AUSSIE ARTISTS LOVE DIERKS, TOO!

Aussie_Stace is well known for promoting Dierks Bentley in Australia--and online via FaceBook, Twitter, Myspace...you name it! She's even the Director for International Recruitment for DB Congress! So when she recently attended a concert with an all-Aussie artist line-up, Stacey didn't let that stop her from showing her support for American country artist, Dierks Bentley.

"I've seen Lee Kernaghan in concert about four times before, all on the North West Coast of Tasmania," shares Stacey on her Facebook page review of the evening. "Lee is a true Aussie legend (after Slim Dusty of course!) He sings about the land, the Aussie spirit, utes (short for Utility Vehicle for those not in the know)."

When getting ready for the show, she decided to wear her Dierks Bentley "Feel That Fire" T-shirt. "DB & LK are now best mates, after they recorded a song together on Lee's latest album," Stacey says, and she was hoping the shirt would make her stand out in the crowd.

During 'Boys From The Bush,' Lee wandered over to her side, looked straight at her as they both sang "We're life members of the outback club," but no Dierks nod. "A few other times, when I went to take photos, he'd look RIGHT at me...now if that doesn't cause camera shake, I don't know what will!" laughs Stacey.

Here's the rest of Stacey's story in her own words. Read all the way to the end for a real LK/DB treat!

"When he sang 'Scars' (the song he recorded with Dierks), I was hoping and praying to myself that Dierks would miraculously walk out as a special guest. But Lee did a pretty good job on his own!"

"He was giving out t-shirts to some kids in the audience," she continues. "I thought to myself 'I have to get myself one of those shirts!' So during the encore, I went and stood in front of the stage. Lee took one look at me, at my DB T-shirt, pointed, grinned and pointed again. "It's Dierks!" he said, MID-SONG! He then winked at me *thud*, walked over to his drum kit, and grabbed the last T-shirt. He pointed at me again and handed me the T-shirt! Gotta love Stage-Lovies from an Aussie legend!

I was on bit of a high after that! But nothing prepared me for what was going to happen after the show.

Everyone was lined up to get autographs and photos taken. The last time Lee was in Burnie, he didn't come out to sign anything. So I just presumed people were waiting for Marcus, Jasmine and Tanya. But I almost fainted in shock when the line started screaming, and Lee walked out! Now I've been a fan of LK's for YEARS, but have never had the chance to meet him! Now was my chance!

While we were all waiting, Marcus came through the crowd to sign and get photos taken. Then Jasmine came along and signed stuff too. I told her that we'd talked before on Myspace. 'I see you're a Dierks fan!' she laughed. When she asked for my name and I told her, it suddenly dawned on her. 'Oh! You're Aussie Stace!'

Lee's tour manager was going down the line, asking everyone's names so that he could introduce us to Lee. The people behind me were talking about Adam [Brand](as you do at any country concert) and he piped up, 'Yeah, Brandy is currently on his way to Nashville now.' He pulled out his iPhone and said 'Yep. He boarded at 8pm.' I almost got all teary-eyed again.

The people in front of me were having trouble with their camera as they had their photos taken with Lee. Lee looked over at me and winked again *thud*

'If you like, I can have a chat with Stacey and then come back to you.'

I stared at him in shock. How the heck did he know my name?

He then told everyone:

"Stacey here was on my phone tonight..." he looked over at me. I must've looked like a stunned mullet. "You can't hide from me on Facebook and Twitter," he laughed, then said "Stacey is a BRANDette [Adam Brand fan]."

When it was finally my time to actually talk to him, I turned to his tour guy and said, "We don't need an introduction!" Lee laughed.

"I like your T-shirt!" he said. "Did you get that when he [Dierks] toured with Brooks and Dunn?"

I nodded. I meant to tell him that I had actually met Dierks in Melbourne, but as usual, that completely skipped my mind!

He told me how he'd met Dierks in Brisbane and they'd talked about maybe doing a duet together.

"I was hoping you would!" I said.

He'd actually replied to me on Twitter about it ;) But that was back when I was Aussie_Stace, so he probably didn't realise that was me. LOL.

I got him to sign my old tatty autograph book, that seems to be only filled with country star's autographs.

"To Stacey" (he didn't even have to ask if it was with an 'e'!)
I've got your facebook number darlin' (what exactly is a facebook number? lol)
Love ya lots (awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww)
Lee Kernaghan
x

Got 3 photos taken....I'm never happy with just one!! :-P

If I had've been thinking straight (I wasn't...cos I'd just had the shock of my life!), I totally would've asked for a photo on my phone!! ;) Next time!!

