Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley Got Huge Style Props From "GQ" Magazine!

Would you be surprised to hear that "GQ" magazine was paying attention to last week's CMAs?
They were AND they gave big time style props to Dierks Bentley, Tim McGraw, and Lady Antebellum's Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley. Here's what they wrote, quote, "(These four) nail about every point we drive home here at 'GQ' when it comes to things like fit, proportion and keeping things minimal without being boring. "Musicians tend to be given more sartorial leeway than their artistic brethren in the acting field but these gents prove there's no need for it. Men of the Grammys take note and start booking time with your tailors."

Jennifer Nettles Announces Lineup and Charity Component for This Year's CMA Country Christmas.

Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland returns as host of the CMA Country Christmas special again this year.  The show will tape November 3 in Nashville and air this holiday season on ABC. Along with performances from Jennifer, the show lineup also includes Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, The Band Perry and Keith Urban. Pop star Colbie Caillat, R&B singer John Legend and Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins are also on the bill. Fans attending the show taping are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys for underprivileged children in the Nashville area this holiday season too. Jennifer says, "It is such a joy to watch this holiday special grow -- in not only its talent roster, but moreover in its charitable celebration of the season." Jennifer will also be very pregnant when the show tapes November. She's expecting her first child later that month, so don't expect her to dance like she did on last year's CMA Country Christmas. "It will be slower this year," Jennifer says with a laugh, "but you know what, it will be just as celebratory and just as fun for me." Jennifer's also thinking about her on camera wardrobe for the show. "You think, 'Alright, what am I going to be able to move in?' What's going to look halfway flattering, you hope, especially on television." If anything, this year's CMA Country Christmas will give Jennifer a chance to really document the time she was pregnant as part of a highly-produced TV special. She says, "When else is the timing, who knows if it will ever coincide in the same way again, and I think that's obviously, personally, I'm saying that's very special." We'll let you know once ABC announces an airdate for the CMA Country Christmas special.

Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan Look Forward to Tonight's ACM Honors

Dierks Bentley steps into the role of emcee for tonight's ACM Honors at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.  He took the gig because some of his musical heroes, including Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs and Dwight Yoakam are being recognized at the event. Says Dierks, "When I saw that, I was like, I'm in 'cause all of those people have had influences on me one way or the other." Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson and Vince Gill are among the other stars being recognized at the ACM Honors, so Dierks can count on a music industry-heavy audience."I don't know what I've gotten myself into, but we'll see," Dierks says with a laugh. "Hopefully I don't screw it up too bad." Don't expect Dierks to expand this hosting gig into other roles similar to Blake Shelton on The Voice or Keith Urban on American Idol though. Dierks was actually approached to compete on Dancing with the Stars a few years ago and turned it down. It isn't just his complete lack of dancing skills, Dierks simply doesn't have time to focus on anything but his music.
He says, "I love writing songs. I love being in a band and being on the road. I don't know where the time would come from. You'd have to create more time." Luke Bryan will perform at the ACM Honors with his pal Dallas Davidson, who is this year's ACM Songwriter of the Year. They've penned some of Luke's biggest hits together including "I Don't Want This Night to End," "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)" and "Rain Is a Good Thing." Luke says, "The history between he and I is just so deep. It’s amazing, I mean, that I can have the opportunity to honor him on that night and do some of our songs." Luke and Dallas have written a few new songs that Luke is putting on his next studio album too. Hunter Hayes, Kellie Pickler, Jana Kramer, Randy Houser, Love and Theft, Big Kenny and Clint Black are among the other stars participating in ACM Honors as either performers or presenters. Catch itt tonight at 7 on ABC!

Dierks Bentley Gives Fans an Early Taste of Country & Cold Cans EP

Dierks Bentley's Country & Cold Cans EP is due out Tuesday, August 21, but he's already sharing a fun, new song from the project over at Yahoo! Music. Titled "Grab a Beer," Dierks loves how straightforward the song is, calling it a "no-brainer."

"There's plenty of beer-drinking songs in country music, but I like how it has a little bit of soulfulness to it," Dierks says. "It ended up being kind of dirty and fun, and I think my fans will really enjoy it."
Dierks adds that there's no marketing plan behind Country & Cold Cans. He just wanted to record songs that reflect his live show.

Dierks kicks off his Country Cold Cans: Back to College tour Monday, August 20 at the University of Georgia in Athens.  Check out Dierks.com for the full itinerary.

Dierks Bentley Performing CMA Songwriters Series Show in New York City September 13!

Dierks Bentley has signed on to perform at the CMA Songwriters Series show Thursday, September 13 at Joe's Pub in New York City. His frequent collaborator Jim Beavers will join him along with Jaren Johnston and host Bob DiPiero. Dierks calls the CMA Songwriters Series "a really cool gig" and says, "Joe's Pub is so intimate and the audience is a huge part of those shows because they're so close. It's like everybody in the room is in on a secret or something." Dierks also likes the loose nature of these shows. He says, "You've got four guys with guitars, telling stories and drinking whiskey…anything can happen!”
Tickets for Dierks' CMA Songwriters Series show are now on sale at JoesPub.com.

Dierks Bentley to Host 6th Annual ACM Honors September 24.

Dierks Bentley has signed on to host the 6th Annual ACM Honors coming up September 24 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill and Dwight Yoakam are among the stars being honored at this year's event along with Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs and the late Roger Miller. Tickets are priced at $37 and go on sale to the public through Ticketmaster on Friday, August 17... should you wish to attend. If, so...take me too!! :)

Dierks Bentley's Hit "5-1-50" Inspired from His First Days Playing Electric Guitar as a Kid.

Dierks Bentley is on track to score another #1 hit with his latest single, "5-1-50." That number refers to the police code for someone being put on involuntary psychiatric hold. It's also the title of Van Halen's 1986 album that had a big impact on Dierks.  He was about 13-years-old when a friend first taught him how to play electric guitar along to Van Halen's music. Dierks says, ""That's all I listened to for awhile was that stuff." Fast forward a few decades, and Dierks included a line about "getting 51-50" in his song "Country and Cold Cans."  His friend and co-writer Jim Beavers took that line and came up with the line, "5-1-50, somebody call the po-po." "I thought it was the stupidest thing I’d heard in my life," Dierks admits, "but every time I’d see him, he’d sing that.  He’d be like 'Man, my kids keep -- they can't get that out of their heads, it stuck. We got to write it.'" Not long after that, Dierks and Jim got stuck in a writing session, so Dierks agreed to write "5-1-50." It's now the latest hit from his current album, Home.

Blake Shelton is "People Country's" Hottest Guy of 2012.

"People Country" magazine's list of the Hottest Country Guys of 2012 will be on newsstands today,but they did leak some details ahead of time.
BLAKE SHELTON grabbed the top spot . . . which, of course, means he's on the cover. And then there's his reaction to the honor. He says, quote, "I think it’s funny because there is nothing about me, if I was a girl, that I would think is sexy." Blake's wife MIRANDA LAMBERT offers her take on why he's so dreamy. She says, quote, "The minute he opens his mouth and starts talking to you, he makes you smile. That's what made me think, 'Oh my gosh, this guy is awesome.'" Other country stars who made the list include . . . in no particular order . . . Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Chris Young, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley and David Nail. For some reason, David Nail's people were the only ones who jumped on the news early and squeezed a statement out of him. David said, quote, "I could say what everybody always says, 'You don't see me in the morning.' But I know that this is a huge compliment . . . and it's nice to know people think you're desirable. I think in my case, the music has a lot to do with it."

Dierks Bentley Threw Away Almost An Entire Album of Songs That Weren't Working!

