#TBT: Dierks Bentley’s Grand Ole Opry Debut
Dierks Bentley will never forget April 18 for as long as he lives because that was the day his career changed for good.
Some dates go down in history for astonishing reasons. Dierks Bentley will never forget April 18 for as long as he lives because that was the day his career changed for good.
A mere 13 years ago this week (April 18, to be exact!), Bentley made his Grand Ole Opry debut on the stage that he would soon know and love. The “Somewhere on a Beach” singer actually had a backstory with the iconic venue before he got his start in country music though.
Bentley formerly worked as a researcher for The Nashville Network, which happened to be located on the Opryland property. In order to gain exclusive access to the backstage workings of the Opry, Bentley would stay late at his job to sneak in and catch a performance or two. Opry general manager Pete Fisher finally had to restrict Bentley’s access to the stage, but he would soon be able to drop by anytime just a few years later.
Performing his first No. 1, “What Was I Thinkin’,” for the crowd, Bentley put his stamp on the country community that night and never looked back. Take a look at the #TBT moment from the Opry in the video below.
