Dierks Bentley is an American country music singer and songwriter, he rose into prominence when he released his debut single, “What Was I Thinkin’,” in 2023.
Bentley was born on November 20, 1975, in Phoenix, as the son of Leon Fife Bentley (August 16, 1923 – June 1, 2012), a bank vice-president, and Catherine Childs.
His father was born in Glasgow, Missouri, to Richard Thomas Bentley Jr. and Mary Cecile (née Fife) Bentley, and was a First Lieutenant in World War II.
He attended Culver Academies in Indiana and graduated from The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey in 1993.
He spent a year at the University of Vermont (UVM) before transferring to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he graduated in 1997.
Full Name: Frederick Dierks Bentley
Date of Birth: November 20, 1975
Place of Birth: Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Age: 46
Nationality: American
Genre: Country, bluegrass
Occupation: Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer
Record label: Dangling Rope, Capitol Nashville
Instruments: Vocals, guitar, banjo
Net-worth: $30 Million
Career:
Bentley’s self-titled debut album was released by Nashville Records. The album’s first single, “What Was I Thinkin’,” reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts later that year. The next two singles from that album, “My Last Name” and “How Am I Doin’,” reached number 17 and number 4, respectively. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Bentley’s second album, Modern Day Drifter, was released in 2005. It spawned two number one singles with “Come a Little Closer” and “Settle for a Slowdown” and the number three hit “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do.” The album was also certified platinum.
In 2005, Bentley won the CMA Award for the Horizon Award (now Best New Artist) and was invited to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
The induction took place on October 1, 2005. Bentley stands as the third youngest member after Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner.
Bentley released his third album, Long Trip Alone. The album produced two number one hits with “Every Mile a Memory” in 2006 and “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)” in 2007.
The title track reached No. 10 on the country charts, while the fourth single, “Trying to Stop Your Leaving,” peaked at number 5.
Bentley’s sixth album, Home, was released on February 7, 2012, led by the single, “Am I the Only One” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Singles.
The second single off the album is “Home”, which was co-written by Bentley, Brett Beavers, and Dan Wilson also reached No. 1 on March 24, 2012. A third single, “5-1-5-0”, was released shortly after “Home” fell from number one on the country chart.
He released his eighth album, Black, on May 27, 2016. The album’s first single, “Somewhere on a Beach”, was released on 2016.
The album’s second single, “Different for Girls” featuring Elle King, was released to country radio on June 6, 2016. It reached at number one on Country Airplay in October 2016.
Bentley released The Mountain, his ninth studio album. It was released o via Capitol Records Nashville. The first single from the album was “Women, Amen”, which peaked at number one. in 2018.
The second single from the album was “Burning Man”, which also peaked at number one (Mediabase only).
Personal Life:
He got married to Cassidy Black on December 17, 2005, in Mexico. They live in Nashville, with their three children.
They have two daughters, Evalyn “Evie” Day Bentley, Jordan Catherine Bentley, and a son, Knox Bentley.
Songs:
Albums:
Dierks Bentley (2003)
Modern Day Drifter (2005)
Long Trip Alone (2006)
Feel That Fire (2009)
Up on the Ridge (2010)
Home (2012)
Riser (2014)
Black (2016)
The Mountain (2018)
Singles:
Dierks Bentley
Modern Day Drifter
Long Trip Alone
Feel That Fire
Up on the Ridge
Home
Riser
Black
The Mountain
“I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes”
“What the Hell Did I Say”
“Gone”
“New Old Trucks”
“Flatliner”
“New Old Trucks”
Awards:
Dierks Bentley Horizon Award
“Drunk on a Plane”
“Different for Girls” (with Elle King)
CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year; “What Was I Thinkin'”
CMT Music Awards CMT Performance of the Year — “Country Boy” with Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Brad Paisley
iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Song of the Year — “Somewhere on a Beach”
Academy of Country Music Awards: Merle Haggard Spirit Award