DIERKS BENTLEY threw away almost an entire album's worth of songs before settling on the 12 tracks in his album "Home". About a year ago, Dierks decided on 15 songs for the album, but when he tested them on the road, they weren't working. So he scrapped 14 of them, only keeping "Am I The Only One". He told his record company, quote, "I was like, 'Sorry. Can we write that off as preproduction? I'll pay for it.'" Dierks eventually settled on 11 more songs to finish up "Home".

Dierks Bentley's Home Debuts at #1; Dierks Makes Big Donation to Military Family.

All I can say is...
Dierks Bentley is a CLASS ACT. Thank You Dierks. Watch this video from Ellen and have your tissues handy!

Dierks Bentley on Valentines Day...

Female country fans dream of having a country hunk like Dierks Bentley as their Valentine. Dierks's actual Valentine's Day isn't as romantic for his wife Cassidy as you might think though. He said, "A lot of Valentine's Days, like this one, I'll be working. I've got a gig somewhere, so that's kind of a drag for her, but I need to be more romantic. I need to work on my skills a little bit." Dierks has a potentially controversial outlook on Valentine's Day as a married guy though. "I think one of the good things about Valentine's Day once you get married is that the pressure's off a little bit. You don't have to be as concerned," Dierks says, adding with a laugh, "I'm sure the girls out there listening are like, 'Hell no! You need to do more than ever!'" Dierks' overall goal is to simply spend more time with his wife.

Way to go, Dierks!

Country Stars Share Their Super Bowl Plans and Predictions...

Upwards of a billion people will tune in to the Super Bowl this Sunday, and that number includes some of country's hottest starts. Chris Young will be tuning in for the pre-game show to see his pals Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert sing "America the Beautiful" before kickoff. He says, "I'm gonna be excited for 'em. That's a big deal, and obviously, that's one of those events that really is truly, classically American." As for who he thinks will triumph in this Sunday's game, Chris admits he "really doesn't have a dog in that fight." He says, "If I gotta go out on a limb, I'm gonna go Giants."
Dierks Bentley performed at the Super Bowl Village in Indianapolis last weekend, but you won't find him especially rooting for either team. "I just want a great game,". He's actually hoping for a down-to-the-wire finish with a possible outcome in overtime. Says Dierks, "That'd be pretty cool. The longer you can keep drinking during the game, the better."
Luke Bryan will definitely be tuning in to the Super Bowl at a party with friends, but he admits that football doesn't mean as much to him since his two sons came along. A few weeks ago, Luke was fired up to watch some NFL playoff games, but his two sons wanted him to enjoy the sunny day outside instead. "When you don't get to see your children much, you know, football takes a backseat."

Former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell Accused Dierks Bentley of Ripping Off One of His Songs.

Former DRIVE-BY TRUCKER JASON ISBELL is absolutely convinced that DIERKS BENTLEY'S song "Home" plagiarizes his masterpiece, "In A Razor Town". And Jason may be taking legal action to prove his point. More on that later.
It all started on Friday when Jason wrote on his Twitter page, Quote, "Dierks' has officially ripped off my song 'In A Razor Town'. Dierks is a D-bag." Jason added, quote, "The song of Dierks' is called 'Home'." If Dierks did plagiarize the song, he had help. He co-wrote it with songwriters Dan Wilson and Brett Beavers. (--Wilson co-wrote ADELE'S "Someone Like You". He's also written for the DIXIE CHICKS and KEITH URBAN, to name a few.) And even though Jason knows about the co-writers, he still blames Dierks. He Tweeted, quote, "I love @DanWilsonMusic's songwriting, but I bet he's never heard my song. I bet Dierks brought that idea to the table and Dan ran with it. I have had too much stolen lately. Not gonna let this slide." A Twitter war broke out once Dierks jumped into the mix. On Saturday he Tweeted, quote, "@jasonisbel is that what you 'bet' happened? That's how you imagine it? #fantasyworld #get-over-yourself." To prove his point, Dierks' next Tweet included a link to an interview Dan Wilson did with ASCAP where he talks about the writing session for "Home". Wilson said the "verse melody" was "mostly Brett" and that Brett said the song "fell from the sky." Then Dierks took it up a notch by slamming Jason with this Tweet, quote, "JUST IN: 'Nashville and L.A. songwriters running out of ideas . . . rushing to steal Jason's songs!'" This is where Jason must have contacted his overpriced attorneys, because on Saturday he Tweeted, quote, "I officially 'can't talk about it right now.' We'll see what pans out."

