Latest news with #BrokenBranches
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dierks Bentley Talks ‘Mixing the Bluegrass With the Kickass' on New Album ‘Broken Branches' With Miranda Lambert & Riley Green
As he releases his 11th studio album Broken Branches, out today (June 13), Dierks Bentley knows more than a bit about constructing an album — and a career — that's going to endure. After two decades spent notching 18 chart-topping Country Airplay hits and establishing himself as seasoned headliner, the artist, who spent nights early in his career soaking in bluegrass music at Nashville's Station Inn and who collaborated with the bluegrass stalwarts Del McCoury Band on his debut 2003 album, says he's tried to approach his career like a bluegrass band does a performance. 'It's very collaborative, and all the pieces are important. You can't make bluegrass music without all those unique instruments and unique voices,' Bentley tells Billboard. 'I've tried to work with great people in every aspect of my career. It's mixing my love of bluegrass instrumentation with my love of playing big rooms, and that requires big electric guitars and drums and bass. The original idea was to mix the bluegrass with the kickass, and I'm still trying to do that.' More from Billboard Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Head to Florida for Stanley Cup Final Twenty One Pilots Drop New Single, 'The Contract,' Detail North American Tour Dates j-hope Heads to Memphis to Recruit GloRilla for 'Killin' It Girl' Single: Listen On Broken Branches, he collaborated with a tight-knit group of fellow artists, producers and writers, including Ross Copperman and Jon Randall, and feted musicians including Jedd Hughes, Rob McNelly, Bryan Sutton and Charlie Worsham (who also plays in Bentley's road band). 'They know my music and are able to take it places that maybe I hadn't even thought about,' Bentley says. 'They know it from underneath the car — I might be driving the car, but they know all the nuts and bolts of it, so it's great working with those musicians.' Bentley co-wrote four of the album's 11 songs, infusing witty lyrics into 'She Hates Me,' or examining the toils and rewards of working toward a goal on 'Something Worth Fixing.' But most of the project finds him locked in on highlighting the songs of other writers. 'There's people around me that are like, 'Hey, you need to have some more songs on there that you wrote.' I just want great songs,' he says. 'I love being a big fan and proponent of the Nashville songwriting community. Nobody writes songs like Nashville. I have such respect for it, and I feel lucky [and] grateful to have some temporary ownership of some of these great songs on this record.' Fifteen years ago, Bentley collaborated with Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson on 'Bad Angel' from his 2010 Up on the Ridge bluegrass album. On Broken Branches, Bentley and Lambert reunite for the banjo-inflected 'Never You.' 'She's someone I've known forever and whose voice I love,' he says. 'She's exactly who she is offstage as she is onstage, and she is awesome. I sent the song to her, and she was in Scottsdale [Arizona]. She went into a studio we found out there and put down the vocal. She's one of the true trailblazers in country music.' When Bentley heard the song 'Broken Branches,' written by Zach Abend, Beau Bailey and 'Oil Money' hitmaker Graham Barham, he says it 'gave us a story' to construct the album around.' He invited Riley Green and Country Music Hall of Fame member John Anderson to sing with him, linking together three generations of country hitmakers. Green was Bentley's first call. 'Right away he was in on it and a couple of days later we were in the studio. While he's singing, I was thinking, 'How can I make this even more special?'' he recalls. 'John Anderson came to mind, because the link between 'Broken Branches' and [Anderson's 1983 hit] 'Black Sheep,' just subconsciously hit me. He came in the studio by himself like a week later. What a legend. He came off the road—he drives himself in his RV to all his gigs, which is so classic. His RV had broken down in Valdosta, Georgia and he spent three days in a motel—hard M—waiting to get it fixed. He's the real deal and always has been.' The song wraps with a bit of good-natured, ad-libbed ribbing as Bentley, Green and Anderson ended up recording the ending together. 'You hear us talking [like on] Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett's 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere,' I like that stuff,' Bentley says. 'It's funny and it sticks out in my mind when I listen to those records. This song, it was all done together. It wasn't no AI, no overdubbing or editing, just us around one mic kind of giving each other crap.' The song naturally felt like the title track that tied the project together. 'When I'm looking for songs, I'm trying to find those songs that are like little broken branches off the family tree,' Bentley explains. 