Happy Father's Day, Dierks!

On this Father's Day, let's take a look at Dierks Bentley's perspective from both spectrums - having a dad and being a dad.

The Riser album oozes images of having a dad and being a dad.  In "I Hold On," Dierks references his dad throughout the song.

Dierks shared some funny memories about his dad Leon who died June 2012, with Y108 in Pittsburgh. Remember the "old beat up truck" that Dierks and his dad drove to Tennessee?  Dierks "holds on" to that truck as the song says, because of all the special memories he and his dad created in that truck.  And to come full circle, now Dierks has three of his own kids riding in the back of the 200k mile truck making new memories.  No amount of "jangle in his pocket" could make him trade up.

In his live show, when Dierks performs "Home," (from the Home album) it is one of the more moving moments of the night.  Especially when he inserts his dad into the lyrics and points to him on the big screen.  "Think.  Wonder what he'd think.  If my dad could see me now".  He'd be proud, Dierks!

Photo credit: Carrie Srebro, Tampa, FL, 9/20/13

In "Damn These Dreams," Dierks is torn between his two true loves - family and performing on the road.

"It was all fun and games 'til the little ones came/ 'Cause it makes my hear bleed/ When I gotta drive away and listen to 'em say/ Hey daddy, why you gotta go, please don't leave."

Being on the road a lot and being a dad to three kids of his own, Evie-5, Jordan-3, and Knox 9 months, it's easy to believe Dierks has never been alone with all three.  He told The Dr. Don Show about his fear:

“My wife was like, ‘Yeah, I might step out and go do something real quick. Are you cool?’ I was like, ‘With three? No, I’m not. Like, there’s just no . . . It’s physically impossible. It’s not safe. I mean, no, you can’t go anywhere.’ It definitely requires all hands on deck. I think back to the earlier days where I used to think I was tired, you know, and you go catch a nap in your bunk or something like that. It’s a whole different level of reserves these days you just dive into but you know kids and their lack of self-consciousness, they’re so fun to be around. They kind of provide energy in a weird way. Whatever they don’t, alcohol makes up for the rest.”

Perhaps the most poignant page in the book of Dierks having or being a dad is when he sings about the legacy of a family name in "My Last Name."  We leave you with a passionate acoustic performance from The Grand Ole Opry in tribute to his dad.

In Loving memory of Leon Bentley:





Happy Father's Day to you, Dierks and all the guys in your band and crew, and to all our DB Congress family!

Dierks Bentley Welcomes Baby Boy, Knox, To Carry On His "Last Name"

About 23 hours ago, our DB Congress president (Dierks Bentley) tweeted that his new baby boy, Knox, was born: October 9, 2013!  (Photo from 2010 CMA Awards when wife Cassidy was pregnant with Jordan, 2).

Bringing the boys to the lead in the Bentley household--Dierks, Knox, Jake and George (dogs)--DB shared his pride and joy with the Twitter world:

With just 50,137 to go, new daddy Dierks may reach one million followers sooner than later, as the news spread like wild fire today.

And in true character, he wanted to make sure to thank everyone:

Nobody's sayin', but we're wondering if "Knox" is possibly a family name, similar to the way that "Dierks" is his mom's maiden last name.

Apparently, baby boy Knox and mom Cassidy are doing great--well enough for Dierks to perform tonight in Lincoln, Nebraska.  But earlier today, he spent some time with his two girls (Evie who just turned 5 on Oct. 4 and Jordan who will be 3 on Christmas day) to explain what it means to have a baby brother:

"could have done without seeing my son's "stick out" (as my girls call it) covered in blood. ouch! makes you question the circumcision thing...I try not to post too many pics of my kids but this is too good: me trying to explain what circumcision is and why"

The look on their face is priceless!

Congratulations Dierks and Cassidy!  Hugs from all your 'congress! We can't wait to see pictures!


Passed down from generations too far back to trace
I can see all my relations when I look into my face
May never make it famous but I'll never bring it shame
It's my last name
-Dierks Bentley, Harley Allen

Dierks Bentley Returns 'Home' to Country

Reposting from Billboard.com:

Dierks Bentley Returns 'Home' to Country


by Deborah Evans Price
January 21, 2012 9:00 EST

When Dierks Bentley steps onstage at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on Feb. 2 to launch his new album, "Home," the show may feel like a walk down memory lane.
"I played gigs on Lower Broadway for a number of years. I'd walk by the building at three o'clock in the morning and rub my hand along the bricks in the back alley. That building means a lot to me. All I thought about was all the people who used to run back and forth between the Ryman and Tootsie's," he says of the country legends who traveled between the Grand Ole Opry stage and their favorite watering hole. "I think of all the history that has been a part of that place -- it really does mean something."