Before I walked off, he said "I'll see you on Facebook!"
"Or Twitter!" I laughed.

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Australia's Country Superstar Lee Kernaghan did an Exclusive Interview With Gibson.com on 01.15.2010. Here is an excerpt:

His new album Planet Country was the result of two years writing and producing and critics are saying it is his finest album to date. Recorded in Sydney and Nashville with what Lee describes as “some of the best musicians in the world”, Planet Country reveals enormous depth, masterful songwriting and maturity in Kernaghan that can only have come from experience. Standout singles include ‘Planet Country’, ‘People like Us’, the majestic ‘Love In The Time Of Drought’, ‘Dirt’, ‘Australian Boy’, ‘Gold’ and ‘Scars’ the southern rock inspired duet featuring U.S. country superstar Dierks Bentley.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end! Enjoy Lee and Dierks singing "Scars." This listen online version was provided by Nid, DB Congress rep in England (soon to be Virginia).

NEW DB CONGRESS DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT NAMED

You may recall reading, the "But Where's Stacey" blog a few days ago. Stacey's been doing a great job of recruiting more "International" members into the DBC! So much so, that I have decided to promote her from First Australian Rep to Director of International Recruitment for the DB Congress! Here's what she's accomplished in her first seven days in office:

"Hey Congress! I did 2 good deeds today: I somehow managed to recruit two of my Myspace friends into the Congress! Both are Aussies [and one is even from Tasmania - like me!]. There's beambabe [mish] and TassieDBFan [Nigel]. I'm soooooo happy that my blog/note on Myspace & Facebook managed to pull people in! Plus it helped that Dierks personally replied!"

Stacey is referring to the fact that Dierks - the Dude, our president himself - personally replied to her concert review on Dierks.com:

haha...thanks stacey for the great post!!! i was so happy to finally meet you in person! the show in melbourne was "wicked"....i walked off stage feeling like we had really connected with the audience and that everyone was having a blast. must say it was also great to see vicky in perth...really great knowing i have hard core fans like you guys down under here....

alright..going back to read that post again...! (and yes, i had braces!!!!)

d

How many artists do you know who will reply to a fan's post? I don't know of any except Dierks Bentley!

With her efforts, she has helped the DBC be within 25 reps of reaching of our 500 goal! We are at 475 right now, 33 of which are International.

Now, Stacey doesn't know she's been promoted, so "mums" the word! Shhhhhhhh! I am sure her new duties will keep her busy trying to find new DB Congress reps in countries outside the U.S. and sending them to dbcongress.com!

Congratulations, Stace!

~Ronna
DBC Chair

BUT WHERE'S STACEY?

I first met Stacey through the Dierks.com message board in 2007. I posted for fan clubber/DB Congress reps to send me an email with their photo and story for the DBC Scrapbook I was making. I was so impressed with her story--our only rep from Australia at the time--that I made an entire scrapbook page just for her!

Stacey actively campaigned for Dierks on a daily basis for the next two years, not knowing if she would ever get to meet him in person like the fans in the states had. One fan actually used her own M&G time with Dierks to call Stacey and hand the phone to Dierks! That's proves what a "DB Family" we really are!

Finally, Dierks plans a trip to Australia and mentions in his Town Hall Meeting that he is looking forward to meeting Stacey!

Here's her story!

"Is it possible to have withdrawals after less than 24 hours?

I had to fly from Tasmania to Melbourne [only an hour and 15 minutes]. I absolutely love Melbourne...the shopping, the sites, the concerts I go to every time I'm there!!

I completely shocked myself by not feeling one bit nervous!! I was expecting throwing up before I even left home. Not even one dry-retch!

Got to the venue when the Box Office was due to open & asked for my M&G pass. The lady said they didn't have them & I had to wait 'til doors opened so I could ask the indoor box office So I waited....still not nervous!! When the doors opened at 5:30, I walked up to the box office & again asked for my M&G pass. Again, they didn't have it either. They said all I had to do was wait by Lift #3 and someone would come to collect me at 6:30. So I lined up to get some merchandise. The line was loooooooong, so I gave up in the end.

I went & waited by Lift #3 and saw 2 girls sitting down with M&G passes on their trousers! I asked where they got them from. They said outside I got talking to 2 very nice ladies who were told the same thing I was. When the lifts opened and a very nice Irishman came out [I think he was Irish...it was his accent. LOL] and asked to see everyone's passes. I freaked out. I said, "I was told by the woman at the Info Desk that we just had to wait here & someone would come get us." "No, you have to have a M&G pass."

