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Dierks Bentley’s ‘Gold’ Is a Reminder To Enjoy The Journey

Dierks Bentley is on the top of the country music charts this week with his latest single, “Gold,” marking his 22nd number one song. The lead track from his 10th…

Dierks Bentley's 'Gold' Is a Reminder To Enjoy The Journey
Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Dierks Bentley is on the top of the country music charts this week with his latest single, "Gold," marking his 22nd number one song. The lead track from his 10th studio album Gravel & Gold emphasizes looking at life differently and treasuring everyday moments. It's also the soundtrack for the all-new Chevy Colorado truck campaign.

Dierks said of his latest number one, "When we wrote 'Gold,' I wanted to write a song that captures the idea of enjoying the journey. 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."

He added, "I know that's a reminder I need for myself, so the fans and country radio embracing it means a lot."

Bentley recently announced details about his upcoming "Gravel & Gold Tour" this summer. Jordan Davis has been tapped 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, and more.

Dierks told us about the new tour, "Yeah, big tour coming up this year. I'm pretty excited about it. 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 and the vibe."

He said about picking Jordan Davis for this tour, "I asked Jordan this time last year, and we've been talking about it for a while. I feel really lucky because he's a great guy. It's fun touring with someone who's just so easy to get along with, but he's also like really hot right now. It's like, yes, I nailed it!" Bentley added, "I got someone who's, like, just crushing it. I mean, he's had so many huge hits, and I mean, he's really, he's just rocking. And so, I feel so lucky to have him out there. It just makes my job so much more fun when the person in front of me just got the crowd going crazy."

The tour starts on June 1 in Toronto, ON, and fans can get more ticket information at Dierks.com.

Dierks Bentley has been solid in country music since his debut over fifteen years ago, and to date, he has scored 17 number-one songs. Coming out with new and unique music each year, Dierks has dazzled his audiences with hit after hit.

As we celebrate his 47th birthday today (11/20), we rank his 17 number-one songs.

17. "Woman, Amen" (2018)

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A song Dierks co-wrote; his wife inspired it. But as he notes, "I've come back from so many writing appointments over the past 12 years like 'I wrote this song about you,' and she's like, 'Just because it's a love song doesn't mean it's about me.'"


16. "Am I the Only One" (2011)

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Bentley told Billboard at the time, that following his bluegrass album 'Up on the Ridge,' he wanted to "be back on the radio, and I wanted my fans to hear our stuff. I wanted to come back with a song that was fun for fans." And this was definitely a fun song.


15. "I Hold On" (2013)

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This song describes the singer staying true to what he enjoys and is comfortable with, including an old truck, an old guitar, and his lover. The truck referenced is his 1994 Chevy Silverado that he and his late father drove to Nashville. He still drives it today.


14. "Somewhere on a Beach" (2015)

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Dierks sings to his ex-girlfriend about his life after they broke up in this song. He tells her he has a new girlfriend and adds that she and he are together having fun together "somewhere on a beach."


13. "Come a Little Closer" (2005)

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This was one of Bentley's early hits, and Billboard compared the sexiness of the tune to that of the late Conway Twitty.


12. "Sideways" (2009)

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The song is about the male character's attempt to talk to a female in a bar. Despite not being able to hear her name because of the loud noise, he still tries to come on to her, saying that he wants to "get a little sideways" with her.


11. "Home" (2011)

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A native Arizonian, Dierks says he was inspired by the Tucson, Arizona shooting that killed six people and critically injured U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords in January 2011.


10. "Feel That Fire" (2008)

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To promote the single, Bentley shipped more than 2000 boxes of Cracker Jacks to various radio stations (a reference to "she wants the toy in the Cracker Jack," a line from the song).


9. "Settle for a Slowdown" (2005)

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One more of Dierks' early chart-toppers, this song's music video paints a picture of a woman leaving him and their trailer in the desert for Hollywood. Bentley eventually shows up in Hollywood at a mansion and sings the chorus.


8. "Say You Do" (2014)

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Dierks said at the time of this song's release that "Say You Do" was the song on his album 'Riser' that he loved from the very beginning. He added that he and his camp knew it would be a single; they just had to find the right time for it.


7. "5-1-5-0" (2012)

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This is a fun song about just going crazy. The title references the 5150 "involuntary psychiatric hold" in the California Welfare and Institutions Code.


6. "Different for Girls" (featuring Elle King) (2016)

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Elle King was the perfect choice for a duet partner on this song. This song gave Bentley a win for "Vocal Event of the Year" at the 2016 CMA Awards. It was also nominated for the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.


5. "Living" (2019)

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Something we should all do more of, "Living," is right on the mark. The song's official video features Dierks and his then 5-year-old son Knox playing together in the backyard, a water park, a go-kart track, and a laser tag arena.


4. "Drunk on a Plane" (2014)

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An up-tempo gem from Bentley. The song is about a man who is left behind at the altar and takes a trip to Cancún alone after he cannot obtain a refund for the airplane tickets he had purchased for a honeymoon.


3. "Every Mile a Memory" (2006)

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Quite an emotional ride, the song tells the story of a man missing a woman and how everything he sees and hears evokes her memory. Great song to listen to if you are feeling heartbreak.


2. "What Was I Thinkin'" (2003)

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Bentley's very first radio single, and he scored a chart-topper right out of the box. The fun lyrics reference 1980's TV show 'Dukes Of Hazard' and sparked a friendship with actor John Schneider, whose character is referenced in the lyrics "like Bo Duke sliding over the hood."


1. "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)" (2007)

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The song was made available as downloadable content for the "Rock Band" video game on December 16, 2008; it's a favorite of many of his fans.

Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.