It's been more than a decade since Bentley (@dierksbentley, where he has 206,000-plus followers) was just another aspiring artist playing Music City honky-tonks. He's never lost his appreciation for country music's past, and it's Bentley's ability to merge the genre's traditions with his own progressive musical sensibilities that has earned him his own spot among today's contemporary hitmakers.

"The greats all have unique, distinctive voices -- Dierks is one of those," Capitol Records Nashville president/CEO Mike Dungan says. "He possesses one of those voices... you know who it is immediately. That's something you can't ever take for granted, or discount too lightly, especially in an environment where a lot of our men are starting to sound the same."

Bentley is also among country's most versatile artists, a gift he brandished boldly on 2010's "Up on the Ridge," a Grammy Award-nominated album that earned tremendous critical praise, but only a smattering of radio support. Ridge was about Bentley's passion for bluegrass and roots, and he was supported by guests like the Punch Brothers, Alison Krauss and Kris Kristofferson. With the Feb. 7 release of "Home," though, Bentley returns to the sound that made him a star.

"It's a step back into the country music mainstream," Capitol Records Nashville senior VP of marketing Cindy Mabe (@capitolnash) says. "It's 'home' because that's where he belongs, right in the middle of this format. He's so talented, and such a music lover that he needs to stretch his wings as an artist... but in the end, this is naturally his home. These songs and his voice take you back to the music of his first album, but it feels fresh at the same time."

Bentley debuted in 2003 with the No. 1 Hot Country Songs hit "What Was I Thinkin'." Since then, he's earned seven more chart-toppers, including "Come a Little Closer," which notched three weeks at No. 1; "Settle for a Slow Down"; "Every Mile a Memory"; "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)"; and "Feel That Fire." "Am I the Only One," the first single from "Home," hit No. 1 last September, and the title track is No. 11.

Of Bentley's five previous releases, three hit No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. His self-titled debut sold 1.1 million, and sophomore set "Modern Day Drifter" sold 1.5 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Up on the Ridge" peaked at No. 2 in June 2010 and has sold 244,000 units.

It's not unusual for country acts to record side projects, but such activity generally happens in the twilight of a successful artist's career. The move was risky.

"I really try to practice living in the moment," Bentley says. "No matter where it is -- onstage, or at a meet-and-greet or being with my family -- just listening to my voice at the moment. ["Ridge"] was what I wanted to do, and once I get it in my head, it's hard to talk me out of it."

Dungan was supportive of Bentley's creative detour. "That music comes out of him so naturally," Dungan says. "Every album Dierks had released until then had included a bluegrass-style song. Once a decision was made to go forward, that record probably came together easier than any Dierks Bentley record had before because that's where he lives creatively."

Dungan never intended for a single to be worked to country radio. Nevertheless, "Up on the Ridge" peaked at No. 21 on Hot Country Songs and "Draw Me a Map" reached No. 33. "I had in mind a relatively inexpensive project that we'd work hard for six months, and then be off of it and on to the next thing," Dungan says. "Then the press started to ring in strongly and favorably. We started to hear things like 'album of the year' and 'one of the best records ever,' and it went from being a six-month record to an 18-month record where we released singles to country radio. The broader world got an appreciation for the Renaissance man that Dierks is. But here we are back to the bread-and-butter side of things, and I'm happy to be here."

When Bentley returned to business as usual, country radio was ready. "We had massive success with 'Am I the Only One,'" Dungan says of the No. 1 hit. The label then followed with the title track, a heartfelt salute to America that Bentley performed in November at the White House before President Obama in a concert that aired on PBS. "One of the things we're coming to the market with when this album streets is that we're going to have not one, but two hits," Dungan says. "That doesn't happen often in our business. I'm happy about that. We're offering two tracks that are instantly recognizable, and that's value for the fans."

Bentley began the project by heading to Asheville, N.C., with producer Jon Randall. "It was five days of doing the most intense preproduction I've ever done on a record," Bentley says. "'Am I the Only One' came out of that session. It was a great way to bridge from the bluegrass world back into country."

Bentley recorded the remainder of the album in Nashville with longtime producers Brett Beavers and Luke Wooten. "I wanted to make sure the album had some kick to it, but also incorporate the acoustic sounds that I love so much," Bentley says.

The Arizona-born singer/songwriter has written or co-written his eight No. 1 hits, but while recording the new album, he spent more time than before listening to outside material. "Thousands of songs," he says. "I've had 16 singles and they've all had my name on them. It's the way that I've always approached it. But I want to have a single that's not mine -- put an end to the streak. I'd love to see somebody else's song go to No. 1. There are 12 songs on this record and I wrote six, although for this record, I wrote more songs than I've ever written in my life."