'Not the big popular ones, not the ones that sound like a big hit on radio. Those are great, but I'm trying to find songs that are a little bit different.' He adds, 'That really started with the [2014] Riser record and the song 'Riser.' I heard 'Broken Branches' and thought it's a great song because I'm a broken branch. Most of my friends are broken branches. All the people I know that came to Nashville to do something in music are doing something that their family probably didn't do. And they're doing it; they love country music.' Throughout his career, Bentley has prioritized lifting up the next generation of artists, sifting through sounds and championing those artists whose music catches his ear. Burgeoning artist Stephen Wilson Jr. co-wrote two songs on the album, 'Cold Beer Can' and 'Something Worth Fixing.' Bentley has also shared the stage with recent breakout artists like Red Clay Strays and Zach Top, the latter of whom is opening for Bentley on his the Broken Branches tour. 'I love the spot I'm in in country music. I've been around a lot of the older cats, and I love those guys—but I also love watching what the younger artists are doing,' he says. 'I love what's happening in country music right now and I love seeing those guys have that success. I first saw Red Clay Strays play at our Seven Peaks Festival a while back. I probably personally told like 500 people about those guys. Same with Zach. I've known about him since his bluegrass days, just [through] having a bunch of bluegrass guys in my band. Watching him come over to country and do what he's done, it's been fun to watch.' The album ends with the reflective 'Don't Cry For Me,' which Bentley wrote with Jim Beavers. The song finds him taking stock of his life and career thus far and assuring that he's happy with how it's all turned out. 'It's very personal for me just knowing that one day it all does come to an end, whether it's your music career or your life,' he says. 'I've been really blessed in my time here in Nashville. It's just been a great career and I've still got a lot left, hopefully, to do.' One thing not on that list? Making movies. Though many of Bentley's music videos, including the clip for 'She Hates Me,' make use of his natural comedic talents, that's as far as he's likely to go as an actor. 'I love making music videos, but I don't have any desire to do anything beyond that,' he explains. 'I get sent some stuff, and sometimes people think, 'Hey, everyone just wants to be in a movie,' and I just don't. I love film and movies and shows, but I think I'm pretty good in my lane.' But it's likely fans could see him once again revisiting his bluegrass roots: 'I think about that all the time when I'm listening to [SiriusXM channel] Bluegrass Junction. It'd be fun to make another record like that.' 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Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dierks Bentley Net Worth 2025: How Much Money Does He Make?
Dierks Bentley's net worth in 2025 reflects his two-decade run as one of country music's most successful singer-songwriters. Known for his chart-topping albums, sold-out tours, and a steady stream of hits, Bentley remains a powerful force in the industry. His career, marked by multiple Grammy nominations and fan-favorite collaborations, continues to evolve with fresh releases and live performances. Here's a look at Dierks Bentley's net worth and how he continues to make money through music, touring, and recording. Dierks Bentley has an estimated net worth of $35 million in 2025. Bentley's net worth in 2025 consists of earnings from record sales, concert tours, streaming royalties, brand partnerships, and occasional acting or media appearances. Dierks Bentley is most famous for his long-standing success in the country music industry, with hit songs like 'What Was I Thinkin',' 'Drunk on a Plane,' 'Somewhere on a Beach,' and 'Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go).' Dierks Bentley is a country music singer and songwriter. Most recently, Bentley released a new album titled Broken Branches in 2025, described as a love letter to country music's 'black sheep.' He also headlined the CMA Fest 2025 and performed a medley tribute to Alabama with fellow artist Zach Top. These performances and appearances showcase his enduring influence on country music and fan engagement. Bentley earns money from: Studio album and single sales Major tours, including the Broken Branches Tour Streaming platforms and publishing royalties Merchandise and collaborations Guest performances and tribute recordings In 2025, Bentley continues to tour across the U.S. with Broken Branches, which has received a strong fan response. With consistent new music, CMA performances, and over 20 years of country hits, Bentley shows no signs of slowing down. The post Dierks Bentley Net Worth 2025: How Much Money Does He Make? appeared first on Reality Tea.
