From CMT.com:

Dierks Bentley‘s father Leon Bentley died Friday (June 1st) in Phoenix at age 88. The singer-songwriter confirmed the death in a Twitter message he sent Saturday morning, noting, “It was an honor to comfort him as he left us. Thank you, fans, for the time and understanding.” A private memorial service is being scheduled. Because of his father’s illness, Bentley had already canceled a Saturday night performance in Washington, D.C., following the Washington Nationals’ baseball game. Following his father’s death, he also canceled Wednesday’s fan club party in Nashville during the CMA Music Festival. A spokesperson told CMT.com Saturday afternoon that Bentley currently plans to resume his performance schedule with a June 9th appearance at the WYCD Downtown Hoedown in Detroit and his June 10th set during the CMA Music Festival’s nightly concert at LP Field in Nashville.

AUDIO: Dierks Bentley says his father was his biggest influence on him.

Dierks (Father’s Day) OC: …for sure. :10

“My dad’s my biggest influence in country music, because my dad loved country radio, so we always drove around listening to country radio — George Strait and Hank Williams and Randy Travis and all those guys. So, without him, I wouldn’t be doing this, for sure.”