Bentley wrote the title track with Beavers and Dan Wilson. "Home" has been selected as the official song for Arizona's centennial celebration. "People are going through a hard time, the way the country and economy are. Hopefully it's a song that makes you believe better days are ahead," Bentley says.

The remainder of the album is a blend of romantic ballads like "Breathe You In" and such escapist fare as "The Woods" and "Tip It on Back," which Bentley describes as the flip side of "Home." "It's like, 'Times are crap right now. I'm going to drink a little more than I should and just enjoy tonight. I'm not going to worry about all that stuff. I'm just going to have a good time.'"

"When You Gonna Come Around" is a soulful duet with Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild. "I love her singing, love that band. They're so talented," says Bentley, who approached Fairchild about duetting at Capitol Records' post-Country Music Assn. Awards party. "She said she'd love to do it, so the next day I sent her the song and two days after that, she was in the studio. It was so easy, natural and fun, and [there was] good chemistry."

The closing track, "Thinking of You," features an appearance by Bentley's 3-year-old daughter, Evie, singing the final words: "Daddy's home." Wooten took the audio from a birthday video. "Luke ended up putting it on the record. Normally I'd be hesitant about something like that, but it felt like it was natural."

"What I hear when I listen to this album," Capitol's Mabe says, "is that Dierks is comfortable in the place he is in his life, and this music reflects that. He's 'home.'"

In addition to the Feb. 2 performance at the Ryman, Bentley will visit Denver, Phoenix, Chicago, New York, Boston and Washington, D.C., for special listening events through Feb. 11, and he'll do a series of live chats from each city. He's also scheduled to appear on NBC's "Today" (Feb. 7) and CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" (Feb. 8). Mabe says CMT will run a "Bring Dierks to Your Home" sweepstakes on the TV channel, online and on CMT Radio.

Bentley will resume the second leg of his Country & Cold Cans tour on Feb. 15, but first he'll take the stage at the Ryman, reveling in how far he's come. "I'm just a singer/songwriter that loves to be onstage with a band and loves to be out on the road," he says. "I love playing music. That's the dream I've always had."Fans are also being invited to submit photos that represent "home" to them, and that'll be part of a mosaic that makes up the album cover. Bentley will select one of the submitted images and the person who sent it will receive tickets to the Ryman show and meet him backstage. "We wanted the fans to get a chance to tell the story about their home," he says. "That's the most powerful four-letter word there is."

Merry Christmas 2011!

Christmas Religious Graphics


Merry Christmas! 

Is it wrong that instead of listening to Christmas music, many of us are listening to 90 second clips of "Home" over and over?  I am sure we would have loved to open a present this morning and find the hard copy of Dierks' new CD, right?  We only have 6 weeks to wait, with the album concert at The Ryman on February 2 and the CD release date of 2/7/2012.

Back to Christmas day.  Happy birthday Jesus and happy birthday baby Jordan!  That's right, Dierks Bentley's youngest daughter is one today!  Here's what Dierks had to say according to American Country Countdown:

"Capitol Records Dierks Bentley was at the hospital in Nashville welcoming his daughter Jordan into the world on Christmas Day 2010. That means this Christmas is also Jordan's first birthday. Says Dierks, "Some people tend to think that's like a really bad day to have as a birthday, because you've got to share it with Jesus and share it with Christmas and all the other presents, but I think it's great."

Even if Jordan gets upset her birthday is on Christmas when she gets older, Dierks has a plan. "She could have my birthday," he says. "She can take the 20th of November, and I'll take Christmas as a birthday. Everyone will forget! I'll never get older!"
Dierks and his wife Cassidy also have a three year old daughter named Evie."

And CMT's Alison Bonaguro tells us what Christmas was like for Dierks growing up:

"There were no white Christmases for Dierks Bentley. As a kid in Arizona, his were more like dirty, dusty, sandy Christmases. "I grew up in the desert, so we would always have Christmas out in the middle of the desert. We'd go out and take four wheelers and horses and motorcycles, dirt bikes and stuff and just have Christmas in the desert," he said in a recent radio interview. "You know, wrap tin foil around the cactus and ... have Christmas in the middle of the desert.""
-Alison Bonaguro, CMT.com

To all the DB Congress representatives around the world, and Dierks, Cassidy, Evie, Jordan, and the band and all the crew (Steve Misamore, Dan Hochhalter, Cassady Feasby, Tim Sergent, Brian Layson, Brit, Chris A., Chris R., Ryan, Jay and Mary & Tyne), we wish you and your families the merriest of Christmases today, and that next year brings you lots of happiness and success!

