Dierks Bentley Enlists Son Knox As ‘Best Co-Host’ For 2023 NHL Awards
Bentley’s son Knox was by his side as they prepared for the big show.
Dierks Bentley Son Knox; Photos via Instagram
Dierks Bentley’s 9-year-old son, Knox stepped up to help his dad prepare for his hosting duties at the 2023 NHL Awards.
On Monday, June 26, Bentley will proudly appear at Nashville’s Bridgestone arena as host of the coveted event that honors the League’s best regular-season performances. Ahead of the celebration, Bentley took to social media to give a behind-the-scenes look into some of the preparations that have taken place to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.
The photos the country singer shared via Instagram included him and Knox going over the script for the night, goofing off during their wardrobe fittings and even conducting mic checks on stage.
Bentley’s caption read, “That’s a wrap for the #NHLAwards rehearsals. And I’m going to have the best cohost…Knox! Make sure to tune in to @nhlontnt, @sportsnet, and @tvasports at 8pm ET.”
While it’s unclear what role Knox will be playing on the show, it seems he’ll be stepping onto the stage at some point alongside his famous father.
The 14x GRAMMY nominee recently sat down with Tracey Myers of NHL to discuss his gig at the June 26 ceremony. Not only did he share his own anticipation for the upcoming events, but also his son’s excitement in getting to be part of such a big night for hockey fans.
“He’s so excited. Like a lot of 9-year-old kids, he’s a huge Connor McDavid fan. You walk into his room and 97 is everywhere. He’s also a big Leon Draisaitl fan. He loves the Preds, but I’d definitely say he’s a big Oilers fan as well because of those guys,” Bentley explained. “He loves being around the sport. If we’re not watching on TV, he’s playing it, he’s (watching) YouTube clips, always watching highlights of this or that. Playing it on the bench right now.”
Bentley went on the share that aside from all the necessary fittings, rehearsals and technical tasks, some of their preparations have included getting hands-on with the sport that they love.
“We’re staying in a rental house, had to clean up some of the marks in the wall because he brought six pucks down. Running around this place with a wet rag and bleach getting the rubber marks off the wall. But he loves it,” he continued. “We’ve had some great experiences in games and meeting people, so this is going to be a pretty big deal for him.”
The “Gold” singer has made it known that hockey has always been a staple in his life. Aside from the fact that he simply enjoys playing the sport, it has also become a way for him to stay connected with his family.
“Hockey plays a big part of my daily life,” he stated in a press release. “I’ve been to rinks all over the country with my travel hockey son. I coach his spring league games and spend hours in the local hockey store, telling him, ‘No, you do not need a new stick!’ We love watching YouTube highlight reels, the whole family loves going to Nashville Predators games and watching the Stanley Cup Final together.”
“And, I am a proud member of a beer league team here in Nashville. To get to add NHL Awards host to this list is truly an honor,” he added in conclusion.
The 2023 NHL Awards will reveal the winners of 13 regular-season awards in a wide range of categories, including most valuable player (Hart Trophy), outstanding goaltender (Vezina Trophy), outstanding defenseman (Norris Trophy) and outstanding rookie (Calder Trophy). Additionally, the Ted Lindsay Award, which is presented annually to the “most outstanding player” in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), will also be awarded.
“We can’t wait to celebrate the NHL’s best and brightest with the best of country music in Nashville,” said NHL Chief Content Officer and Senior Executive Vice President Steve Mayer. “Dierks has rocked our stage over the years as a headline performer, and we’re so happy to welcome him as host of this year’s NHL Awards.”
The ceremony will broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena on TNT, Sportsnet and TVA Sports in the U.S. and Canada, at 8 p.m. ET.
Once his hosting duties for this event comes to an end, Dierks Bentley will return to the road for his summer GRAVEL & GOLD Tour. Named after his recently released 10th studio album, the headlining trek kicked off on June 1 and includes a total of 28 cities with direct support from Jordan Davis.
Along with Davis, the trek will feature a diverse group of special guests that will join Bentley on select dates including Elle King, Tracy Lawrence, Tyler Braden, Caylee Hammack, Hot Country Knights, Kameron Marlowe, The Cadillac Three, The Red Clay Strays, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Shane Smith & the Saints, Caitlyn Smith and Hailey Whitters.
Dierks Bentley also recently announced that although his Seven Peaks Music Festival will not be returning in 2023, he has planned two exciting shows in Colorado for the first week of September.
The hitmaker will perform back-to-back nights at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on Tuesday, September 5 and Wednesday, September 6.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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