We Celebrate Dierks Bentley: A 48th Annual CMA Awards Winner!

It’s very difficult to write a positive blog about Dierks Bentley and The 48th Annual CMA Awards results. Many of us thought that this would be Dierks’s year as Riser, most certainly his best work to date (not counting Up on the Ridge), was pretty much universally praised. So far, it has produced two number one singles, one hilarious video, and a successful tour that has catapulted him to another level as an artist. 

The morning of the show, we celebrated when he won the CMA Award for Video of the Year for “Drunk on a Plane,” which was announced prior to the televised awards show--the first of five nominations, the most of any male artist this year. However, as we went into watching the CMA Awards with high hopes, we came out three hours later utterly disappointed. 

Dierks and his wife Cassidy

“I Hold On,” which was as personal a song as one can get, also became an anthem for many—a perfect combination to ensure a Song of the Year win. Alas, Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally took home the award for “Follow Your Arrow.” 

We watched as Single of the Year and Album of the Year went to his friend and tour mate, Miranda Lambert.  

And as we longed for the tide to turn in the Male Vocalist category, Blake Shelton walked away with the award for another year.  

The one bright spot of the evening, was Dierks and the guys’ performance of “Drunk on a Plane.” Although sound quality was not at its best (for many of the performers) you could see Dierks and company put their all into the song which undoubtedly was the song of the summer.

Dierks himself said, "I've got my 'Yay, somebody else won, congratulations' face down pat. But we're winning right now." 

They most certainly are. 

With the success that 2014 has brought, one can only believe that 2015 will only see his star shine brighter and the industry take note to soon bestow on him the accolades of which he is most deserving. Until then, he will most certainly remain a winner in our eyes.

Tara

DBC Rep, NY

Dierks Bentley... For Your CMA Consideration

Watch and listen to hear if Dierks Bentley's name is called Wednesday morning, September 3 on ABC's Good Morning America, when Little Big Town and Darius Rucker announce live the final nominees in five award categories for "The 48th Annual CMA Awards."  The announcement will air in the 8:30 AM/ET half-hour segment.

According to countrymusicislove.com, "Following “Good Morning America,” Little Big Town and Rucker will be at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square to announce the finalists in the remaining seven categories..and this event will be streamed live via CMAawards.com beginning at 10:00 AM/ET."

Dierks could be nominated in as many as five categories, as his press kit sent to CMA members suggested the following "for your CMA consideration."

• Male Vocalist of the Year
• Album of the Year - Riser
• Single of the Year - "Drunk On A Plane"
• Song of the Year - "I Hold On"
• Music Video of the Year- "Drunk On A Plane"

The vote-prompting packet also included Riser, the CD and Riser the documentary film, along with an assemble-your-own Riser Air paper/plastic airplane and flying instructions.

The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by more than 7,000 professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958. 

The eligibility period for the 2014 CMA Awards is July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

The 48th Annual CMA Awards will air on ABC on Wednesday, Nov. 5 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET).

We would love if he was nominated for and won all five--he totally deserves them, but if he could only win one, which award do you think would mean the most to Dierks?  Leave your answer in the comments!