Dierks Bentley is set to take the stage as a performer at the 2021 ACM Awards, but he doesn’t want the spotlight to be on him. Instead, he’s using it as an opportunity to highlight the amazing musicians that’ll be by his side that evening.
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Dierks caught up with Katie Neal ahead of the 2021 ACM Awards and gave a sneak peek at his plans for his performance. Joining him will be Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount, better known as The War and Treaty, where they will be covering the iconic U2 track "Pride (In The Name of Love).”
“They seemed to give me the opportunity to do my current single ‘Gone’ on the show or to come up with an idea to diversify the show a little bit more to be honest,” Bentley said. “I think everyone in Country music is working hard to do that. I think it’s a really special time and important time for Country music because of that.”
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From there, an idea was born in Dierks’ head. “I immediately thought of Michael and Tanya,” he said. “They’re pals and I love their voices, love what they do and love the idea of turning more people on to their music.”
“A lot is going on,” Bentley admits about his ACM performance. “I have War & Treaty, this powerful song which mentions Martin Luther King in it and with those guys taking that verse. Then I also have Brittany Haas playing fiddle, who's an amazing fiddle player. Then the girls from Larkin Poe, Megan [Lovell] and Rebecca [Lovell] playing Mandolin and Dobro.”
With all these amazing musicians by his side, Dierks said he is “just kind of like the carpet that holds the room together.”
“I’m not sure what my role is but I’m happy to have it and excited to be a part of this big performance,” he added with a laugh.
One of the highlights of the ACM Awards is the performances and this year promises to be no different.
For Bentley, he’s treating the evening just like those at home watching it on TV.
“I haven’t paid too much attention on purpose to what’s all happening. I like being like a fan,” he said.
“When I go to a movie I don’t even want to know what the previews are. My wife will try to tell me what it’s about and I’m like ‘don’t say a word.’ I want to walk in and be totally surprised. I don’t want to know what’s happening. It’s kind of like the same with the show. I want to see stuff and watch through the eyes of the fan that I still am of Country music.”
The 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards will air live on CBS and will be streaming and on demand on the Paramount+ app on Sunday, April 18 beginning at 8PM ET / 7PM CT.
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