Dierks Bentley has sacrificed plenty for his career, including time with his wife, Cassidy, and their three children. Still, the Arizona native knows what he has given up pales in comparison to what those serving in the military have had to sacrifice, a gift that is not lost on him.
“On the most basic level, I think, for me on the road, I just think about being gone two, three days at a time, maybe a couple of weeks at a time. That seems like a long time when you have kids and family,” Bentley shares with his record label. “But these soldiers, they’re gone for months and years at a time – they’re doing 12 to 15 to 18 months — and they have family back home. That, in itself, is such a huge sacrifice, and that’s just the beginning of it.
“That’s just scratching the surface of what these guys [and gals] are doing every day – preparing for battle, actually being in battle, being wounded in battle, sometimes dying in battle,” he continues. “So, this country obviously, we would not exist without those courageous men and women, and our future depends upon them.”
Bentley will spend more time away from his family this summer, when he embarks on his Gravel & Gold Tour on June 1. Bentley will be joined by Jordan Davis for all dates, along with a rotating list of opening acts that includes Tracy Lawrence, Elle King, Tyler Braden, Caylee Hammack, Kameron Marlowe, The Cadillac Three, The Red Clay Strays, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Shane Smith & the Saints, Caitlyn Smith and Hailey Whitters. Bentley’s own Hot Country Knights will also open for select shows.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” Bentley shared with Everything Nash and other outlets during a virtual media event. “It’s going to be with one of my favorite people in the world. Who you tour with is huge. And people always ask me, ‘Do you pick your tour mate?’ I can’t imagine not picking them, because we’re gonna spend the whole year together, and it’s not just about ticket sales. It’s about the whole hang, the vibe.”
The 47-year-old just celebrated his 22nd No. 1 hit, with “Gold.” The song is from Gravel & Gold album, out in February. Bentley wrote the song with Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley and Luke Dick.
“When we wrote ‘Gold,’ I wanted to write a song that captures the idea of enjoying the journey,” Bentley says. “The reality is that there are a lot of rocky times that we all go through, but amongst all the tough stuff, when you look for the special moments it can change how you view the world. I know that’s a reminder I need for myself, so the fans and country radio embracing it means a lot.”
Find music and tour dates at Dierks.com.
