Dierks Bentley Flies High With Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority

There's no doubt some 737s are rocking like a G6 in Nashville this week!

Dierks Bentley has been selected to join the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners as Industry/Commerce/Finance representative. This is a volunteer position.

“As a widely-acclaimed country music artist, he brings unique experience and expertise regarding the entertainment industry, tourism and business. And he's a licensed pilot as well," said Rob Wigington, MNAA president and CEO.

With award-winning hit song, Drunk on a Plane, this appointment might sound humorously ironic, but when listening to the words, “Buyin’ drinks for everybody but the pilot …” it’s clear he’s responsible in the cockpit.

“I love Nashville and I love aviation,” he said in a recent interview about this appointment. “There are many big changes happening in our city right now as it continues to grow so rapidly. I am very excited to get a chance to be involved in facilitating and managing that growth as it pertains to our airports and aviation services.”

Dierks will help manage the $1.2 billion capital investment in the MNAA facilities “while working to make [the] airport a true international hub for commerce and tourism.”

Being a pilot is as much as part of Dierks’ life as is country music.

In a recent iHeart podcast with Bobby Bones, Dierks defines becoming a pilot as a manifestation over the years, the fulfillment of a dream that began when he was 19.

“I want to be the pilot, not a passenger,” he says.

If the band is on tour, they all fly with Dierks in the pilot seat. This has saved precious time the band treasures with their families.

“When we walk on stage, [the band is] in a great mood," he says. "Their families are happy; their wives are in good spirits; and they got to be with their kids that morning. When we get onto the stage, it makes for a better show for us, for our fans. … At this point in my career, they go hand-in-hand.”

As a Nashville resident and frequent flyer in the area, Dierks will bring a unique voice to the table, all with the focus of keeping families in the forefront. This perspective will no doubt bring high-impact opportunities to the MNAA.

Photos from @DierksBentley Facebook page.

Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe

Dierks Bentley Poses as a Pilot at 2014 CMT Music Awards Red Carpet

Riser Airlines Captain Holden "Mike" Johnson (aka Dierks Bentley) made his first appearance on the 2014 CMT Music Awards Red Carpet Wednesday night.  CMT's Katie Cook interview with him went like this:

"I just met a pilot on the red carpet, it's so interesting, I believe you're with Riser Air?"

Photo Credit: Michael Loccisano-Getty Images

"I am! I'm the senior captain of Riser Airlines, you might have seen me in the Kirk, spirk, dirk, Dierks Bentley video, I was the pilot on that plane and he invited me to come out here... this is my first time..."

"Has anyone ever told you, you kind of look a little bit like him?"

"We DO look alike, I'm bigger stronger, smarter, sexier, but..."

"I see you're not actually on a plane but you're working on the drunk part."

"*holding up his red riser solo cup...The good thing about being a pilot on Riser Air is we actually serve the captain before we serve the customers so we skirt a lot of FFA rules and regulations but it's a fun airline to fly for..."

"OK you're performing tonight can I make a guess it's gonna be Drunk On A Plane?"

"Yeah I might come and check out his performance, uh, big song tonight, drunk on a plane, I was honored to be on the video, be part of that video, I think it's gonna be a lot of fun tonight a lot of my flight attendants are actually in the video, tonight you'll see the attire that we wear on Riser Air, it's not regulation, FFA frowns on the attire..."

"Wow you are not breaking character!"

"It looks good...this mustache is about to break off...if I smile too much."

"Ok...and the Oscar goes to...I love you..have fun tonight."

"Captain Johnson, Holden Mike Johnson..."



Before the show, Dierks tweeted this animated promo via Vine:





A little later, Dierks asked his congress for help with bass player Cassady Feasby's attire:

"hey @dbcongress ...what should @drfeasby wear tonight...? looks like he robbed a thrift store. 

In the end, the whole band ended up wearing black and leather to perform "Drunk On A Plane."

We love ya, Dierks, but the stewardesses were 'pouring coke and ...kinda "cheesy." But you and the guys sounded great! Just wish we could have seen more of you and less of the dancers.

Click here to watch the performance.


Well, at least wife Cassidy was still smiling. Maybe it was the pilot uniform.

Up for Performance of the Year for his CMT Crossroads collaboration with OneRepublic (Counting Stars), Dierks didn't win, instead it was awarded to his buddy Luke Bryan.  You're still our Performer of the Year, actually Lifetime!

*EDIT: We forgot to mention that Dierks has his pilot's license (and his own plane) so he is a pilot in real life, not just on red carpets!

Big D, Bubba & Dierks: Guy Talk & New CD

Does Dierks zumba?  Big D and Bubba--who have both been in radio since they were 14 years old-- talk to Dierks Bentley about eating, drinking, losing weight, keeping weight off and zumba? Click here for part one of their radio interview this morning.

Bubba says he can relate to DBs next #1 song, "Am I The Only One?"  Dierks admits he had a Hank Williams, Jr. moment when thinking about writing it (All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down). No name for the album yet. "It's not coming out until February, so I gotta make sure I've got just the right title for it."  Did you know Dierks was a pilot? Click here to hear him talk all of this and that and if he feels safe on stage.

In the final audio clip, the guys talk about booties--and not the baby kind--in reference to the line in the song:  "When this country cutie with a rock and roll booty came struttin in through the door."

The guys go on to say, "You would think Dierks Bentley--would drive a Bentley!" NOT!  See below for Big D and Bubba's "Remember when we went for a ride in Dierks truck?" (Big White) from April 2010:




Send CD title suggestions to Dierks via Twitter, Facebook or leave a comment here under this blog!

Thanks Big D and Bubba for tweeting DB Congress with the link to the interview! You guys ROCK!