Dierks Bentley just released his new single, “Something Real,” which is the follow-up to his previous No. 1 single, “Gold.” Dierks co-wrote “Something Real” with Luke Dick, Ashley Gorley, HARDY and Ross Copperman in his happy place — in Colorado.

“I wrote this song out in Colorado where I really go to recharge and get closer to the source that being nature, those mountains and the great outdoors. I wrote this with some friends of mine that flew out there to write with me. HARDY was out there, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley and Luke Dick, and I had this idea, brought it to these guys and they took it to a whole new place,” says Dierks, who says he never thought it’d be a single since it’s so personal. “It’s such a personal song talking about how sometimes the things I feel aren’t things that I think would help to sell tickets, or…in that way. It’s more of a personal song, but I found in the past that songs like ‘I Hold On’ that are extremely personal have always been the ones that resonate most with fans.”

Dierks resumes his Gravel & Gold Tour on Friday (June 16th) in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The 50th annual CMA Fest (formerly known as Fan Fair) kicked off on Thursday (June 8th), and the entertainment was everywhere in downtown Nashville.

The official kick-off took place at the Riverfront Stage with Lainey Wilson and continued throughout the day, ending up with a party at Nissan Stadium with performances and/or appearances by Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Tyler Hubbard, Darius Rucker, Elle King, Luke Combs, Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay and a surprise appearance by Vince Gill.

More than 90,000 people are estimated to participate during CMA Fest, a 12% growth over 2022. The stadium alone saw a 10% increase in attendance year over year. Fans from all 50 states and a record-breaking 51 countries filled Music City in anticipation of seeing more than 300 acts taking part in CMA Fest.

Dierks, who is co-hosting next month’s ABC-TV special CMA Fest with Elle King and Lainey Wilson and performed Sunday night (June 11th) at Nissan Stadium, says he’s not only a country artist, but a fan of the format as well. “This is a great weekend for me, ‘cause I get to go from the Station Inn to the Stadium. I mean, I get to run my whole life in that little, you know, I started off going to watch a band play at the Station Inn back in 1994 with dreams of one day trying to make it as a country artist and nothing says country artist like playing the Stadium here in Nashville. So, it’s kind of a look back at my life in a short six-day period,” says Dierks. “So it’s really, for me it’s a magical week of reflection and being a fan. I’m playing, but also just like total fan mode. I’ve always said I’m a fan of country music first and foremost, and this weekend is a great place to be a fan. It’s just the best of the best.”

“this is your captain speaking!” — @DierksBentley pic.twitter.com/dokdcpdaxg

— Nissan Stadium (@NissanStadium) June 12, 2023

Vince was a special surprise guest during Luke Combs’ set, to which the newly-anointed country superstar called his “absolute hero.” The pair teamed up on Vince’s 1993 hit “One More Last Chance.” Vince says he’s grateful to be a part of CMA Fest. “This is a genre of music unlike anything that I’ve ever experienced. It’s a grateful artist base. It’s grateful for the people that give us the opportunity to do what we do, you know, whether it’s at the Fairgrounds or whether it’s a bigger place. I don’t know if it ever really mattered,” says Vince. All those people out there that buy a ticket to come and do this whether they stand in line to get somebody’s autograph or go to a show or whatever. They’re just here because they like what we do, you know? And it feels good to let them know they’re appreciated and not be standoffish and not be that way. So, I’ve always enjoyed it.”

Backstage prior to his first Nissan Stadium performance, Jordan Davis said he came to Nashville to be a songwriter and never dreamed he’d get to perform at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest. “Long story short, I moved to town to write songs. I had never played with a band; I’d never played a show,” says the Louisiana native. “I was trying to get a publishing deal and trying to get other artists to cut my songs. I truly started playing music and trying to go after being an artist, because I didn’t know if that was going to happen. So, I figured I was already this far down the road, so I might as well start trying to make some money gigging around and here we are. I kind of fell backwards into it, but I’m very grateful I did. I truly never, never dreamed that I would be playing on the stage that I’m getting to play on tonight.”

