Hank Williams, Jr. has changed many a life, and Dierks Bentley’s is no exception. Bentley, the creative, good-natured and wildly famous country artist, was musically inclined from the beginning but lacked a country heart until a friend introduced him to Bocephus at age 17. All it took was one listen to the Williams song “Man to Man”"MsoNormal">Bentley, a Phoenix, Arizona native, moved to Nashville at age 19 to become a country music star, but found the music industry a tough business to break into. Bentley’s discouragement, however, was put off the night he walked into the Station Inn, Nashville’s legendary bluegrass bar, with a fake ID in one hand and guitar in the other. Having been inspired by jam sessions at the bar, Bentley further pursued his singing career and struck gold in 2003 when he finally got signed with Capital Records.

The country crooner’s self-titled debut album in 2003 formally introduced the country world to Dierks Bentley, and his first hit “What Was I Thinkin” led the way for more clever-worded songs such as “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do” and “Modern Day Drifter,” both off Bentley’s next album, 2005’s Modern Day Drifter. The album reached number one on the charts, as did his next album, 2006’s Long Trip Alone. The album’s title track demonstrates a softer side to Bentley, but the classic “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)” keeps his genuine style with light-hearted guitar accompaniment. Bentley’s most recent release, 2008’