Because Dierks is touring non-stop all year, the Opry decided to take the invitation "on the road" to him. Opry member Marty Stuart briefly interrupted Dierks' performance in Los Angeles at the House of Blues to issue the welcome invitation. Dierks had no idea Stuart or the Opry officials were in the house. Stuart walked onto the stage an hour into Bentley's set and said, "Will you do it...will you marry the Grand Ole Opry? "Hell yeah!," Dierks replied. On Stuart's command the Opry microphone stand was positioned at center stage.
After the invitation, Bentley was left speechless and had a hard time getting through his next song. “This is the greatest night of my life. Thanks you guys for sharing this with me,” he stated to the packed house. “I had no idea what was going on.”
On October 1, 2005, Dierks was officially inducted as a member of the Opry.
Dierks Bentley's reputation as a country renegade, blending traditional country with a newer edge, has garnered the attention of fans and critics alike. Consistently ranked at the top of the charts, his self-titled debut CD spawned the hit singles "What Was I Thinkin'", "How Am I Doin'?" and "My Last Name" and was certified platinum by the RIAA. His sophomore album, Modern Day Drifter, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Charts in 2005 and was certified gold by the RIAA taking him from talented newcomer to chart-topping country mainstay.
Dierks’ long and varied list of awards and accolades includes 2005 CMA Horizon Award Nominee, ACM's Top New Artist in 2004, CMT's Breakthrough Video Award, Top New Artist of the Year by Billboard and R&R, Breakout Artist of the Year by Music Row Magazine and one of the Top 10 Breakout Artists of the Year by Access Hollywood.
From his early days in Nashville as a researcher at TNN, Dierks has had incredible admiration for the Opry and its members. In fact, he was such a fan in those days that the Opry's General Manager Pete Fisher had to go as far as limiting his backstage access making Dierks’ induction this week as the youngest member of the Opry a true benchmark in his career. “It’s like having a home off the road and a place you can always go to play music in town,” Dierks says about his new status as ‘Opry member.’ “The Opry is such a huge part of American history. It’s bigger than just country music. It’s a big reflection of our country.”
Becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry is truly a dream come true for Dierks. Even being on the road for 300-plus days a year, Dierks makes a point every opportunity he gets to come back home to Nashville to play his favorite stage – the Grand Ole Opry.
“Hopefully I can be a really great asset to the Opry, and I’m looking forward to proving that over years to come.”
Since, Dierks induction to the Grand Ole Opry, he has been doing just that. He released Long Trip Alone in 2006 which produced two number one singles, "Every Mile a Memory" and "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)." His latest album, Feel That Fire, allowed for three more chart climbing singles including "Sideways" and "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes." The high-energy music video for "Sideways" was recorded inside Fuel Nightclub at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Dierks joined fellow Opry Member, Brad Paisley for his 2009 American Saturday Night Tour along with Opry favorite, Jimmy Wayne.
Latest CD
Up On The Ridge