Having performed his two No. 1 songs as a solo artist — “5 Foot 9” and “Dancin’ In The Country” — Tyler Hubbard is overwhelmed by the reaction the fans have had for his recent self-titled album. “It means a ton to me to have these songs connect the way they have, it’s been really special,” he says. “It’s inspired me, it’s motivated me, and it makes me want to keep doing it, and it’s given me a lot of life. These songs are special, and they mean a lot and to watch the fans sing ‘em back to me at the shows and to hear their stories and to see their videos that they’re making to my music, it’s fulfilling as a songwriter, as an artist. It’s just what I love, and like I said, it just motivates me to keep doing this thing. I just love the connection, and that’s what music does. It brings us together and so that’s why I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Thanks for all the love yesterday, CMA Fest. Playing Nissan Stadium solo for the first time is an experience I’ll never forget. pic.twitter.com/bnrGdmeUC2

— Tyler Hubbard (@tylerhubbard) June 9, 2023

Night two pulled in performances by Tanya Tucker, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson. Reba McEntire surprised the crowd at Nissan Stadium during Cody Johnson’s set. The pair performed her hit “Whoever’s In New England,” before Cody presented her with a gold plaque for their hit duet “Dear Rodeo.” Also performing on Friday (June 9th) were Miranda Lambert, HARDY and Keith Urban (who had the crowd mesmerized).

Additional performers at Nissan Stadium included Little Big Town, Jon Pardi, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Josh Turner, Tim McGraw, Jelly Roll, Old Dominion, Ashley McBryde, Tracy Lawrence, as well as hot newcomers on the Platform Stage including Dalton Dover, Ashley Cooke, Megan Moroney, Ian Munsic, Nate Smith, Alana Springsteen and Haley Whitters.

More highlights and performances will be featured during the CMA Fest ABC-TV special, hosted by Dierks Bentley, Elle King and Lainey Wilson. Catch all the action at 8pm ET on July 19th.

Dierks Bentley unveiled his Gravel & Gold Tour this weekend marking the beginning of summer with sold out amphitheaters in Toronto, ON; Detroit, MI and Cleveland, OH. “Playing in front of a huge high-definition screen (seriously, the whiskey barrels and steel beams looked real)” (Cleveland Plain Dealer), his all-new production otherwise was fairly simple, leaving room for music and “night of serious fun.” Tickets for upcoming Gravel & Gold Tour dates can be found at Dierks.com.

“I’ve been working on this tour ever since I started working on the album four years ago,” said Bentley. “My band, crew and I have poured everything into the show, the flow and the production. I can’t even begin to tell you how incredible it feels to see it come to life in front of sold out crowds at these iconic venues. This will be the best tour I’ve ever been part of, no doubt.”

For the new tour, “Bentley certainly has the goods to throw a full-on party — 22 No. 1 country hits over the past two decades, along with a well-established reputation for eye-catching stages and a deft touch for blending silly and serious…a night of serious fun” (Oakland Press). Each night included his biggest hits and fan favorites, a stripped down bluegrass set, collaborations with openers Jordan Davis and Molly Tuttle and 90’s covers – all while Bentley “came off as a guy who has a blast onstage” (Cleveland Plain Dealer).

Before returning to the road, Bentley will once again host CMA Music Fest in Nashville this week with Elle King and Lainey Wilson, airing July 19th on ABC. On June 26th, he will also host the NHL Awards on TNT, Sportsnet TVA Sports in the US and Canada.

Dierks Bentley recently released his 10th studio album GRAVEL & GOLD.

Dierks Bentley, along with Elle King and Lainey Wilson, will host this year’s CMA Fest TV special. The three-hour primetime concert special, which is set to film in Nashville this week, will air July 19th beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT on ABC.

Returning to host the special for the second year in a row, Dierks is looking forward to hangtime with his artist friends and watching incredible performances, but most of all, working with two of the funniest people he knows.

