Dierks Bentley Congress Rep of the Week: Megan Tuttle, Ohio

You may have seen Ohio DBC Rep, Megan and her sister Lindsay on our home page rotating photo.  Megan shares her Dierkstory below:

"Hello my name is Megan Tuttle and I live in Northeastern Ohio. I am 23 years old and I have loved Dierks Bentley since he came out with his first single, "What Was I Thinkin'."  It's still one of my favorite songs of his, and that's my favorite part of Dierks' concerts when he sings that song last!

I became a Dierks Bentley super-fan when he came golfing at the private country club where I work. He was doing a show in town that night (September 5, 2010). Of course, I was off that day, but I heard he was there so I hurried up and put on my work uniform and went and waited for him. I waited for about an hour and a half, then he came around in his golf cart and I yelled, "Dierks, can we get a few pictures?" He immediately pulled his cart over and walked right up to us! I was so excited! He took a few pictures with us, gave us his autograph, then he ate a Cheeseburger and drank a diet coke. He hung out there for about 15 minutes talking to us.

Then he said, "Maybe I should give you guys a shout out at the show tonight." (He gave tickets to any who worked there, so my manager made a list of names who wanted tickets and he took that list to will call.  What a nice guy!) But I already had tickets so I didn't need to be on that list.

About half way through his set that night at the Canfield Fair and right before "Settle for a Slowdown," Dierks says, "This one is for all my Tippy Girls out there." I was so excited, I couldn't believe he remembered us!

As soon as the Dierks Bentley live Ustream came on in February 2011, I was addicted!  It was so cool to watch him online in the studio recording for his next album.  That's all I did for a week straight! WOLF PACK!

After that show I saw what a nice, genuine guy he was, and I knew I had to go to another one of his concerts as sooon as possible! So my sister Lindsay, who goes to all the concerts with me, and I got tickets for the Pittsburgh, PA show for March 20th. We also both won a meet and greet! 

It was so much fun in the meet and greet.  We took the photograph, he signed something, then he talked to all of us for a few minutes.  Also, during the concert, we were in the second row and Dierks pointed to us and said, "We got some wolf packers here tonight!"
Dierks is such a great live performer he has so much energy up on the stage! And every concert is just as fun as the one before! After that we got tickets for the May 5th show in Akron,Ohio. Lindsay and I did not win a meet and greet but we still had a blast! We made signs and Dierks pointed at us and read them out loud...so cool!

After Akron came the Dierks Bentley LAST CALL BALL7 (annual fan club party)! We traveled to Nashville nine hours to go to it!  This was my favorite Dierks show ever! We got there a few hours early to wait in line.  While we were waiting, Ryan "Camera Guy" came up and talked to us! Also Dierks' truck "Big White" was parked right in front of the venue.  Lindsay and I took pictures by it and left him a note under his windshield wiper.

The show started and Dierks played about a 10-song set. After the show we had to wait our turn for a meet and greet with him. While we waited, Camera Guy (Ryan) came up to us again and interviewed us for a DBTV Episode! Lindsay and I appeared in the DBTV Episode 21! Also Dierks' dog Jake was there and we got to pet him and take pictures!

Finally around 2am, it was our turn for the Meet and Greet! I walked up and Dierks and I took a "howling" picture for the Wolf Pack! He also signed my wolf pack shirt! It was one of the best days of my life!

The next concert we went to after LCB7 was in Chambersburg, PA on July 15th. We had to travel 5 hours to get there. As always it was a great show but after the show was the best part! We waited by Dierks' bus and Tim and Cassady came out to say hi! We told them to bring Camera Guy out and they did! Ryan came out, gave both me and Lindsay a hug and hung out with us for a while! It was so much fun.  Dierks, his band mates, and Camera Guy are a blast!

November 3rd is my next Dierks Bentley concert in Kent,Ohio! I cannot wait to make more memories with Dierks!"

Megan Tuttle
DBC Rep, Ohio

Thanks for sharing your story, Megan!