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Dierks Bentley On His Latest Album, Summer Tour & The Future Of Country Music
Dierks Bentley performs during CMA Fest 2025 at Nissan Stadium on June 08, 2025 in Nashville, ... More Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/WireImage) It's been a busy couple of months for Dierks Bentley with the release of his new Broken Branches album, a jam-packed tour schedule, a host of other projects, and making preparations to headline Nashville's huge July 4th celebration. 'The last ten years I've taken July 4th off to be with my family out in the mountains,' Bentley explains. 'But my kids are getting older and are off at camps and all over the place, so I thought, well, I'll play a show this year. So, I'm doing the one in Nashville. I've always heard it's a good time, so I'm going to come back here and be part of that.' Dierks Bentely to headline Nashville's 4th of July Celebration General view of the crowd at the 2024 "Let Freedom Sing!" Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Tibrina ...) The annual Let Freedom Sing! extravaganza features a day full of live music and offers one of the largest fireworks shows in the country. As he heads into July, Bentley has much to celebrate, including the release of his 11th studio album earlier this month. Broken Branches has collaborations with friends and fellow artists like Miranda Lambert, John Anderson, Riley Green, Stephen Wilson Jr, and is chock full of great songs. The list includes 'Standing in the Sun,' 'For As Long As I Can Remember,' 'Never You" (with Lambert),and more. Cover of Dierks Bentley's "Broken Branches" album 'I leaned into the Nashville's songwriting community more than ever,' Bentley says. 'And I'm really proud of the writers on this album.' John Anderson and Riley Green joins Bentley on the title track based on the premise that everyone is just a "little broken branch off the family tree.' Bentley says that's especially true with Nashville's close-knit music community. 'Everyone that moves to this town comes here to chase country music. They love the music whether it's the business side of it or the creative side of it. And I love the idea of being broken branches off the family tree. It's a collective story, but an individual story, too. I think of my own journey, the doubt, the uncertainty, you're leaning on whiskey, you're leaning on faith, and the heartbreak that goes into it.' One of the more familiar songs on the album, thanks to its climb up the country charts is the quirky, upbeat 'She Hates Me.' It's one of those catchy, fun songs that have become part of Bentley's signature style through the years. 'I love putting out fun music," he says. "I have a history of that and it's great for the live show. I like making people smile." The rest of the album, however, offers a much different feel with deeper, thoughtful songs like 'Something Worth Fixing,' 'Jesus Loves Me,' and 'Cold Beer Can,' just to name a few. 'I wrote 'Cold Beer Can' with Stephen Wilson Jr and almost wish I'd changed the title to something else,' Bentley says, 'because the title makes you think it's kind of like a bro country part song and it's not that at all. It's very Stephen Wilson Jr cerebral. My wife loves that song and just put it on this morning saying she thinks it'll stand the test of time.' While he realizes most people don't listen to full albums anymore, Bentley still approaches creating one the same way he did in the early stages of his career. 'It's like making a book. I want an album to have a beginning, middle, and an end, something I can look back on in ten years and remember the journey, of where I was in life, and what I wanted to say.' One of the new songs that offers a warm, heartfelt look at where he is in life today is 'Don't Cry for Me.' The lyrics look back at so many things he's grateful for in his own life, both personally and professionally. And while they specifically touch on his experiences, they reflect an overall life-personally that might serve as inspiration to others regarding the choices they make in their own lives. 'I wrote that song with my buddy, Jim Beavers and we wrote it old school Nashville-style, just sitting in my kitchen. Every line is very specific, very personal, and the whole message in general, is very true. I'm still touring and at the top of the game, things are going great, and I'm not done yet. But eventually things will slow down and when they do, I can say I've had a great run, loved the journey, and am so grateful to Nashville for all it's given me.' Bentley is definitely not slowing down any time soon. He's currently crisscrossing the country on tour, with rising country star Zach Top as one of his opening acts, and he's having the time of his life. 