Dierks Bentley Delivers Hits, Surprises, and Laughs in Nashville
“This is a big night,” Bentley teased just moments after taking the stage.
Dierks Bentley; Photo by Zach Belcher
In life, there are a few things you can always count on, the sun rising and setting, bills and taxes, the seasons changing, and the fact that you’re always going to have a good time at a Dierks Bentley concert. The road warrior proved this to be true on Saturday evening (Sept. 7) when he brought his Gravel & Gold Tour to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Bentley put on a two-hour performance packed with fan-favorite hits, a few surprises, and of course, his signature humor.
Taking the stage singing 2022’s “Gold,” Bentley greeted the Music City crowd with a smile.
“Bridgestone Arena, wow! This is a big night…this is a big night, not just because we are in the biggest honky tonk on Lower Broadway, which we are. This is it. And not just because this is the home of the Nashville Predators, which it is as well…we have some serious VIPs in the crowd tonight. I’m not kidding, like crazy VIPs here tonight,” he teased.
He then gave a shout-out to the VIPs in the crowd, who were more like hometown heroes, such as his beer league hockey teammates, his kids’ teachers, staff from his favorite local service shop, and others.
Massive sing-alongs ensued when he performed hits like “Lot Of Leavin’ Left To Do,” “I Hold On,” and “Am I The Only One” mashed up with Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup.”
The 48-year-old reminded concertgoers that there’s more to life than just “Living” and remdined us all of the ongoing complexities of life with “Burning Man” before welcoming the first special guest of the night to the stage.
“As usual, he looks a lot better than I do,” Bentley joked as the Red Clay Strays’ lead singer, Brandon Coleman joined him on stage.
Together, they covered Waylon Jennings’ “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean,” drawing an impressive response from the crowd. It’s safe to say Coleman gained a few new fans with this performance.
The night continued with performances of Bentley’s current single, a cover of Tom Petty’s “American Girl,” as well as “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)” and Alabama’s “Mountain Music” before another guest joined Bentley: his tour mate Chase Rice.
It’s almost comical how much they look alike and they certainly played into that for their collaborative performance of Bentley’s “Gone.” After playfully mimicking each other and getting plenty of laughs from the audience, Bentley presented Rice with a brand new guitar as a token of appreciation for joining him on tour.
Bentley turned up the heat with performances of “Say You Do” and “Black” before returning to the front and center of the stage with his band. Letting his bluegrass influences shine, Bentley and Co. performed “Up on the Ridge” with a little of Garth Brooks’ “Callin’ Baton Rouge” mixed in. He even let his award-winning bandmate, Charlie Worsham, a talented singer, songwriter, and musician in his own right, take the lead on the Garth Brooks hit.
The surprises didn’t end there as his eldest daughter, Evie, popped up to sing Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” as her proud pop watched on. Moments later, rising star Zach Top, hit the stage to perform “High Note” alongside Bentley.
At this moment, Bentley generously passed the mic to Top, giving him the chance to perform his chart-climbing single, “Sounds Like The Radio.” It was a kind gesture that showcased Bentley’s character, allowing another artist to shine during his own headlining show.
The energy skyrocketed with “5-1-5-0,” “Somewhere on a Beach,” and “Drunk on a Plane,” turning Bridgestone Arena into a full-on party.
Just when fans thought the show was over, Bentley and his band surprised everyone by transforming into their comedic ‘90s alter ego, Hot Country Knights. Wrapping up the night on a high note, the quirky group performed a series of ‘90s country hits with their signature humorous dance moves on full display.
With a career spanning over 20 years, Bentley continues to deliver stellar live performances and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Dierks Bentley’s Gravel & Gold Tour resumes this weekend in North Carolina and will continue through September.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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