Listen to Dierks Bentley on Batanga

Dierks Bentley was born in Phoenix, Arizona on November 20, 1975. "Dierks" was his maternal grandmother's maiden name. In his teenage years, he moved to Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where he attended the Lawrenceville School, graduating in 1993. He was also a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at Vanderbilt University.

Bentley worked at The Nashville Network (now Spike TV), researching old footage of country performances. In 2003, Capitol Nashville released Bentley's self-titled debut album. The album's first single, "What Was I Thinkin'," reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts later that year. Two other singles from the album were released and charted: "My Last Name" reached No. 17, and "How Am I Doin'" reached No. 4. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Bentley's second Capitol album, Modern Day Drifter, was released in 2005. It featured two No. 1 singles on the Hot Country Songs chart, "Settle for a Slowdown" and "Come a Little Closer." A third single, "Lot of Leavin' Left to Do", reached No. 3. The album was also certified platinum.

Later in 2005 Bentley won the CMA Award for the Horizon Award (now Best New Artist) and was invited to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The induction took place on October 1, 2005. Bentley stands as the third youngest member after Carrie Underwoodand Josh Turner.

On June 10, 2006, Long Trip Alone was released. The album produced two No. 1 songs, "Every Mile a Memory" in 2006 and "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)" in 2007. The title track reached No. 10 on the country charts. A fourth single, "Trying to Stop Your Leaving," hit No. 5.

In 2007, Bentley released a live DVD recorded and filmed in Denver, Colorado entitled Live and Loud at the Fillmore.

A March 2008 interview, Bentley said he would let his fans be the executive producers to his first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008. The album was released on May 6, 2008. An album cut, "Sweet & Wild," reached No. 51 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The song features an uncredited duet with fellow country singer Sarah Buxton.

A fifth studio album, Feel That Fire, is scheduled to be released in February 2009. Its title track, co-written by Brett Beavers and The Warren Brothers, reached Top 40 in October.

Bentley is married to CassidyBlack, who also has Phoenix roots and whom he has known since high school. They live in Nashville, Tennessee with their dogs Jake (who has appeared in a few of Dierks' videos) and George. The couple welcomed their first child, Evalyn Day Bentley, on October 4, 2008.