'When you're on stage with your band and playing music and moving people with songs, there is nothing else like it. It's literally unreplaceable. And this year, in particular, it's really fun with Zach Top being out there.' Bentley says Top is the 'real deal' as an artist and performer. Dierks Bentley and Zach Top perform during CMA Fest 2025 at the main stage at Nissan Stadium on June ... More 08, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic) 'Not to put too much weight on his shoulders but I hope he's the future of country music. It'd be great for all of us who love that kind of music. Zach is a once-in-a-generation type talent as far as singing and musicianship. I mean, he plays the guitar as well as anybody I've ever met.' The Band Loula is also one of Bentley's opening acts this tour. He says he consistently chooses groups and artists whose music he enjoys because he ends up watching their shows every night. 'I got turned on to The Band Loula this year and have become a huge fan. Logan and Malachi are from Northern Georgia, and the band is from Muscle Shoals, so they have a cool, swampy, kind of bluesy bluegrass sound. They're awesome - very energetic, happy, fun people with huge voices.' As busy as he's been with the music, Bentley is also promoting his own brand of bourbon just released last year. It's called ROW 94 and comes with 'three ingredients and the truth.' Like all things Bentley, he put a lot of time, thought, and effort into creating it. 'You know, I'm really not trying to be busier than ever. Trust me, I don't want to be doing all of this stuff. But ever since I've had a bar called Whiskey Row, I knew I needed my own whiskey. It's ridiculous not to have your own whiskey in there.' The idea of developing his own brand began more than a decade ago, but it wasn't until COVID that he had the time to begin visiting distilleries and researching the best way to do it. He had some very specific criteria. Dierks Bentley's ROW 94, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 'It had to be at least four years old with between four and seven as the sweet spot,' he says. 'I wanted to have something I would drink behind closed doors, as well as in public. I wanted it to be higher proof, it had to be under $40, and it had to be from Kentucky. If I had made this on my own it would retail for about $100 a bottle, but I was able to partner with Green River Distilling Company which meant I could get it out the door and onto shelves for under $40. And I feel that's a fair price for my fans.' For Bentley, the icing on the cake is Green River Distilling happens to be based in Owensboro, Kentucky, home to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. His love of bluegrass music runs deep. 'From the very beginning our goal has always been to mix the bluegrass with the kickass,' he says. 'We wanted to have the bluegrass instruments: the banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, but also have the big electric guitars and drums and sounds. And I still try to chase that sound.' More than two decades after bursting onto the country music scene with hits like 'What Was I Thinkin', '5-1-5-0,' 'I Hole On,' and others, Bentley's still adding his special blend of bluegrass, country, and sometimes a little rock, to the genre. Dierks Bentley performs in Tulsa, Oklahoma - May 31, 2025 And as he works to maintain his own career, he's determined to serve as a positive influence to up-and-coming artists, as well. Whether it comes from seeking out their talents as songwriters (his new album features two songs written by Stephen Wilson Jr), or their gifts as performers (inviting Zach Top and others joining him on the road), or simply encouraging them from afar. 'I'm really pulling for people like Stephen Wilson Jr,' Bentley says. 'He's a ridiculously strong songwriter and as a singer, he's got so much pain in his voice. I'm pulling for him and people like Zach Top, Red Clay Strays, Ella Langley, and others. They're up-and-comers and so good for this genre. I want to see people like that keep moving forward.' Bentley performs in Nashville this Friday, then resumes his Broken Branches Tour which continues until the end of August.