~Ronna
DB Congress Chair

What is Dierks Bentley Thankful For?

On this 2011 Thanksgiving Day, we have a lot to be thankful for! Namely, Dierks Bentley.  In a recent reply to his DB Congress, Dierks seems to feel the same way about us!

This year Dierks had a #1 with Am I The Only One, performed for sold out crowds, reached $1.7 for children's hospitals via Miles & Music For Kids, and sang for The President of the USA! 

From The Country Vibe:

On Thanksgiving when Dierks Bentley counts his blessings, the thing he will be most thankful for are his two healthy daughters, Evie and Jordan. “Coming off the Miles & Music event this year in Nashville and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and knowing how many families are going through tough times with health of their children. That’s the number-one blessing when you have kids is that they’re healthy,” says Dierks.

“Even when they have a mild cold, it’s like, ‘Aww, man. I feel so bad for them.’ I can’t imagine what those folks at Vanderbilt and St. Jude and all of those children’s hospitals across the country, what they’re going through on Thanksgiving. I’m sure they’re just happy to be together, and that’d be the same thing for me—just to be with my family and thankful for the blessings that I have.”

The men and women who are currently serving our country are the other people Dierks will be thankful for. He says, ”The second thing we will pray for is the troops and their families, the ones that are away from their families at Thanksgiving, the ones that are out there fighting on Thanksgiving Day so we can be back here and have that quality time, have that quiet time is definitely something we’re so appreciative of.”

Happy Thanksgiving to all our DB Congress Reps--thanks for your year-round dedication to Dierks!

We give thanks to all the band and crew who together display a great deal of talent to keep our president sounding and looking good--Chris, Britt, Jay, Brian, Steve, Tim, Dan and Cassady!

And finally, God Bless Dierks Bentley, his voice and powerful songwriting talent, and the man that he is. We love you! Happy Thanksgiving!

~Ronna (Florida)
DB Congress Chair

Halloween with the Bentley's

 

Most kids look forward to Halloween because of all the free candy.  Dierks looked forward to it because of.... explosives? In an article on GACTV.com, DB discusses his past Halloween tradition of blowing things up and what he plans to do this year:

For Dierks Bentley, Halloween was another holiday he could use as an excuse to get his hands on explosives.  

"When I was a kid, I was all into fireworks," Dierks said.  "Growing up in Arizona, we couldn't get 'em so we'd have 'em shipped in illegally.  I still remember the name of the guy we'd call.  His name was Joe, and he's bring in, ship 'em in a package with no writing on 'em.  We were all about M-80s in the mailboxes and bottle rocket wars.  To me, as a kid, Halloween was fireworks, was blowing up stuff around home."

Halloween is a little tamer for Dierks these days.  As the father of two young girls, Dierks is letting his older daughter, Evie, call the Halloween shots, including what Mom and Dad are going to dress up as.

"Evie's got her Halloween costume picked out," he said.  "She's decided what everyone's gonna be this year in our family.  So, she's gonna be The Little Mermaid, and her younger sister's gonna be a crab.  I think his name is Sebastian.  I don't know The Little Mermaid that well, but she's decided Jordan's gonna be the crab.  And she wants me to be Swiper, who's a character from a TV show called Dora, The Explorer.  I think she has Cassie going as Dora."

It sounds like Halloween will be a family affair... even Jake and George were getting in on the costume action!  Here's some pictures that Dierks tweeted earlier this week:

We can only hope that we get a pic of Dierks as Swiper...  I think we'd all laugh. A lot. haha!   

Happy Halloween!!

~Amy 

DBC Rep

Delaware

Dierks Bentley: A Top Ten Dad & His Thoughts on Fatherhood/Songwriting

GACTV.com names Dierks Bentley as one of their Top Ten Dads in Country Music!
"Dierks Bentley is a guy’s guy, but it’s his two little girls, Evalyn and Jordan, who truly rule the roost. When Jordan was born in December, Dierks took to Twitter to announce her birth, joking she had chosen to enter the world to Mumford & Sons “Awake My Soul.” And we can’t forget Dierks’ faithful dog companions, Jake and George, who have been known to attend red carpet events (and the GAC studio!) with their ‘dad.’"

DIERKS BENTLEY: BEING A DAD AFFECTS MY SONGWRITING  (From KIKN.com)
Dierks Bentley is relishing his role of dad to his two young daughters Evie and Jordan. He admits that his love for his girls has made its way into his songwriting, but he works it in so that everyone can find a connection. "Bein' a dad and havin' those girls is a huge part of my life and so it factors into the music definitely. As a songwriter, when you write a song about love or something like that I try to make it universal, like you could hear it as a parent, you could hear it as lover, you could hear it as a friend, you'll hear it as a father, daughter, or son, mother -- any way and have it work for you in some way, you know, so I try to write songs in that scheme, so I don't actually go out there and necessarily dedicate a song or something like that to a child, but, yeah, it definitely features into it. For anyone that's had a kid, nothing makes your heart spike in one direction or the other everyday, every moment than havin' a kid does."

