Dierks Bentley Rallies to Raise over $476,000 for 19 Fallen Firefighters

Dierks Bentley's Country Cares concert last night in Prescott Valley, AZ was an unprecedented community wide event, raising over $476,000 to benefit the families of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots who lost their lives in recent wildfires. (Photo tweeted by Trisha Hendricks)

With just over a week to organize the event, Arizona native Dierks Bentley led the charge with the help of The New KMLE Country @ 107.9, 92.9 KAFF Country and artist friends The Band Perry, Randy Houser and David Nail. 

KMLE interviews Dierks in this video:

Video -

Family members of the 19 firefighters and the sole surviving firefighter were in attendance at the event in an emotional yet celebratory night of music. Bentley honored the fallen firefighters with a photo tribute during his first-ever performance of brand new song "Here On Earth" and kicked off a special version of "Home" with a bagpipe intro by the Rural Metro Pipe and Drum Corp.

Many DB Congress were in attendance repping the fan club and supporting the cause.  California Rep, David Watts, won last minute tickets to the fundraiser.  He tweeted from the show:

"@dbcongress Hey...Did I mention @DierksBentley did a new song off #RISER?! #HereOnEarth. There wasn't a dry eye in the house."

Dierks holds up the check for $442,000 but that didn't include all the t-shirt sales and donations, and an on stage auction where two guitars signed by all the performers each going for around $25,000.

Photo tweeted by David Kadlubowski  

Click here to see more photos from the show.

All money raised from the event will go to the United Phoenix Firefighters Charities who will directly distribute to the families of the 19 fallen firefighters. For more information, visit www.dierks.com.

Dierks Bentley to Headline Country Cares Benefit Concert

Dierks will make a special trip to his home state this month to headline the Country Cares Concert, benefiting The Granite Mountain Hot Shots on Monday, July 22. The show will take place at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, AZ.

VIP Packages and Individual Tickets go on sale today, Friday, July 12 @ 10am MST at KMLE1079.com and at Tim’s Toyota Center box office.

VIP Package ($351) includes:
-Artist pre show reception
-One ticket in rows 2-5
-Event t-shirt

PURCHASE VIP PACKAGE HERE!

PURCHASE INDIVIDUAL TICKETS HERE!

Proceeds from the concert will go to the United Phoenix Firefighters Charities who will distribute the proceeds of this show directly to the 19 families.

Here's an excerpt from People.com:

When the country star [Dierks Bentley] learned that 51 children were left fatherless following the devastating Arizona wildfire that killed 19 elite firefighters on June 30, the Phoenix native knew he wanted to help.

With his only day off for the rest of July, Bentley, 37, is hosting the July 22 "Country Cares Concert" in Prescott Valley, Ariz., to raise money for the fallen families affected by the deadliest firefighter loss since the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attacks.

"We want to make as much for those families as we can and hopefully start something that will continue on long after the music is over as far as remembering the firefighters and their families and these kids that live on as well," Bentley said, the Associated Press reports. "We want to help get something rolling to look after them and help them move forward."

The 19 members of the elite Granite Mountain Hotshots died battling an out of control wildfire in Yarnell, Ariz., a small town about 85 miles northwest of Phoenix, after lightning ignited the blaze on June 28th and shifting winds blocked their ability to escape. The firefighters were based in nearby Prescott – where Bentley's benefit concert will take place.