Because of Dierks Bentley, Kids at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Have Hope

Because of Dierks Bentley, kids at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN have hope.  

Dierks' 8th annual Miles And Music For Kids charity event started off on Sunday, November 3, 2013 with a motorcycle ride from Harley-Davidson in Columbia, TN and over 1,000 bikers rode to the Riverfront downtown Nashville for a full line up concert.  Many DB Congress reps were among the riders.

"Charitable gifts are critical to our fight to find treatments and cures for childhood illness and injury that will reach well beyond our region and potentially save the lives of millions of children," states the hospital's website. It goes on to say, "Gifts of any size matter and support hope and healing at Children’s Hospital." 

This year, Bentley's event raised $307,296 for the kids--that's a lot of hope and healing!  And he broke his own  record, with that being the largest one day amount in the event's history.  All total, this event has raised over $2.5 million dollars in eight years for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country.

As soon as Dierks signed the over-sized check, the little girl in the pink hoodie (a patient at the hospital), literally 'took the money and ran' off the stage!

Photo by Harriett Watkins

Artists who performed to the nearly sold out crowd of 10,000 included Tyler Reeves who warmed up the audience while waiting for Bentley and the riders to arrive.  Jake Owen, Brett Eldredge, Chase Rice, Easton Corbin and Luke Bryan followed.

Every year, the support from the fans for these events catches me off-guard,” said Bentley. “I shouldn’t be surprised because the country music community is the first to open their wallets to help out, but this year they were lined up before the sun was even up."

On stage, Dierks thanked not only the fans, but all the artists who gave their time for the good of the kids:

"...to the guys that showed up and played on this stage today that gave up their time, but equally as important, if not more so...you guys [the fans], spending the money and time to come out and and raise...you're the reason why we all get to do this and we are just so thankful for the success you have given me and all these guys to a great cause like the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital...so thank you guys."

See photo slide show from The Tennessean here.

Because of Dierks Bentley, hundreds of fans have become good friends over the last 8-10 years.  Meeting through the fan club, the DB Congress gathered the night before to support Dierks by signing get well cards for the kids in the hospital. Nearly 30 reps from 14 states assembled to meet new Dierks fans and reminisce with old friends.  The camaraderie is amazing.

Photos below by Laci Kent Photography.  See more of her photos of Miles and Music For Kids here.

Brett Eldredge

Chase Rice - "I'm going out on tour w/ Dierks next near...not sure I was supposed to tell yet."

Dierks brought this little girl on stage and then gave her a signed guitar after the show

L to R: Brian Layson, Cassady Feaby, Dierks, Dan Hochhalter and Tim Sergent on banjo in the background

Dierks

Dierks

Easton Corbin led a sing along to "Roll With It"

Jake Owen 

Luke Bryan.  While Luke was singing, Dierks' daughters Evie and Jordan
 were side stage dancing, while Dierks himself was singing along to every word

Once the sun set behind the Nashville buildings, the temperature dropped; but that didn't stop DB Congress from showing their support of their favorite artist with "I Hold On" Little White Tank Tops, which Dierks seemed to really appreciate.  He sprinkled in "I Hold On" white tanks tops into the song lyrics for "What Was I Thinkin," "Sideways," and even the namesake song itself.

Watch the Nashville Country Club's video interviews of Dierks, Easton Corbin, Eric Close (Nashville TV show) and DB Congress NC rep, Sandra Grubb here.

DBTV recap by Ryan "Flash" Silver:




Because of Dierks Bentley, it was a memorable weekend for a great cause.

Dierks Bentley Announces Miles And Music For Kids - November 3, 2013

 

Start making your travel plans now, congress! Dierks' 8th annual Miles and Music For Kids is set for November 3, 2013! Stay tuned for details on our annual DBC get together the night before in Nashville to sign get well cards for the kids!

 

 

Dierks is gearing up for his eighth annual “Miles And Music for Kids” celebrity motorcycle ride and concert set for Sun., Nov. 3 in Nashville, TN. Benefiting Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Jake Owen and Easton Corbin are the first announced special guests to join Dierks for the all-star concert. DB Congress Fan Club pre-sale tickets are available beginning Wed., Sept. 4 on www.dierks.com and general public tickets go on sale Frl., Sept. 6 at 10:00am CT through Ticketmaster.

“This is honestly the most fun day of my year, and it brings the whole community together for a great cause,” said Dierks. “We got rained out last year for the first time, so I want to make up for it in a big way. The lineup is going to be killer, and it'll be a fun way to kick off a big week that celebrates country music with the CMA Awards just a few days later.”