“Hosting the CMA Fest is the ultimate gig. It’s so fun,” says Dierks. “I mean, I’ve hosted some big awards show as well and those are great too, but this is a four-day festival, so I get to be there for four days. And which if I was doing it by myself, it would be great because you get a chance to see all your artist buddies you don’t see very often, hear great music, see the all-stars of the country music fans, people that travel from all over the world to be here and they bring the most energy. It’s the greatest fans to play in front of, BUT I get to co-host this with two of the funniest people I know – Elle King and Lainey Wilson. I mean, yes, talented beyond all talent, both incredible stylists vocally that sound like nobody else, great songwriters. You can list all that stuff. Whatever. Who cares? They’re funny. They’re so fun to be around. They make you laugh the whole time, so it doesn’t even feel like work. It just feels like this is ridiculous that I get the chance to hang out with these girls. So, yeah, we’re hosting the CMA Fest. Last year it was Elle and I; this year we’re bringing on Lainey Wilson…It’s going to be so much fun. I cannot wait. It’s gonna be the greatest CMA Fest of all time.”

The CMA Fest television event will feature never-before-seen performances and surprise collaborations from some of the best in the Country Music format.

Dierks, who recently hit the top of the country charts with “Gold,” just kicked off his Gravel & Gold Tour last week.

Dierks Bentley will host the 2023 NHL Awards on Monday, June 26, the National Hockey League announced today. The celebration of the League’s best regular-season performances will broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on TNT, Sportsnet and TVA Sports in the U.S. and Canada, at 8pm ET. Tickets to the 2023 NHL Awards are available here.

“Hockey plays a big part of my daily life,” said Bentley. “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.”

“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 2023 NHL Awards will open a week of NHL activities in Nashville. The NHL, in conjunction with the City of Nashville and the Nashville Predators, will stage the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft™, June 28-29, at Bridgestone Arena. Tickets to the 2023 NHL Draft are available for purchase here.

A list of NHL and Predators public activities and events, including red carpet arrivals for the NHL Awards show and the NHL Draft, will be held in the area outside Bridgestone Arena and announced in the coming weeks.

The 2023 NHL Awards broadcast 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); 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.

NHL Network™, NHL.com and NHL Social™ will provide comprehensive coverage of the 2023 NHL Awards™. Fans can follow the festivities across the NHL’s social media channels via the official hashtag #NHLAwards.

Dierks Bentley recently released his 10th studio album GRAVEL & GOLD, again “proving why he’s one of Country’s biggest stars” (TODAY) whose unique 21st-century career has had a rare consistency fueled by longevity. He landed his first publishing deal in 2001 and released his debut album in 2003, producing an instant number one single. In the two decades since, Bentley has achieved success with eight more albums that reached the top of the Country sales charts, resulting in 22 number one songs, eight billion streams, three CMA Awards, 14 GRAMMY® nominations and membership into the Grand Ole Opry. This summer, his Gravel & Gold Tour will crisscross North America, launching today in Toronto. Bentley has created professional endeavors outside of the music with his Flag & Anthem lifestyle collection Desert Son, along with his “Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row” franchise hosting four locations. For more information and for a full list of tour dates, visit Dierks.com.

Dierks Bentley is about to hit the road on his Gravel & Gold Tour. He has tapped Jordan Davis as direct support with a diverse group of special guests joining throughout the 28-city trek 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 is really excited to see his opening acts on stage every night, and he feels the fans will feel the same. “It’s a big group of various acts kicking things off every night, and it’s just exciting,” he says. “So, just seeing their names excites me, because this is the first time I’ve ever done a tour where we have rotating opening acts. It’ll be myself and Jordan Davis and then just every night a different person out there, you know? So, I’m just so excited for this tour to get a chance to see different bands play. Molly Tuttle’s gonna be out there as well, the great bluegrasser, and I know that Jordan’s super pumped about it, but also for fans coming to different shows, they might come and see us in one town and it might be the Cadillac Three opening and then they come to another town and they get turned on to The Red Clay Strays. That’s really just exciting for them and for us. So, like I said, just seeing their names on paper gets me excited, let alone actually when I see it on the ticket and walk out of my bus that morning and bump into Caitlyn Smith or Caylee backstage and getting to meet her band and feel their vibe out and then watch them on stage that night. It’s just gonna make for a great summer.”