AUDIO: DIERKS BENTLEY ON FATHERHOOD IMPACTING HIS MUSIC

Happy Father's Day from DB Congress

I wish I had a photo of Dierks Bentley with BOTH his daughters on this 2011 Father's Day. For now, this pic of Evie on dad's shoulders will have to do.

Jordan and Evie are lucky to have such a loving dad to give them a strong foundation to grow into beautiful young ladies and build a good life. I'm sure he loves to hear them call him "daddy or dada!"

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there in DB Congress!  I know many of you are raising your kids to love and appreciate Dierks' music like all of us do!

And thanks to Leon Bentley--without you we wouldn't have our talented DB Congress president!

Family Life With Baby Bentley

Still no photos of new baby girl Jordan Catherine Bentley, but daddy Dierks shared with Kix Brooks on ACC Top 40 how he and his family are adjusting to life since the arrival of their second daughter on Christmas day:

"Going from zero to one is a lot more difficult that going from one to two," says Dierks. "She just kind of fits right in there, and you just dust off a few of the old baskets and swings and stuff and set 'em back up again and just do it."

Jordan has a big sister named Evie, but she hasn't met her brothers yet. Of course, we're talking about Dierks' dogs Jake and George, who have been at a friends' house for the last three weeks. Dierks says, "We're kind of waiting to bring them back into the fold. They're more maintenance than the kid is. They're like big, barking all the time, going crazy." Dierks plans to let his pups smell a few of Jordan's blankets before he introduces her to them.

Jordan Bentley, What's In A Name?

We told you about Dierks and Cassidy Bentley's early morning Christmas gift to two-year-old sister Evie. Jordan Catherine Bentley arrived Saturday, Dec. 25, weighing in at 7 lbs., 14 oz, according to PEOPLE.

What's in a name? This may be coincidental, but Jordan is the same name as Dierks' good friend who died about 2 years ago. Dierks wrote a song about him called, "Hey Jordan," and sang it at his fan club party in 2009 (see the dbcongress.com video below). Dierks' mom's name is Cathy, so that could be the how Jordan got her middle name!

We hope for pictures soon and will keep you updated about our president's new bundle of joy!

Tweet

Bentley Talks About Babies and Bus-Life

How much preparation you have for a child depends on how many children you already have, apparently. “The first one, you think about it a lot, you’re prepping for it,” Dierks said. “My wife did a natural childbirth the first time around, so there’s a lot of thinking that goes into that. We were thinking about Evie a lot more than the second one. You’ve got your hands full with the first one, and so there probably is some truth to being the middle child or the baby [laughs], because they don’t get as much attention as the first. We’ve got our hands full with Evie. She’s so much fun and a total ham. It’s a crazy deal. There’s not words for it.”

Ever since becoming a father two years ago, Dierks has learned to put his career as a touring artist into perspective. “When I come home from the road, you go from one extreme to the other,” Dierks explains. “You don’t realize how selfish the road is until you really come off of it. But the road is the most selfish environment and that’s why we do it, I guess. I can play music on a cool bus and I’ve got video games, and everything’s on my time. I eat when I want to eat. I might sleep in, I might stay up until 6:00 AM, but I’m working. I’m working on music. You think you’re working, but then you get out there and you know what your wife’s doing at home and you feel guilty. ‘Want to play another game of Tiger Woods, that golf game? Yeah, let’s play.’ It’s just two extremes, for sure. I love them both. I’ve got to have that time on the road, to be that gypsy and be out there with the guys, the band, the fans and the road. It’s still in my blood being on the bus, but I love being at home and having that realness. And the second one is going to [make it] even better.”

[Source]

Dierks and Cassidy Bentley Welcome Christmas Baby Jordan

She's here! Jordan Bentley was born on Christmas day! It's a miracle what Jesus and Santa can do when they put their minds together! Proud parents Dierks and Cassidy Bentley, along with sister Evie, were blessed with a special gift! Dierks announced her arrival on Twitter and Facebook:

"say what u want about santa's physique, but no arguing his impeccable timing! evie wanted a little sis for Xmas & JORDAN just arrived!"

Then, 3 hours later:

"she chose the banjo driven part of mumford & sons 'awake my soul' as her walk on music... could be a troublesome sign"

Congratulations to our DB Congress president and his family! We are so happy for you, Dierks, and hope mom and baby Jordan are doing well!

