On this date in history in 2003, Dierks Bentley made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. According to the Opry website, Dierks may be the only singer banned from the Grand Ole Opry before he even got to sing there. During his early days in Nashville, Dierks had a job as a researcher for The Nashville Network, which was located on the Opryland grounds. Dierks made sure to stay late on weekends so he could slip backstage at the Grand Ole Opry House to watch the show and visit the musicians. Dierks did this so often that Opry general manager Pete Fisher finally had to limit his access. He performed his first No. 1 single, “What Was I Thinkin’,” a song inspired by a girl he’d met backstage at the Opry during those early visits. Dierks was made a member of the famed institution on October 1st, 2005.

Dierks is making his way up the country charts with his latest single, “Somewhere on a Beach,” which is from his upcoming album, Black, due for release May 27th.