Dierks Bentley just scored his 22nd No. 1 hit with “Gold.” The song is the debut single from his Gravel & Gold album, released in February. Bentley wrote the feel-good song with Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley and Luke Dick.
“When we wrote ‘Gold,’ I wanted to write a song that captures the idea of enjoying the journey,” Bentley says. “The reality is that there are a lot of rocky times that we all go through, but amongst all the tough stuff, when you look for the special moments it can change how you view the world. I know that’s a reminder I need for myself, so the fans and country radio embracing it means a lot.”
For Bentley, “Gold” is a powerful reminder, first for himself, of being present, without comparing life and circumstances to others.
“I think the song is a lot about just being present in the moment you’re in, and recognizing that the grass isn’t always greener, but it’s pretty good where you are, just being present where you are,” Bentley tells his record label. “It’s a message as much for me as much as anybody else about, I guess, about gratitude. I love the feel of the track. It’s got that acoustic vibe that I hope is a little bit of my sound, but also still feels big and ready for these big amphitheaters we’re playing and it’s a good kick-off to the record, I think.”
Gravel & Gold is Bentley’s third and final attempt at making his tenth studio album. The Arizona native created, and later scrapped, two other projects, before finally creating what became his current record.
“It wasn’t until I was in the studio for the second time, I started thinking about ten,” Bentley shared with Everything Nash and other outlets during a virtual media event. “And that’s where I started thinking more about the tenth album should be not a greatest hits album, but a greatest styles and sounds of my previous albums all on one record.
“So it’s an album that collected the little areas I tried to carve my little thing out of. Obviously, at country radio are the hits people know for me on the radio — whatever that style is — trying to do something new or different,” he continued. “But then also, my love of bluegrass and ’90s country and the fun songs on this record.”
Bentley will embark on his Gravel & Gold Tour on June 1 in Toronto, with Jordan Davis opening for him on all dates, joined by a rotating list of support acts, including Tracy Lawrence, Elle King, Tyler Braden, Caylee Hammack, Kameron Marlowe, The Cadillac Three, The Red Clay Strays, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Shane Smith & the Saints, Caitlyn Smith and Hailey Whitters, and Bentley’s own Hot Country Knights band. Find music and tour dates at Dierks.com.