He adds that he handpicked every artist on the road with him, because he’s a fan of their artistry. “I want people on the road that I absolutely 100% want to watch play every night. I got really lucky with Jordan Davis as our main opening support, because he’s like on fire. It’s a win-win. He’s gonna help us bring more people into the show. He’s gonna make everyone be super, be  in a great mood before I even walk on stage, but I love his music. He’s just very unique stylist vocally. He sings songs that are very true to who he is, so that’s awesome,” says Dierks. “I selfishly just love all these people. I handpicked all of ‘em. I mean they’re all people I want to watch play every night. Elle King? I mean, these are all like my friends or people I want to be my friends, (laugh) and I’ll be side stage every night watching them.”

GRAVEL & GOLD TOUR Dates:

6/01 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage

6/02 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

6/03 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center

6/04 – Madison, IL – NASCAR Cup Series Race

6/16 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

6/17 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

6/22 – Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion

6/24 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake

7/08 – Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

7/09 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center

7/13 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place

7/14 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

7/15 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

7/21 – Camdenton, MO – Ozarks Amphitheater

7/27 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

7/28 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

7/29 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

8/03 – Corning, CA – Rolling Hills Casino

8/04 – Lake Tahoe, NV – Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena

8/10 – Boise, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater

8/11 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre

8/12 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater

8/17 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

8/18 – San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

8/19 – Palm Springs, CA – Acrisure Arena

8/24 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater

8/25 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater

8/26 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre

The tour kicks off June 1st in Toronto and follows his recent album of the same title, Gravel & Gold, which features his No. 1 song, “Gold,” and many others.

The ‘90s influenced band Hot Country Knights, now tallying 33 mostly wasted years and countless bad decisions, has today delivered on their promise of return with a two-track collection of original songs,  MIDKNIGHT RODEO, available to listen here. The title track that the band shockingly claims isn’t actually about a rodeo, builds on the their long and hard-earned reputation of still “riding a neon wave of Nineties country nostalgia” (Rolling Stone).  But, it’s the collection’s “Herassmeant,” a duet with lead singer Doug Douglason and his former hometown flame Darla McFarland, that bares the wistful tale of unrequited love that’s creating whispers of GRAMMY nominations up and down the Music Row songwriting community.

Everybody calm down! The new music you’ve been begging for is coming! #MidknightRodeo pic.twitter.com/Jp3hcaeSGT

— Hot Country Knights (@countryknights) May 24, 2023

“The Knights are back, baby,” shouted Douglason. “Being off the road since the Big V (virus) has really made us reflect on what we had taken for granted. When you have a chance to really get to the core of what these songs are about, it’s just a raw appreciation for the most satisfying parts of life. I don’t expect anyone to get it on the first six or seven listens, this is deep thinking stuff.”

Well, we simply couldn’t make you wait any longer. Our new two pack #MidknightRodeo is out now featuring future 2x platinum song #Herassmeant. Both songs are available to stream on all platforms, you can watch the official studio video on youtube here: https://t.co/asBTnwQyQF pic.twitter.com/WJAfgQxZ8M

— Hot Country Knights (@countryknights) May 26, 2023

Garth and Trisha. Tim and Faith. Brooks and Dunn. And now…Doug and Darla #Herassmeant pic.twitter.com/Y166qacoQU

— Hot Country Knights (@countryknights) May 24, 2023

While it’s not clear why or how, superstar Dierks Bentley returns to the studio as producer for the follow up to Hot Country Knights’ debut THE K IS SILENT alongside frequent collaborator Jim Beavers. Both can also be found in the writing credits for “Herassmeant” with Lainey Wilson and Luke Dick.