Would you like to be a feature DBC Rep of the week?  Just email me at Ronna@dbcongress.com with your story, what DB's music means to you, and a few photos!

~Ronna Clark
DB Congress Chair
Florida

Meet Nick Carter - Dierks Bentley Congress Rep #700!

We finally reached our milestone of 700 DB Congress Reps who are dedicated to supporting Dierks daily!  Meet Nick Carter, representing Dierks in Ohio!

"Where to start....I found Dierks back in 2003 when he released his "My Last Name" single and it began to get air time around the Columbus, Ohio area. Since then, I've been a fan - like the rest of us. Dierks has been the only artist I've ever gone to a store before it opened to get a copy of his new CD! (Thank goodness for iTunes now).

The first live show I saw with Dierks was back in 2008. He was at The Ohio State Fair with Miranda Lambert. That is when I became a super fan of Dierks.

Seeing him live and in concert just took me over the edge. His energy and style just left me with a feeling of needing more. 

Unfortunately, due to life and such I went on a three year streak of not getting to see him live in concert again until this year.  I made the trek to Akron, OH to see him perform with Miss Willie Brown and Josh Thompson on May 5th, 2011 on a work night none the less.  We went to the concert, didn't have the greatest seats in the world--but when you are there, with the music going, it doesn't matter.

Three weeks later, I was able to attend the Miles for Music For Kids event at the LC in Columbus, OH. I've also already purchased my tickets for his show November 3rd in Kent, OH.

I haven't been a lucky one yet to be selected for Meet and Greets, but I keep hoping that one of these shows I'll get the lucky email. Both my friend and I have joined the Fan Club in the last year and hope one day when we go to the concert we will both be back stage waiting to meet Mr. Bentley. It will be the first time for both of us.

My Favorite Event so far: Miles for Music - Columbus, OH

My Favorite Song: With the Band (Hoping one day I'll be with the band)

My Favorite Album: Feel That Fire

My Favorite Performance: Am I The Only One from the 46th ACM Awards 2011."

Thanks, Nick, and welcome to the DBC family!

DBTV - Episode 20 - Miles & Music For Kids-Columbus

Dierks Bentley Raises $143,145 for Nationwide Children's Hospital

Anybody who's ever experienced a Dierks Bentley concert knows he loves to run around the stage and cut up with the crowd--he's quite the comedian.  But while yesterday's show in Columbus, Ohio was every bit of THAT Bentley, the Miles & Music for Kids Motorcycle ride, followed by an all-star concert was altogether serious business.  During his set, Dierks signed the check on stage, to Nationwide Children's Hospital for $143,145 adding to his impressive $1.5 million raised over the last five years for Childrens Miracle Network hospitals all over the country.

The day began at the A.D Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson dealership--America's Oldest Harley Dealer™.  Dierks arrived around noon and met with the media, including Adam Black from CMT One Country who partners with the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

After the interviews, Dierks began taking photos with the surrounding crowd.  When he got around to me and Kathy I quickly took off my DB Congress bracelet and gave it to him to wear on his ride.  He said "Thank you so much for coming.  I will be carrying DB Congress with me on the ride today."

Dierks tweeted throughout the day:

"MILES AND MUSIC for KIDS today in Columbus. one of the best things I get to do each year. let's raise a bunch of money for @nationwidekids."

"heard there already 700 bikes presold at AD Farrow Harley Davidson dealership. that is killer! headed up there now...!"

Dierks' bike:

"@joenichols bus just pulled in to venue. @unclekracker @misswilliebrown and @joshthompson here too."

"and our host/mc today, helping us raise tons of cash for families and kids at nationwide childrens hospital #adamblack of #cmt is here..."

"1000+ bikes stretch over 8 miles!! thx Columbus Police for never letting our feet touch the ground (and sorry to the cars that waited...!) "

"rowdy crowd out there for @misswilliebrown and @joshthompson now. love it. thanks y'all for being so supportive of this cause."

