Videos

CMT "Unplugged" will feature Dierks Bentley

Last year MTV's "Unplugged" expanded to include CMT, opening the series to country artists. Dierks Bentley, whose single "Home" is nominated for Song of the Year at Sunday's Academy of Country
Music Awards, will follow The Civil Wars, with an episode of "CMT Unplugged" to air this spring.

"I love breaking my songs back down to their originalacoustic foundation," said Bentley. "When I write these songs bymyself or with friends, we just use acoustic guitars ... so,it's fun to sometimes go back to just the simple groove and ideayou had to begin with."

Dierks Bentley's "Home" Video Up For Vote on GACTV and CMT!

Vote now!

GAC

CMT

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 Goes Boating in Oregon

One early morning in Oregon, Dierks Bentley and his bass player, Cassady Feasby went for a boat ride! CMT posted the video below.

'LONG TRIP ALONE' IS NOT ALONE ANYMORE

CMT compiled a list of the top 50 videos of the last decade based on "video viewing, including CMT's Top 20 Countdown airplay and viewer voting, airplay during CMT music video hours and on CMT Pure, viewing of on-demand videos, streaming onCMT.com and views on CMT Mobile." And guess who made the top 50? That's right, Dierks!

He may not have claimed the #1 spot (that honor went to Carrie Underwood), but considering how many videos have been made over the past DECADE, to make the top 50 is quite an honor itself. Congratulations to Dierks and big, big thanks to everyone who voted for 'Long Trip Alone.'

NEW DBC CAMPAIGN COMMENCES MONDAY

Thanks to all the dedicated Dierks fans for voting for our president on a daily basis! Through your efforts, DB's I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes is making headway--here's this week's results:

CMT Top 20 - #17 (LW #16)

CMT Pure 12-Pack - NA

GAC Top 20 - NA (LW#16)

Rate The Music #6

BillBoard - #14 (Call, email, or click on radio station websites!)

There's a new campaign to add to our daily DB list. Country Music Gone Wild hosts a Top 20 fan voted list every week and Dierks is at #6 this week! According to CountryMusicGW on Twitter, "Voting always starts on Monday and ends at 5:00pm EST on Friday. Thanks for your hard work in promoting Dierks and the Top 20 Gone Wild."

I am confident DB Congress reps will dedicate an extra 10 seconds every day to vote for I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes on CountryMusicGoneWild, in addition to the campaigns above! We need all the exposure we can get for Dierks--gotta move the song to the top 10 on the BillBoard charts!

Got a lotta votin' left to do! Git 'er done, congress!

CLOSE YOUR EYES VIDEO LANDS ON TOP 20

Good news! I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes finally landed in the Top 20 videos on GACTV this week at #20! On CMT's Top 20, the newest Dierks Bentley video came in at #16 for a second week, but was a no show on the CMT Pure 12-pack.

We are 559 DB Congress reps strong and it's gonna take an act of congress all working together to make this video rise to the top! Realistically, I know everyone has a life outside of Dierks, but I also know how much his music means to each of the DBC reps--all 559 of us! So, I need some help getting 100% participation on a daily basis.

It really does only take less than 5 minutes of your day to vote for the 3 video countdowns and another 30 seconds to call your local radio station every day.

So, I need your help in giving me ideas to get everyone -- all 559 -- involved for 5 minutes every day. Whoever has the best idea will win a prize!

Leave your comments now or email me at Ronna@dbcongress.com.

We can do this for our president! He has given us so much! We did it for Long Trip Alone (#1 on the video countdown 3 weeks in a row), and we can do it again!

DIERKS HIRES TWO NEW GUITARISTS FOR THE HALL

Dierks Bentley hired two new guitarist to perform with him last night.

@DierksBentley: just finished soundchecking for the all for the hall gig...I have two really cool gtr plyrs in my band...!
3:22 PM Oct 13th from TwitterBerry

When I first read that Tweet, I thought--what the heck happened to Robbie and Rod? Not to worry, just for one night Dierks borrowed legendary Vince Gill and phenomenal guitarist and host for the night, Keith Urban to play and sing back up to Bentley's Sideways and Free and Easy. After all, it was all for the hall.

The sold out "We're All For The Hall" benefit proceeds go to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The show is part of the museum's "All for the Hall" fundraising initiative created and led by Gill since 2005.

CMT posted an article and photos from the night including host Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift. It was Vcast online for those who weren't able to get tickets.

After the show, Dierks tweeted again:

@dierksBentley: all for the hall!...thanks for the fun...miss my band. headed to station inn for a tv thing and some bluegrass! #fb
about 22 hours ago from TwitterBerry

RETRO DIERKS CD UNMISTAKABLY COUNTRY

One of Craig Shelburne's old favorite's is Dierks Bentley's self-titled CD released in 2003. Read how 'unmistakably country' he thinks the whole album is on his CMT Blog:

With so few new albums to listen to, I’ve been digging through my own collection of old favorites. Today I grabbed Dierks Bentley’s self-titled album, released in 2003. (I can’t believe it’s been that long.) Some of my friends used to go see him play at the honky-tonks on Lower Broadway but I had never heard his music until “What Was I Thinkin’.” Cool song, especially that twangy intro. Very distinctive. But today I’m a little bit surprised by how unmistakably country the whole album is. I guess I took it for granted back then, since he had immersed himself in country music history before he landed a record deal. Although I admire his writing on “Bartenders, Etc.” and “Distant Shore,” one song I never get tired of is Buddy and Julie Miller’s “My Love Will Follow You” — whether it’s Dierks’ version or Buddy’s. And I’m tickled to rediscover “Whiskey Tears,” which is about as traditional as you can get. Next time he slips a demo CD to George Strait, he ought to put this one on there, too.