“Yeah, seems like everybody is talking about harassment these days and the Knights do not tolerate that stuff,” added Douglason. “You gotta treat your lady right, tell her how you feel about her, respect her, love on her.  My old flame Darla McFarland, who most people will remember from Teazers down in Murfreesboro, was itching to sing on this one.  She knew she was the inspiration, so how could we say no?   Darla is the best damn country singer of the last three decades, in my opinion.  Everybody better get down to Tower Records before the CDs are sold out.”

Hot Country Knights also released a visual component to “Herassmeant.” Check it out here.

“Nothin’ hits better in country music than authenticity,” said McFarland. “Seeing how I was the inspiration behind this song, I thought I’d help Doug make a good song great.”

“Well, they’re back. I mean, Hot Country Knights – it’s like a tick. You just can’t get kill these things. I mean, they’re prehistoric in their survival ability that it’s unbelievable. They’re around forever,” laments Dierks. “They were here even before the ‘90s even started. They claimed to have literally started the ‘90s. They tried to trademark ‘90s everything from the mullets to the high-waisted jeans, they think they own all that stuff. These guys are ridiculous, but they’re back. We’re gonna let them come back on the road with us one more time.”

Famous for never giving up on the dream of the ‘90s, the Hot Country Knights are comprised of band leader Douglas (“Doug”) Douglason, lead bass player Trevor Travis, lead guitarist Marty Ray (“Rayro”) Roburn, keytar/fiddle player Terotej (“Terry”) Dvoraczekynski, steel guitarist Barry Van Ricky and percussionist Monte Montgomery. With tongue firmly in cheek, the Knights revive a comedic element which has long been integral to the Country genre, but has rarely been seen since the days of Grand Ole Opry stars like String Bean Akeman, Minnie Pearl and others. With organic euphoria of live Country music and its truly gratifying lyrics, their debut album THE K IS SILENT, hit critics “like a lightning bolt of testosterone and sex appeal” (The Chive). Produced by Dierks Bentley, who also served as a co-writer on over half of the 10 brawny tracks, their debut record is one of the most musically satisfying debut albums since 1999. Dubbed by Variety as a “full Spinal Tap-like musical-comedy act” the dedicated road warriors have basically lived out of a van their entire existence and will trek north for to launch the GRAVEL & GOLD tour with Dierks Bentley next weekend. For more information and for a full list of upcoming tour dates, visit www.hotcountryknights.com.

Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban are among the artists participating in the new documentary, “CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair,” which tells the story of country music’s longest-running festival. Premiering June 5th on Hulu, the 75-minute special features exclusive one-on-one interviews, never-before-seen archival content and CMA Fest Performances from the last 50 years. “CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair” will also feature Bill Anderson, Kelsea Ballerini, BRELAND, Brooks & Dunn, Shy Carter, Luke Combs, Wynonna Judd, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown, Craig Morgan, Lorrie Morgan, Dolly Parton, Carly Pearce, Jeannie Seely, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Lainey Wilson, Trisha Yearwood and Chris Young, among others. CMA Fest will celebrate its milestone 50th anniversary June 8-11, 2023, in downtown Nashville, featuring hundreds of artists performing across multiple stages.

Brad Paisley will perform at the second annual Beachlife Ranch festival, taking place in Redondo Beach, California, September 22nd – 24th. The Doobie Brothers, Jack Johnson, Wynonna Judd, Midland and Shooter Jennings will also perform.

Mickey Guyton, Trisha Yearwood and CMT’s Leslie Fram will be honored by Save The Music and SongFarm.org for their contributions to the music industry and music education at Nashville’s 4th annual “Hometown to Hometown” event June 5th at City Winery. Caylee Hammack, Kelsea Ballerini, Brittney Spencer and more will perform. All proceeds will benefit music technology programs in Nashville, Georgia and Texas.