Merry Christmas!

Dierks Bentley Knows Baby Will 'Rock' Their World

Dierks Bentley and his wife Cassidy, are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their second daughter, who is due any day now. But the country superstar admits that, while they are anxious for their little girl to be born, big sister Evie has an entirely different opinion.

"I have a feeling her world's gonna be rocked here pretty soon," he says (quote via CMT). "She realizes there's somebody else coming over to the house and they're not going away."

The multi-platinum selling singer says that the addition of a new baby right around the holidays is causing him to how he spends Christmas with his own clan. "In the last couple of years, we haven't really done the tree thing because it's just been me and Cas, and we usually have a gig around Christmas, so we come back, and it's all dried up and dead and a big fire hazard," he says.

This year, though, they finally added a tree to their holiday decor. "It's fun to try and remember the traditions you had with your family and try and make them new again," Dierks says.

The country star admits that his entire outlook on life changed after becoming a father, including his devotion to his Miles & Music For Kids charity. "We are fortunate to have a healthy daughter, and we pray that our second child will be healthy as well," he tells The Boot. "These families who have children in the hospital, they need to only have to worry about their child getting well, not where the next money is coming from."

Dierks will spend some time off the road getting acquainted with his new baby and working on a new CD of country hits. He is scheduled to perform in the historic Troubadour night club in Los Angeles on February 12 -- one night before the Grammy Awards, where he has three nominations.

Article from theboot.com
Photo from People magazine Feb. 2009

Happy 5th Anniversary, Dierks and Cassidy Bentley!

Dierks and Cassidy Bentley celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, December 14, 2010. They've known each other since middle school and rekindled their relationship February 5, 2005 on a tour bus in Vegas. Ten months later they eloped and got married in Mexico. Dierks even had a stylist friend pick out a Chloe dress for Cassidy as a surprise.

They currently live in Nashville with their two dogs, Jake and George, 2-year-old daughter, Evie, and are expecting another little girl around Christmas.

On Tuesday, Dierks tweeted he was in a writing session that day, so let's hope the couple got some special time together that night! Happy Anniversary Dierks and Cassidy! We love ya!

Hear Dierks Bentley's Last WSIX Interview With Gerry House

Dierks Bentley was the secret voice for one lucky WSIX caller to identify to win Garth tickets! Listen as Dierks Bentley talks with Gerry House for 30 minutes about everything from moonshine, the new baby-to-be, Evie's hobbies, and siblings, to Del McCoury, Chris Thile, Billy Ray, Bono, and Garth to writing songs and recording the alphabet.

Find out if Dierks is ready for the "bluegrass operation" and whether he has a fake or real Christmas tree.

Get comfy and enjoy great conversation, and two songs from Up On The Ridge album: The Grammy-nominated Pride (In the Name of Love) the U2 cover with Del McCoury and The Punch Brothers, and Up On The Ridge!

You're in for a real treat as Dierks says goodbye to the retiring DeeJay!

Bentley's Baby-To-Be Will Balance the Family

When Cassidy Bentley was pregnant with daughter Evie, she and husband Dierks were happy to wait until she was born to find out the gender. This time around Dierks made no attempt at his last Meet and Greet in Cherokee, NC, to hide the fact he didn't know the sex of the baby, but was adamant he wanted another girl to 'keep the balance.'

Recently, Dierks announced during his last interview with retiring radio personality Gerry House of Nashville's WSIX, that the Bentley's are expecting a baby sister for Evie around Christmas!

That means it will be 3 to 3: Dierks, Jake and George (the boys) and Cassidy, Evie and baby girl to be makes 3 girls--the perfect balance!

Congratulations! We are so happy for you and your family!

Trick or Tweet! Dierks Down In The Mine

A trick or tweet exchange with Dierks Bentley and his 'congrass':

dbcongress: @DierksBentley Happy Halloween! What does Evie's costume look like? We'd luv to see a pic of her wearing it!

DierksBentley: @dbcongress, I was down in the mine, am now up and headed out. hope you all are having a good Halloween #fb

dbcongress: Very appropriate/relevant costume 4 you--to keep the baby in shoes! Thx 4 sharing w/ur congrass! (@DierksBentley)

Dude, that doesn't look like Evie, but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to keep the baby in shoes! And, uh, it could've been worse--you could have been Elmo!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all the DB Congress, Dierks, Cass, Evie and all the guys! Check out the pumpkin that Illinois rep, Jayme Ottersburg carved! Above it's in darkness and below is the daytime version!


