Dierks Bentley‘s current single is his own spin on a classic rock hit. The singer-songwriter released a cover of Tom Petty’s “American Girl.”  The song is from the forthcoming Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty album, out on May 31.

For the video, shot in Nashville at Clementine, Petty’s own Rickenbacker guitar was flown in from his archives in California, for Bentley to use for the performance video.

“Holding an instrument that carries so much musical history and significance was surreal. You could almost feel the stories resonate from it as I played it,” Bentley said. “Tom Petty’s lyrics and delivery were a huge part of what made his music so impactful.”

 

Bentley chose to keep the video for “American Girl” simple, wanting instead to honor the legacy of Petty, and especially this rock classic.

“Petty’s songs stand on their own,” Bentley told CMT. “He was never about being flashy. His lyrics and delivery were a big part of what made his music so impactful. That’s the spirit we wanted to bring to this video, with my band and me just digging into the groove and having fun.”

The father of three is already eager to play “American Girl” on his upcoming  Gravel & Gold Tour, kicking off on June 7 in Fort Worth, Texas.  Chase Rice or Lee Brice will serve as direct support for all dates.

“I can almost feel it on a summer night with fans on their feet singing along to every word,” he said.

When announcing the new single, the Arizona native said Petty had a big influence on his own music and career, which is why he wanted to honor the rock icon with his take on the song.

“Petty’s southern roots shined through across his songwriting and storytelling,” Bentley explained. “He might not have ever been considered as country, but you can’t go into a bar in Nashville without hearing this song. It is one of the greatest songs in a life’s work of great American songs. The spirit of this woman, the idea of such relentless hope – and disappointment – ignites such a spark. Jon and I were driven to make that feeling of American roots stand tall.”

Other artists appearing on Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty include Dolly Parton, George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Wynonna Judd, Lainey Wilson, Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson, Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives and more.

Find all of Bentley’s music and tour dates at Dierks.com.