"in the hometown of our MILES AND MUSIC 4 KIDS sponsor #nationwideinsurance columbus Ohio.... you guys are making this one really special."

"thx country music fans and all the motorcycle riders today at MILES AND MUSIC 4 KIDS in Columbus, OH. last estimate $143,000 for kids! #fb"

We arrived at the LC Pavillion ahead of the bikes and found the VIP seating and lounge.  We were a little disappointed the VIP section was behind the standing room only pit that held a couple hundred people. But we sat front row center and got lots of DB love as he pointed to us a few times throughout his set. That made up for the far away from the stage seats. (although we never sat down).

Urban Rose opened the line-up, followed by Miss Willie Brown, Josh Thompson, and Uncle Kracker.  Dierks came out and introduced Joe Nichols ("We have been friends a long time--used to play the honky tonks together") and actually played back up guitar for him, along with the team dude band. 


Miss Willie Brown- Kasey Buckley and Amanda Watkins 



Josh Thompson sang acoustic with former DB guitarist Rod Janzen





Uncle Kracker: "I thought I WAS Kenny Rogers when I was young," sang "The Gambler"  



Joe Nichols backed by Bentley

The local Nationwide Employees donated $5,000 toward the day's total.

The tear-jerker yet heart-warming moment of the day was the host family coming on stage and telling their story.  The mom told us their son was 2-years-old when they found out he had a heart 3 times the normal size and would die without a heart-transplant.  The Nationwide Children's Hospital was there for them, he got his transplant and is now a happy, healthy 5-year-old!  He was so cute constantly waving both hands to the crowd--we all waved back and cheered!  That brought reality to the reason we were all there--to help the kids!

Another memorable moment was the autographed guitar auction--all artists that day signed it.  The final winning bid was $7,000 from one of our very own DB Congress (fan club) members--Sarah Ansel, from Lancaster, Ohio.  Dierks called her up on stage and picked her up off the ground and swung her around in a huge hug! She also rode in the procession of bikes.

Later the other bidder who stopped at $6,500 agreed to $7,000 and they all signed another guitar for her. Dierks said, "I remember you, you were the one bidding with the big yellow hands!"

The rain held off until the last few songs, with just a sprinkle during Sideways and What Was I Thinkin'.  Perfect timing.  When I got back to the hotel, there was a rainbow. Perfect ending to a fantastic day!

"Give it up for Steve Misamore on the drums!"

It was great seeing DBC friends and meeting new ones--Jackie, Kathy and Dawn! Always worth flying from Florida to share my Dierks experience with fellow fan-clubbers!

~Ronna Clark
DB Congress Chair

Dierks Kicks Off 2011 Miles & Music For Kids in Columbus, Ohio May 22

Dierks announced today that he will once again take his Miles and Music for Kids charity motorcycle ride and concert on the road in 2011, kicking off this year in Columbus, OH on May 22. Over the series’ five-year history, Dierks has raised over $1.5 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and plans to donate this event’s proceeds to Columbus’ Nationwide Children’s Hospital. (Photo credit: Janet Marlborough)

“I’ve been waiting for the next Miles and Music and some warm weather to get my bike out!” said Dierks. “Really looking forward to spending time in Nationwide’s hometown of Columbus…they do such great things for their community and have been great supporters of our events over the years...excited to have some friends come along and help us raise some money for the kids in Columbus.”

The ride will depart from the A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson Dealership (7754 St. Rt. 37 E., Sunbury, OH 43074) for the hour and a half long ride that ends at the LC Pavilion (405 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43215) for the concert portion of the event featuring Bentley and special guests Joe Nichols, Josh Thompson, Uncle Kracker and Miss Willie Brown.

Tickets for the family-friendly event go on sale next Fri., March 18 at 10:00A ET through Ticketmaster. Fans can purchase a ride and concert ticket for $40 or a general admission concert ticket for $20. Limited VIP packages are also available.