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Dierks Bentley's New Album Suffers A Disappointing Start On The Charts
Dierks Bentley's Broken Branches misses the Billboard 200, marking the first time a major label ... More album of his has failed to chart on the main tally. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 08: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Dierks Bentley performs during CMA Fest 2025 at the main stage at Nissan Stadium on June 08, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic) For years, Dierks Bentley was regarded as one of the biggest names in country music. For well over a decade, every time he released a new full-length, it rocketed straight into the top 10 on many of Billboard's albums charts, and every project became a bestseller. The singer-songwriter reached a new low with his previous album in 2023, but it's his latest set that truly disappoints, as it arrives — or more accurately, misses — important rankings. Dierks Bentley Misses the Billboard 200 Bentley released his new album Broken Branches on June 13. Now that its first full tracking frame has passed, the project debuts on a handful of Billboard lists. Sadly, it completely misses the Billboard 200, the main ranking of the most consumed full-lengths and EPs in the U.S. Luminate reports that the last title on the Billboard 200 this week, the Moana soundtrack, shifted 8,500 equivalent units. That means Bentley's latest project didn't quite move that many copies in its first week of availability, as its opening sum was not shared by the data company. A Career First: Dierks Bentley Misses the Main Chart Bentley has never seen one of his major label albums fail to crack the Billboard 200. His debut full-length Don't Leave Me in Love, which dropped in 2001 on an independent label, never charted. His 2003 self-titled follow-up — his first for Capitol Nashville — rose to No. 26 and was eventually certified platinum. The singer-songwriter's next eight projects all reached the Billboard 200's top 10, with Black bringing him to the runner-up space, his all-time peak. Gravel & Gold, which arrived in February 2023, missed the mark as it peaked at No. 73. That still stands as his career-low point on the Billboard 200, as his latest doesn't even make it onto the tally. Broken Branches Finds Some Success Broken Branches does manage to debut on both the Top Album Sales and Top Country Albums charts. On those rankings, Bentley's latest opens at Nos. 27 and 41, respectively. Luminate reports that the country artist's new set sold a little more than 3,800 copies in its first seven days of availability, which places it almost perfectly in the middle of the 50-spot Top Album Sales roster.
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
Music Review: Dierks Bentley's 'Broken Branches' offers safe, familiar, cold beer country
Nashville hitmaker Dierks Bentley has delivered 'Broken Branches,' his eleventh studio album that leans into some well-tread country rock territory, the kind that invariably involves broken hearts, trucks and a cold beer. Look, Bentley knows what he's doing. The album is 11-tracks of catchy, country rock radio filler and there's not much mystery to its musical roadmap. But therein lies his calling card: Dependable songs with few rough edges. Thematically, many of the tracks on the superstar's latest effort hint at internal struggles, but allow Bentley and the listener to escape them unscathed. 'Jesus Loves Me' is an admirable acoustic slow burn about finding religion but losing a woman. 'Thought maybe if I hit my knees / She'd think about hitting the brakes,' Bentley sings. There is slight salvation for the Phoenix-born singer: 'Yeah, Jesus loves me / But she don't.' On the title track, the jukebox stomp 'Broken Branches,' Bentley gets a nice assist from fellow country hitmakers John Anderson and Riley Green. Ostensibly it's an energetic drinking song about family lines, but lyrics like 'We shoulda gone to college / Coulda gained a little knowledge,' which pull from a popular childhood rhyme, feel like they're underperforming. What Bentley does extremely well is execute what his — and the modern genre's — biggest fans might expect. Tales of a tough exterior with a warm, if fragile, heart underneath. But his familiar is derivative. Palatable country is how you get on the radio and stay on it. Songs about beer and trucks are Spotify deliverables. If you like your country artists with a longer rap sheet, you'll need to look further than 'Broken Branches.' Even the few attempts at invention don't totally land, like the rowdy, rocking 'She Hates Me,' which includes a surprising interpolation of post-grunge band Puddle of Mudd's 2001 hit 'She (Expletive) Hates Me.' If there's a pleasant find here, it's Stephen Wilson Jr. duetting with Bentley on the opening track, 'Cold Beer Can.' It's the most memorable song on the album — with its plucky instrumentation and ascendant chorus, which showcase Wilson Jr.'s rich voice and guitar talents.
