Dierks Bentley Raises $215,000 for Kids
Dierks Bentley raised $215,077 for the Children's Miracle Network with his Miles & Music for Kids event yesterday (Oct. 11) and holding the giant check said, "I just can't believe it, looking at this number. Thank you all so much." Motorcyclists turned out in droves for the charity ride and concert, and after spending all day with his audience, Bentley was as comfortable as if he were at a backyard barbecue. He started his headlining set with "Sideways," and after thanking the crowd announced, "Let's keep this as down-home as possible. We're taking requests." He got plenty of those and ended up playing "Every Mile a Memory," "Lot of Leavin' Left to Do," "What Was I Thinkin'" and even brought 3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold out for a couple of tunes.
Earlier in the day Wynonna opened the show and was followed by Shawn King (wife of CNN personality Larry King), along with acoustic offerings from Michelle Branch and Eric Church. They were each kept to two or three songs to keep things moving, but the solo performances shared the genuine feeling of appreciation that the fans and Bentley had for this charity event. I was also excited to see Red Dirt artist Stoney LaRue take the stage, and he rattled off two songs that fit nicely with the biker atmosphere. With roughly half of the crowd in leathers and a few hundred motorcycles parked nearby, songs about life on the road were an easy choice for the artists.
Next up was Darius Rucker and his band, and he delighted the audience with each of his No. 1 country hits, a Hootie & the Blowfish standard and finished off with Prince's "Purple Rain," of all things. Interestingly, that song earned him -- and maybe more to the point, his guitarist -- the only standing ovation of the afternoon for the song's guitar-solo ending. Harleys and charity and ... Prince. Who knew?
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Brett says:
Way to go Stoney! You’re the man!
bGirly says:
Who cares about Bentley benefit? If Carrie or Taylor wasn’t there it means nothing. They would’ve made 10 times that much!
countryiscool says:
bGirly, I’m sure the recipients of the CMN are VERY appreciative of Bently’s benefit. And there ARE those of us fans that DO care about it. Go find yourself another blog that means something to you.
bGirly says:
See? I am right. No one here cares about Benleys benefit. If they did there would be more replies. When Carrie or Taylor does a benefit the blog has hundreds of replies. Carrie and Taylor are the only people important in country music.
countryiscool says:
Feeling pretty proud and righteous there bGirly? I guess if that’s what it takes to make YOU feel better about yourself.
I like Carrie & Taylor too, but that doesn’t mean Bentley’s effort to make money for a good cause is a lost one. Do you want a brownie button or something?
bGirly says:
This is not about me. The numbers speak for themselves. 5 replies by 3 people. Turn up your hearing aid, no one cares.