Dierks Bentley gave a couple of hundred guests a taste of Nashville that they haven’t seen as he played host to friends, label executives, media and country radio programmers in town for the CMA Awards at his majestic property just south of Music City on Tuesday night.
Guests were loaded in pickup trucks and taken up to a high spot on his land, otherwise known as “The Ridge,” and as they walked towards the blazing bonfire surrounded by bales of hay, each person was given a bundle with gloves and a Dierks’ ski hat to keep them warm, while they enjoyed the music of Station Inn staples, the Nashville Brigade bluegrass band. Adult beverages were served in Mason jars, while the buffet featured down home grub — pork barbecue, ribs, chicken, corn muffins and apple pie. There was also a hot chocolate stand, complete with jumbo marshmallows, Hershey’s chocolate bars and graham crackers, so invited guests could make s’mores. Vintage lanterns, cars and gas station pumps lined the party, giving it a truly laid-back and comfortable atmosphere.
Among the faces huddled around the bonfire was pal Jack Ingram, who has been in town writing songs.
Dierks got on stage to welcome everyone to his place, which he explained he bought piece-by-piece after several of his songs hit the charts. “I have no agenda here, except to give a sincere thanks to radio for playing my songs,” he said, also thanking guests for embracing his bluegrass-influenced album, ‘Up on the Ridge.’
Later in the evening, the Arizona native climbed on stage for a second time to perform a pair of songs from his CMA-nominated Album of the Year.
As his invited guests left the party to head back down to their cars and shuttle buses, they were given parting gifts — vintage lunchboxes containing bottle openers and goodies to get them through the rest of the busy CMA week.
Dierks was up bright and early Wednesday morning, performing on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America.’ He’ll also sing on the 44th annual CMA Awards tonight, where he’s up for three trophies: Album, Male Vocalist and Music Event of the Year.