Dierks Bentley Helped A Fan Propose to His Girlfriend.

Artists are constantly getting hit up with hair-brained schemes from fans who want this or that favor. DIERKS BENTLEY actually went for this one. He let some dude propose to his girlfriend on HIS tour bus as Dierks sang "My Last Name". There's a part toward the end of the song where the singer asks his lady to take his last name. When Dierks hit that mark in the song, the guy pulled out the ring.

Dierks actually lets the guy sing too, and he doesn't have that bad of a voice. If you're interested, he goes for the ring at the 3:39 mark of the video.

Dierks Bentley Turned Down an Offer From "The Celebrity Apprentice"

If you're looking to get behind a country star who puts music first, then send your support over to DIERKS BENTLEY. He TURNED DOWN an offer to be on "The Celebrity Apprentice" because it would get in the way of his real career. Dierks said, "I was actually asked and I considered it for a long time and I was flattered to be asked, but at the end of the day . . . it's writing songs, making records, touring is everything to me. "That's everything to me. That's the dream, and the dream takes up a lot of time. With two kids and a wife, my plate's pretty full."

Way To Go Dierks! The man has his personal priorities straight...we all should be that focused! :)

Dierks Bentley Did Some Stage Diving at his Concert on Friday in New Jersey!

You don't often hear the words "country music" and "stage diving" in the same sentence. But that doesn't mean you'll never see it happen. In fact, DIERKS BENTLEY went for it at his concert Friday night in New Jersey. He even Tweeted a photo of the action. (--Here it is.)

Music Video Of The Day - Dierks Bentley "Lotta Leavin' Left To Do."

Win tickets to see Dierks Bentley at the Mid-Hudson Civic by listening for the Wolf Concert Medley around 8:30 weekdays in The Morning Wolf Den!

Dierks Bentley Remakes "Sideways" for NASCAR

Dierks Bentley will record a special version of his No. 1 hit, "Sideways," for NASCAR coverage on Fox Sports in 2011. Commissioned by the racing organization, the song will be used throughout the season. Bentley will debut the song live from the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. In addition, he performed at a Bud Light pre-party prior to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas on Sunday. In between the sports events, Bentley will serve as a presenter at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 13.

Dierks Bentley Will Be "Live Streaming" the Entire Recording Session of His Next Album

We've all seen artists "captured" in the studio recording a song or album. It's usually a video stuffed into a DVD or TV show that's supposed to make you feel like you're getting a behind-the-scenes look. But you're not. It's stuff they've edited and sweetened up to make it watchable. Well, DIERKS BENTLEY is going to let you see the REAL DEAL. He installed video cameras in his recording studio that will run nonstop as he records his next album. Starting Sunday, you can watch those sessions streaming live on his website. Dierks explains, quote, "I thought it would be cool to let the fans be part of the whole experience, so we're going to let them watch as it all goes down." It probably will be cool . . . and tiresome. Dierks says he has "hundreds" of songs he's bringing in for the sessions. I doubt he'll record them all but he wouldn't mention it if he wasn't going to at least bust them out to see how they sound. If all goes as planned, Dierks expects to release the first single from those sessions sometime in the spring. And then the album will drop soon after.

Music Video of the Day: Dierks Bentley - Free and Easy (Down The Road I Go)

Dierks Bentley - Free and Easy (Down The Road I Go)
Music Videos at www.yallwire.com