Since first hitting the pavement in 2006, Bentley has visited seven cities to raise over $2 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country. This year’s annual event will begin at the Harley Davidson of Columbia (1616 Harley Davidson Blvd., Columbia, TN) for an hour-long ride that ends downtown at Nashville’s Riverfront Park. From Riverfront, Bentley will take the stage for a family-friendly day of music with a lineup that will continue to grow as the event approaches.

Fans can purchase a combo ticket for the ride and concert for $50 or individual concert tickets for $30. Special VIP packages are also available. All proceeds from the event will benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

CLICK HERE to join DB Congress for $9.99 and have first access to Miles & Music pre-sale tickets!

 

The following ticket options will be offered for this event:

 

$300 VIP Rider Ticket includes: Ride in the front of the pack with the Celebrities, a ride t-shirt and VIP Concert ticket with access to VIP Dealership area with food and non alcoholic beverages and the Concert VIP Tent with donated food & 3 donated beverages

$150 VIP Concert Ticket includes:  VIP Concert ticket with access to the VIP Concert Tent with donated food & 3 donated beverages.

 

$50 Rider Concert Ticket includes: GA Concert ticket & ride. All riders have to have this ticket.

 

$30 Concert Ticket ONLY includes: GA Concert ticket only

Dierks' MM4K event on Sunday will kick off CMA Awards week, with the awards show following on Wednesday night 11/6.

Jay Ballinger Stays the Course for Kids

Those of you who are die-hard Dierks Bentley fans probably have met funny guy and stage manager Jay Ballinger.  Little did we know, the Louisville native hosts an annual celebrity golf scramble, benefiting Louisville's Home of the Innocents, where Ballinger and his sister were both under the custody of when they were adopted at birth.

The second annual "On The Course For Kids" will be held on Monday, September 19 at Quail Chase Golf Club, 7000 Cooper Chapel Road, in Louisville, KY.   Celebrities scheduled to attend this year include country music artists Jake Owen, Josh Thompson, Bucky Covington, and Miss Willie Brown among others, all of whom have toured with Dierks Bentley.

The two man scramble will have a shot gun start at noon on Monday, September 19, with an acoustic concert following the awards ceremony at approximately 6:45 p.m. Registration for golfers is $100 per person. Tickets for the concert are $15 in advance or $20 day of show. All proceeds will benefit Home of the Innocents.

Fans are invited to come out to watch the scramble and meet and greet with the celebrities. Although there is no charge for watching, donations can be made at the registration table or by visiting Home of the Innocents. Return for the intimate acoustic concert and know that the entire purchase price of your ticket will benefit the Home.

According to Louisville.com, "Ballinger has now found such a comfortable place working with Dierks Bentley that he has turned down opportunities to join the tours of Kid Rock and Bon Jovi."

Jay Ballinger, side stage, Boone, NC - 7-23-11

“I feel really lucky,” said Ballinger. “I look at some of these kids, I feel lucky that I had great parents who adopted me, let me chase my dreams, and I never had to spend a day in that home. I never had to be in that situation and placed in foster care and all that stuff,” he continued.

Last year, in the first celebrity golf scramble, Ballinger and friends raised nearly $47,000 for the Home.

“I was one of the fortunate ones,” Ballinger said. “I’m in a place that I can give back. If you’re in place that you can give back and you can afford to give back, I feel like you should pay it forward. And that’s what I’m doing. I couldn’t think of anyone else that deserves it more than children.”

Best of luck, Jay!  We hope you beat last year's total and surpass $50,000!  We've got a lot of DB Congress reps in Kentucky that I'm sure will want to support this worthy cause!

See ya on the road!

~Ronna
DB Congress Chair
Florida

Does Dierks Get Your Vote for THE Song of This Summer?

I noticed a post on 106.5 CTQ's (Bradenton/Sarasota, FL) Facebook page today: 

"New Jake Owen... This Could be our Song, of This Summer.... Really Like This!!! ............. Barefoot Blue Jean Night !!!" 

So you know I had to post a reply: "Good song but Dierks Bentley's Am I The Only One? gets my vote for song of the summer!"

Counter reply: "Ronna, Love that one too.... Let's have everyone watch them both ...then vote on their fav."

So, congress, your current campaign is to click here to "watch" and "vote" for Dierks by Tweeting and Liking above the Dierks video!  Tell 'em DB Congress Chair, Ronna sent ya!