Carrie Underwood visited the new SiriusXM Miami Studios this week after announcing her upcoming exclusive SiriusXM channel, CARRIE’S COUNTRY. While at SiriusXM, the global superstar sat down with Howard Stern for an in-depth interview and three-song performance on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show.

Had a great time in Miami visiting the new @SIRIUSXM studios! Lots of fun things coming for #CarriesCountry in June 🤩 And the band and I had a blast performing on the @sternshow! pic.twitter.com/uMW1mvCj5p

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) May 4, 2023

“We talked on the phone for a few months before our first date.” @CarrieUnderwood tells Howard how she started dating her now-husband, Mike Fisher. pic.twitter.com/dXUOhLDt6Y

— Stern Show (@sternshow) May 5, 2023

.@carrieunderwood put her own spin on @OzzyOsbourne's “Mama, I’m Coming Home” during her first-ever #SternShow interview. pic.twitter.com/Zvm42QPthP

— Stern Show (@sternshow) May 4, 2023

Before they performed together at Stagecoach Festival in 2022, @CarrieUnderwood had been performing @gunsnroses covers for years. She told Howard how she got @axlrose to join her on stage during her #SternShow interview. pic.twitter.com/SSLyvqOSAl

— Stern Show (@sternshow) May 5, 2023

Luke Bryan and Parker McCollum appear on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown from last weekend’s Stagecoach Festival. Check out all the action Saturday (May 6th) and Sunday (May 7th) beginning at 9am ET/8am CT.

https://twitter.com/cmtHot20/status/1653897363721707523

Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert have recorded a few new songs that will appear in the hit CBS show, Fire Country. Dierks posted a clip of the two in the studio on his socials and wrote, “Tune into the show for the next two weeks on CBS to hear them.” According to Billboard, the two have collaborated on three new songs, two of which — “Saved” and “Still Burning” — will appear in the May 12th episode; while “Something in the Water” will appear in the May 19th season finale. Additionally, Dierks co-wrote and sings “Barbed Wire Heart” that will also air in the finale. The show airs on Fridays beginning at 9pm ET/8pm CT on CBS.

https://twitter.com/DierksBentley/status/1654519915041128449

Darius Rucker will perform during the TODAY Show’s Citi Concert Series on September 1st.

https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/1654471713764065281

During the first of three sold-out shows of The Eras Tour at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on Friday (May 5th), Taylor Swift announced the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) with six extra songs from the vault on July 7th. She writes on her socials, “I first made Speak Now, completely self-written, between the ages of 18 and 20. The songs that came from this time in my life were marked by their brutal honesty, unfiltered diaristic confessions and wild wistfulness. I love this album because it tells a tale of growing up, flailing, flying and crashing… and living to speak about it.”

It fills me with such pride and joy to announce that my version of Speak Now will be out July 7 (just in time for July 9th, iykyk 😆) I first made Speak Now, completely self-written, between the ages of 18 and 20. The songs that came from this time in my life were marked by their… pic.twitter.com/oa0Vs5kszr

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) May 6, 2023

Dierks Bentley has topped the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart with “Gold,” his 22nd No. 1 single. He co-wrote his latest smash with Luke Dick, Ashley Gorley and Ross Copperman, and it’s the lead single from his new album, Gravel & Gold. He has previously said the song is about finding the treasures, aka “Gold,” that can be found in everyday moments.

“I think the song is a lot about just being present in the moment you’re in, and recognizing that the grass isn’t always greener, but it’s pretty good where you are, just being present where you are,” says Dierks. “It’s a message as much for me as much as anybody else about, I guess, about gratitude. I love the feel of the track. It’s got that acoustic vibe that I hope is a little bit of my sound, but also still feels big and ready for these big amphitheaters we’re playing.”

“When we wrote ‘Gold,’ I wanted to write a song that captures the idea of enjoying the journey,” explained Bentley. “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.”

More audio on “Gold” here.

Dierks is set to kick-off his upcoming Gravel & Gold Tour June 1st in Toronto, Ontario.