DIERKS' TRIBUTE TO BROOKS & DUNN

CMT News
Dierks Bentley Plans Tribute to Brooks & Dunn at DJ Hall of Fame Banquet
February 16, 2010

Dierks Bentley will perform an acoustic tribute to Brooks & Dunn when they're presented the Country Radio Broadcasters' Career Achievement Award during the 2010 Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The event takes place Feb. 23 at the Nashville Convention Center. Brooks & Dunn plan to retire after their Last Rodeo tour ends in August. Bentley opened the duo's Australian tour in 2009. "When we toured together, I watched their show every night from sidestage in total awe of the number of hits they've had and what they've built over the last few decades," Bentley said. "They've done it all. I still can't believe they're about to retire."

GEORGE HONORED, DIERKS SINGS

The George Strait Artist of the Decade special (held live in Vegas Monday night) will air at 8 p.m. on May 27 on CBS and will feature footage of live performances by Brooks and Dunn, Jamie Foxx, Jack Ingram, Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, John Rich, LeAnn Rimes, Blake Shelton, Lee Ann Womack, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.

“It's kind of ironic to be standing up here getting ready to present this award to the man who’s fully responsible for where I’m at today,” Garth Brooks said. “It is an honor to pass the torch to the man who I believe has carried the torch for country music for the last 30 years,” he said.

After Garth Brooks’ unannounced appearance, it was Strait’s turn. As anyone who has watched tributes knows, they can take on an almost “I’m watching my own funeral” feel for the recipient, and as performer after performer talked about growing up on Strait or—to really dig in the dagger- Bentley talked about how his dad loved Strait, the 56-year-old honoree must have felt he was as old as the hills.

“As a songwriter, the ultimate goal is to get George Strait to cut one of your songs,” another performer, Dierks Bentley, said. “I’m not afraid to say I’ve stalked and ambushed him a number of times … I think the last time was in an elevator in Nashville,” he joked before slipping Strait’s wife, Norma, one of his CDs.

Dierks Bentley gave George Strait a CD

Dierks sang George's, “Blue Clear Sky,” during the tribute.