Earlier this month, Dierks posted a pic of himself with a giant pumpkin:

"NYCday#4.early happy Halloween with gigantic pumpkin from @Regis_and_kelly.southpaw,Brooklyn 2nite w punch bros"

Last year, little Evie Bentley was "Yoda" for Halloween. I wonder what she'll be this year? Dierks, we're dying to know...please post a picture of her in her costume!

See last year's blog and photo here.

Dierks on Parade!

You expect to see Dierks Bentley in Country Weekly magazine, but imagine my surprise when he popped up on page two of the 9/26/10 Sunday "Parade!"


Dierks Bentley Returns to Flood-Hit Grand Ole Opry
Walter Scott asks...Dierks Bentley, country artist, nominated for three 2010 Country Music Awards

WS: On Tuesday, you’ll perform at the reopening of the Grand Ole Opry, which was devastated by the Nashville floods in May.

DB: To be part of the Opry is the biggest thrill. When I saw water four feet above the stage, it really hit me hard. But it’s never been about a building—it’s the people that make it.

WS: Is your 2-year-old, Evie, a tour-bus baby now?

DB: She loves it. There’s more buttons and knobs and bunks and places to hide. She loves the crew—she’s not shy at all. It’s funny; I’m in front of 15,000 people, then the next morning, I’m hangin’ out with Evie and Elmo.

WS: You’re having a second baby. Are you excited?

DB: I always wanted a family—I couldn’t be happier.

DB Congress Exclusive Interview... Introducing: Cassady Feasby, "Slapper of da Bass"

Dierks Bentley and his new bass guitarist, Cassady Feasby, have a lot in common. They both like to laugh, have a passion for Pearl Jam and love going home to their girls--wives and daughters. This is the second exclusive interview in the series with new Team Lonesome members. The first was Brian Layson. Please join me in welcoming and getting to know Cassady Feasby.

DBC: Welcome to the DB family! How did the opportunity to work with Dierks come about? Were you a fan of his work before that?

Cassady: In January of 2010 my wife, Sara, began nannying for Evie [Dierks' daughter], which led to her and Cassidy [Dierks' wife] becoming friends. Cassidy sent a text message to her when we were driving to an ultrasound appointment one day asking if I knew any bass players who might be interested in auditioning to play with Dierks. Obviously I was. I spent the next weekend woodshedding four Dierks songs for a Monday afternoon audition. The audition went very well. As far as being a fan, I've always enjoyed music with lyrics and melodies that take me to interesting places or remind me of events in my past. Dierks' music does that. Whether on stage or waking up on the bus, it's still sinking in that I get to play these songs for a living. On top of that, (and I'm not brown nosing here) what you see is what you get with Dierks. He is a great guy, dad, and bossman. Every aspect of his organization is 110%.

(Photo Courtesy of Cassady Feasby)

DBC: You live in Nashville now; where did you grow up and what brought you to Nashville?

Cassady: I grew up in Convoy, Ohio. I have one brother. My parents showed cutting horses when we were growing up. We traveled a lot in a truck and trailer entering horse shows - not unlike what I do now. We always had a barrage of random animals on the farm with us. I have to say my favorites were the goats. Insert joke of choice here. :o) I have played drums since I could walk. I started playing guitar in '92 and bass in '95. In 1999 I moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University and graduated with a B.A. in music in '03. During that time I started beating the streets playing drum and bass gigs whenever, however, and with whoever I could. I've been a sideman as well as a frontman in original and cover bands. Prior to joining Team Lonesome, I was Warner Brother's artist Jason Jones' tour manager and slapper of da bass.

DBC: You previously toured with Jason Jones, Sarah Buxton and many others. What's one thing you learned performing with them that you bring to Dierks' show?

Cassady: Aside from making the music feel and sound good, I try to avoid any onstage collisions. Oh, and I've contributed the longest beard to the band...so far.

(Photo Credit: Stephanie Lanham)

DBC: You sang a killer Chris Stapleton stand in vocal on David Letterman recently when Dierks and you guys sang "Fallin' For You." Have you ever sung the lead on stage or on a record?

Cassady: I joined my first band when I was 13. I played drums and sang probably 90% of the songs we played. I sang on several demos (lead and bgv [background vocals]) while in college as well. I've had side projects prior to Dierks that I've sung lead in. As Waylon put it, "Singin my songs, one of his now and then..."

(Photo Credit: Ronna Clark)

DBC: What is your favorite song to sing and perform on stage with Dierks and the band?

Cassady: My favorite song from the Ridge album is "Fallin' for You". The few times we've actually done it have been incredible. As far as a song from the full band show "Long Trip Alone" or "Trying to Stop Your Leaving" are at the top of my list.

