Dierks Bentley’s Burning Man Live Show Reflects His Humility
Dierks Bentley is a person of humility — a facet of his being that's integral to his live show. That rang true during a hometown stop on the Burning Man Tour at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Friday (Feb. 22), as Bentley used his lively set as an opportunity to showcase the talent of others.
One example of this came four songs in with "Woman, Amen," a song which celebrates the importance of women. As the faces of Dolly Parton, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Reba McEntire and Loretta Lynn flashed across the screen behind him, Bentley preached: "Thank God for these women, amen."
Recognizing inspiring women was a subtle, yet significant part of the production, as the passionate singer heaped praise onto opening act Tenille Townes before they dueted on "Different for Girls." He called the newcomer a "great source of energy" and voiced his support for more women on country radio, saying he believes that Townes will be one of these breakthrough artists. Bentley continued on this theme by bringing out his 10-year-old daughter Evie for a touching performance of "Travelin' Light," offering her a spotlight that allowed her voice to shine alongside his own.
Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert were surprise guests, and their presence alone was met with deafening applause. While the trio beautifully brought to life a series of timeless classics by Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Lynn and the Dixie Chicks, Bentley expressed true admiration for his peers as he stepped away from the microphone to kneel at their feet during a rendition of Lynn's "Blue Kentucky Girl," and after Urban shredded on guitar to "The Mountain," Bentley gestured to the screen and humbly said "top of the mountain," projecting images of Urban tearfully accepting Entertainer of the Year and embracing wife Nicole Kidman at the 2018 CMA Awards.
Bentley's grounded spirit is even reflected in the graphic on the Burning Man Tour, which incorporate several ethereal scenes of the moon, stars and snow-capped mountains, including a memorable photo of the singer dangling off the side of a mountain in a free-fall position while mountain climbing — making it feel like an outer body experience, all while demonstrating conviction in performances of "I Hold On" and "Riser." Each song and corresponding visual served a purpose, particularly with the collection of images capturing precious memories from Bentley's life, laughing with his band and posing for a family photo while supporting his wife Cassidy at the Boston Marathon, which helped to tell his story during the poignant "Living." "We're going to talk about the difference between being alive and living," he vowed before launching into the song.
Bentley's pure sense of appreciation permeated through the arena as he again fell to his knees and offered a grateful fist pump into the air at the end of "Sideways," before he returned for an encore during which he ventured into the crowd to finish the show with "Free and Easy" among the thousands of fans. Between gracing the hands of the rows of fans as he made his way through the arena and demonstrating his unwavering support for women and other artists, Bentley shared his star power with the people he believes in, proving his humble soul is among the best country music has to offer.
The Best Live Photos of Dierks Bentley Ever Taken: