(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
Newly named CMA Horizon winner Dierks Bentley has a New Year's resolution and it's “If it Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix it!” After a whirlwind year of career milestones, the neo-traditionalist country singer is a chart-topping Nashville mainstay with now a second platinum album with Modern Day Drifter. His self-titled debut album was certified platinum in March 2005. "Come a Little Closer," the latest single off his sophomore album, recently landed Billboard and Radio & Records' Number One spot and stayed atop the charts for two consecutive weeks and is back at the top of both country charts again this week. The Phoenix native has also scored two consecutive Number One videos with "Lot of Leavin' Left to Do" and "Come A Little Closer."
“Is there anyone out there who is as cool as Dierks Bentley?” asks President/CEO of Capitol Records Nashville Mike Dungan. “Obviously a million people feel this way. We are on a mission – we will not rest until the rest of the world gets on board.”
Bentley headlined his first-ever tour in Canada in October, and the tour sold out in a day and half – before the promoter had the opportunity to advertise it. In January, he will head overseas to Ireland, England, Scotland and Germany as part of CMA's "New From Nashville” Tour. He will extend his trip to play dates in Belfast, Ireland; Manchester, England; Newcastle, England. He will finish up his international tour playing for the troops at Menwith Airforce Base in Leeds, UK and the Baumholder Airforce Base in Germany.
2005 Dierks Bentley year In review:
January–March: On tour with George Strait for the second consecutive year;
March 15: Debut album certifies platinum;
April 27: Celebrated his platinum album at a party in Nashville – special guest was Today Show host Katie Couric;
April 28: Appears live from Nashville on The Today Show;
May: Landed major coverage in People, No Depression, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Country Weekly and many more;
May 10: Releases Sophomore album, Modern Day Drifter;
May 16: Performs on The Tonight Show;
May 17: Performs “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do” on nationally televised ACM Awards;
May 18: Sophomore album debuts at Number 1 on Billboard Country Album Charts;
May 24: Performs on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson;
May 25: Invited by Buck Owens to participate in the "Ledgends in Bronze" event with Merle Haggard, George Jones, Garth Brooks and Buck at the statue unveiling in Bakersfield, CA;
June 05: Appears on Good Morning America with weatherman Tony Perkins to promote Fan Fair and his upcoming performance on the morning show;
June 20: Performs “Come a Little Closer” on Good Morning America;
July 20: Recorded “Murder on Music Row” with his all-time music hero George Jones for a upcoming special project;
July 26: Invited to join the Grand Ole’ Opry Hall of Fame while performing in Los Angeles at the House of Blues;
August 2: Performs live on The View;
October 1: Becomes the youngest current member of the Grand Ole Opry;
October: Rolling Stone’s 2006 “Year in Rock” Calendar is out. Dierks/Jake are March;
November: Tours through Canada to sold out shows;
November 14: Performs live on Fox & Friends;
November 14: Played to a sold-out crowd in the middle of NYC's Time Square;
November 15: Performs live on ESPN’s Cold Pizza;
November 15: Named CMA Horizon Award Winner, Performed “Come a Little Closer” on the CBS televised awards;
November 16: Appeared on The Today Show;
November 21: “Come A Little Closer” lands at #1 and stays for 2 weeks;
December 7: Modern Day Drifter certified platinum;
December10: Wraps up his 206 date of the year;
December 12: "Come A Little Closer" back at #1 on both of the country single's chart;
–Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