(Photo Credit: Stephanie Lanham)

DBC: What non-single song from early Dierks albums do you hope he will add to the set list that you are dying to play live?

Cassady: That's easy. "That Don't Make It Easy Loving Me."

(Photo Courtesy of Cassady Feasby)

DBC: Your Facebook interests include love, family, tasteless jokes, and drinks. "I believe they all go hand in hand." What's been the funniest moment in the six months since you've been with Dierks and the band? I'm talking laugh so hard you can't breathe moment! Please try to keep it PG13! DB Congress reps are age 7 to 77!

Cassady: Wow. I've laughed myself into splitting headaches many times. Humor-wise, pretty much anything goes as long as it's not hateful. Specifically, though, I've seen band guys (who will remain unnamed) on the bus dancing around in choice attire. I would say I wish you could've been there, but it may have scarred you for life. We are honky tonkers hanging out on a bus for hours on end. There have been many "can't breathe" moments. ;)

DBC: Speaking of 7. Dierks' lucky number is 7. What's yours and why?

Cassady: I've never really had a lucky number, however, many important events in my life have happened on the 9th, 19th, or 29th, so I'll go with 9.


DBC: What one non-musical thing do you have to do when you're not on the road with Dierks? What's your passion?

Cassady: My wife and I cook a lot. I love holding and singing to my daughter. The yard will always need mowed. Sometimes I'll play upright bass solos for my wife wearing only cowboy boots and various forms of undergarments.

(Photo courtesy of Cassady Feasby)

DBC: What is family-life like for you?

Cassady: We have a 3 month old daughter, Amelie, as well as a bird-dog named Garnet. When I'm not on the road, I'm at home with my ladies.

(Photos courtesy of Cassady Feasby)

DBC: You have a gazillion artists on your iTunes list, who double as your influences. Can you narrow that down to the three who have made the biggest impact and tell us how they have made a difference in your life and your career?

DOC: No, I can almost guarantee that I will not actually answer this question correctly.

->George Strait - The first three discs from his boxed set are incredible. My mom had every George LP when I was growing up. My very first concert was in 1987 with Kathy Mattea opening for him. He is one of the not-so-missing links to real country music.

->Creedance Clearwater Revival - My first memory of actually listening to music on my own is CCR's Chronicle album. The first guitar solo I ever learned was "Suzie Q".

->Marshall Tucker Band - My name actually comes from the credits on the "Fire On the Mountain" album. Aside from being jam-bandish, MTB was organic and hauntingly soulful.

And...when I was 11 my cousin introduced me to GnR's "Appetite for Destruction", STP's "Core", and Pearl Jam's "Even Flow" albums. Prior to this point in time, I pretty much had (what would later be determined) a man crush on Garth Brooks. I will always be searching for good music new and old.

Right now my favorite albums are The Bird and The Bee's first, self titled album and their newest album, "Interpreting the Masters" (all Hall & Oates covers). Also, no matter what mood I'm in, Slipknot's first album brings me back to normal for some reason.

(Photo Credit: Stephanie Lanham)


DBC: Your nickname is "The Doctor." Did Dierks name you that or did you have it before? How did that come about?

Cassady: Dierks did not name me that. I earned that nickname seven or eight years ago. This is a pg-13 blog, correct? Yes, there will be no story for that one.

DBC: Since joining the band, you've played The Opry, Letterman, Fallon, Kimmel...which one resonated the most with you and why?

Cassady: All of the late night tv shows have been firsts for me. The Opry was especially great not only because of the incredible lineup, but it was at the Ryman. My favorite would have to be the Jimmy Kimmel extravaganza. The stars aligned that night for Dierks AND Jimmy. What better opportunity for everyone involved to do what they do...with no electricity.


DBC: Any surprises from the DB fans? I hope they've made you feel welcome. Do you tend to stay on the bus or come out and visit before/after shows?

Cassady: I usually get off the bus and mill around the venue. I enjoy seeing the local sites...especially the local fishing. If anyone knows where the bass hang out, message me at www.myspace.com/dr.feasby. There haven't been any surprises. I've only met a few fans here and there and they've all been super cool and welcoming.


DBC: Tell us one revealing thing about Dierks that we don't already know! And, no, you can't use the same answer as Brian or Dan!

Cassady: Hmm. How do I not cross the line on this one? He enjoys watching the Pro Bowling Channel and his favorite past-time is cropdusting.

Who knew?

Thanks, Cassady for the 'candid' answers! Welcome to the DB Congress!

~Ronna Clark
DB Congress Chair

P.S. Keep checking back for the exclusive DB Congress interview with the newest addition to the team - Fiddlin' Dan Hochhalter!