I left Craig a comment on the blog. Basically, he left out my favorite and the one that even Dierks 'wished' had been a single--Wish It Would Break. I know in my heart that would have been a #1 hit! There's still time, Dierks! Keith did it with "You Look Good In My Shirt", and Brad did it with "Waitin' On A Woman." You can re-record WIWB for your next album and release it as a single! DB Congress would surely push it to #1 for you! What do you say?

*Special thanks to Meg, DBC rep in FL, for submitting the link to this CMT blog.

SIDEWAYS - SINGLE, VIDEO UPDATE-JUNE 12

Whatever It Is by the Zach Brown Band edged over Sideways to claim the #4 spot, pushing Dierks down to #5 this week. It's gonna take an act of congress--the DB Congress that is--to get this sure-to-be-seventh number one single moving in the upward direction. Call your DJs now!

Video Update:
#8 Australia's Country Music Channel - CMC Top 30 (LW #14)
#10 GACTV Top 20 (LW #12)
#8 CMT Top 20 - (LW #10)


Go to the DB Congress Current Campaigns page to vote for Sideways on all the video countdown links every day!

SIDEWAYS VIDEO UPDATE

Sideways by the numbers...Video Update June 5, 2009

#14 Australia's Country Music Channel - CMC Top 30 (LW #20)
#12 GACTV Top 20 (LW #14)
#10 CMT Top 20 - (LW #11)


Go to the DB Congress Current Campaigns page to vote for Sideways on all the video countdown links every day!

SIDEWAYS VIDEO COUNTDOWN RESULTS

Australia's Country Music Channel - CMC Top 30 Countdown - this week has Dierks Bentley's Feel That Fire at #9, but his Sideways video has entered the chart at #20! Thanks to Stacey, our DBC Director of Int'l Recruitment for the Aussie scoop!

In the US, results for Sideways for this week are:
CMT Top 20 - #11 (LW #11)
GACTV Top 20 - #12 (LW #14)
CMT Pure 12 Pack - still a no show

Go to the DB Congress Current Campaigns page to vote for Sideways on all the video countdown links every day!

HAZEL SMITH BETTING ON DIERKS

Hazel Smith writes a weekly feature article: CMT Hot Dish. This week's was a tribute, thanking all the country stars who appreciate her kind words about them. Dierks Bentley made the list!

A lot of my dear friends are also friends with my sons. Like Dierks Bentley. Before he got a songwriter's deal or a record deal, Dierks would hang out at the Station Inn, digging the musicians and the bluegrass music they made. He loved to hear Terry Eldredge (The Grascals) [Hazel's son is Terry Smith from The Grascals] sing, and he loved the great harmony singing and all the great players who have helped make the Station Inn so special. After getting his deal with Capitol Records, Dierks has included bluegrass on his records. I've thanked him, and he's thanked me. He's just a great guy. I'm betting on Dierks.

Hazel's prose can also be found in Country Weekly. She's the author of the cookbook, Hazel's Hot Dish: Cookin' With Country Stars, and she also hosts CMT's Southern Fried Flicks With Hazel Smith.

She's the same Hazel who, a few years ago, wrote a scathing open letter to the ACM's chastising them for not nominating Dierks for anything that year! In the same story, she challenged us Dierks fans to get mad and active--that's when Molly, DBC Speaker of the House, wrote an eloquent letter to the ACM to get our point across--and hundreds of us fan-clubbers signed it!

Thank you Hazel for all you do for Dierks, and for believing in him like we do! We're betting on Dierks, too!

~Ronna
DB Congress Chair

HAPPY SIDEWAYS DAY

"I Saw the Sideways video this morning on Aussie CMC TV!" exclaims Rach from Australia. "It's so good to finally dance in my loungeroom (I think that's like a living room in the US) to this great song."

The previous DB Congress Member of the Week is doing her congressional duty and promoting Dierks Bentley--especially on Fridays when the country music video countdowns of the week begin. "On most emails I sent on Friday to my work colleagues, I started with 'Happy Sideways Day.' I then asked people to go listen to the song, as it was Dierks tribute to Fridays! I think we could really reclaim Fridays as Sideways day," Rach declares.

After all, the lyrics demand it--worked all week it's time to play, gonna get a little bit sideways.

Just a few years ago, I used to dub Thursdays as "Dierksday Thursday" because that was when the video countdowns revealed their top 20 country music videos of the week. Now, CMT and GAC and CMC in Australia countdown the top videos of the week on Fridays, based on fan votes. That's where we need your help!

Vote for Dierks' Sideways video in the U.S. on CMT Top 20, CMT Pure 12-Pack and GAC Top 20. This week the video landed at #11 on CMT20, and finally debuted at #14 on GAC! Thank you DB Congress! Please urge all your family and friends to vote for Dierks this week and let's get him into the single digits, and make a showing on CMT Pure 12-Pack!

So, Rach, please post and let us know what number Sideways is on CMC TV this week!

~Ronna
DB Congress Chair

CMT TO AIR PEOPLE COUNTRY EDITION

If you missed the airing of People Country on CMT this weekend, you still have one more chance. Tune in as Allison DeMarcus goes behind the scenes and takes you inside the pages of People magazine's special country issue. As you know, our DB Congress pres., Dierks Bentley, made the top 12 hottest guys of country list!

Next Show Time:
Tue., May. 19 10:30 AM ET/PT