I was almost in tears. I felt like saying "But Dierks is expecting me!"
The same lady from the Info Desk came along & apologised and said that the passes were at the outdoor Box Office. By this time it was already 6:30 and Dierks M&G had already started! So I had to go back outside and collect my M&G pass that they earlier said they didn't have. I was NOT happy!

By the time I was in the lift, going down to the room to meet Dierks, any nerves that I did have were gone.

As soon as I walked into the room, Chris (Dierks new tour manager) said "Here are the last couple of fanclub members." The first thing I heard Dierks say was "But where's Stacey?" It was enough to make me almost bawl right there and then, but I was still walking around the corner - hadn't even spotted him yet. When I did finally walk around the corner, I exclaimed, "Here I am!" Dierks gave me a MASSIVE hug & then said, "Ok, now let's do that again! "Sooooo....I had to walk back around the corner and do the whole thing again! It was soooooooo fun! I think it may be appearing on this website in the near future (hopefully, not before I go home!)

I handed him my Aussie giftbag (which had Vegemite, Tim Tams, a Tassie Devil toy, a koala holding an Aussie flag, a t-shirt, some Kangaroo Jerky, and some Burger Rings). He took a good look at everything inside. Then pulled out the Vegemite.

"What is this stuff??" Everyone explained to him that it's a sandwich/toast spread. "Try some!" So he took the lid off & had a good whiff. I soooo wish I had taken a photo of his face! "Ugh!" Then he stuck his finger in it & had a little taste! "Ugh!" again! Dierks doesn't seem to like Vegemite! He still had it on his finger, so he bent down at wiped it on his new boots. "Hey, it makes good boot polish!"

We had our photo taken together (with the Aussie gift bag making an appearance). Then I asked him for another one, with us hugging. "We'll make this one the Prom photo seeing as I never got to go to my Prom" Dierks said. He does give good hugs!
He had photos taken with the other fanclub members (I was surprised that there were others from Melbourne!) Then Dierks made another video of his Aussie giftbag Started pulling stuff out. "But my favourite is this stuff!" out came the Vegemite!
He gave it to me "Here you try it!" "I love the stuff!" So to prove it, I stuck my finger in the jar and ate some! "Mmmmmmmmmm!"

We got things signed & Dierks signed my Greatest Hits Cd & wrote the longest message on it that I laughed at said, "Are you sure there's enough room?" He put: "Stacey, Love Ya! Thanks! Great to meet you! Dierks Bentley"

He then signed two of my fave photos. When he got this photo he said, "Oh wow! This is an old one!" "That's one of my favourites!" "Do you like the short hair??" I shook my head & said, "I'd prefer the curls!"
Chris took a photo of Dierks while he was signing away, but I blinked, so it looks like I'm in lala land (maybe I was!).
We said our goodbyes....I left mine 'til last of course (last one into the room, last one out). He gave me another MASSIVE hug & told me to enjoy the show.

"I'll be thinking of you while I'm on stage!"

As soon as I walked out of the room & down the hallway, I seriously felt like I was gonna cry again! I didn\'t want it to be over! I wanna do it all over again!!!

The show was INCREDIBLE! I didn't even know where my seats were, but when the usher showed me the way I was thinking "What the....? No way!" I was 4 rows from the stage!! Dierks came out & opened with "Lots Of Leavin' Left To Do", which is my fave song of his to hear live! He was EVERYWHERE. I didn't take as many photos as I'd hoped, because I was just a little lost in the moment. But I did get some good ones. I'd made him a Little White Tank Top that said "Australia Loves Dierks Bentley" and was going to pass it to him during WWIT. But the security guard by the stage wouldn't let me! Oh well....I'll just keep it for next time!

He finished with Free & Easy which is another of my fave live songs! Perfect ending to a great night!

Brooks & Dunn rocked as always I took a lot more pix of them because....well...they weren't Dierks (if that makes sense). With Dierks, I just wanted to watch him.
After the show, I looked over & saw a familiar face, so decided to walk over and introduce myself. "Hey Jay, I'm Stacey!" I think he was just a bit shocked that someone from Australia knew who he was!!!

The only disappointing thing was I completely forgot to tell Dierks EVERYTHING that I had planned on telling him! It's just that he was standing there & everything just disappeared!! I was planning on asking him if he's ever had braces, because he has the most AMAZING set of chompers I've ever seen!

Dierks - thank you sooooooooooooooooooooo much for the best night everrrrrrr! May 4th 2009 will be etched in my memory forever!"

OK, so I haven't MET Stacey in person, but I feel like I know her! Someday, Stacey--Australia is on my top ten places to go before I die!

~Ronna