Dierks Bentley quotes:

My dad and grandpa were in the army and as a country singer you're constantly playing at military bases all across the country and meeting soldiers and their families and hearing their stories.

When I was 13, I was just figuring out how to play 'Eruption,' poorly, by Eddie Van Halen.

That's what I love about Nashville and the music community - seeing kids around acoustic music and bluegrass picking parties is the best.

Country music is always changing but the Opry is always there to serve as a lighthouse for what country music really is. The past, present and future is all encompassed by not only the physical structure of the building but also the radio show.

I'm a member of the George Jones fan club, and I'm a member of U2's fan club.

I'm a huge fan of Billy Idol. I spiked my hair every day like him in 7th and 8th grade.

Blackberry Smoke is the real deal!

But as far as being an American and loving this country and getting a chance to travel across it every day and meeting people on the road and folks in the military, I love this country on so many different levels.

I'm part of the party, getting the crowd fired up, singing songs, pouring drinks, whatever it takes to get them to have a good time. When I walk into the meet-and-greet, someone's always going to have a story, a sad story or a happy story.

I like big shows, a lot of volume and a lot of energy. I love electric instruments. But I do love mixing those with bluegrass instruments and cranking those up, too, with a little bit of that rock energy.

As a songwriter, you might write every day and throughout the course of a year you might get four songs that are really special.

So darlin' if your wonderin' why I brought you here tonight I wanna be your husband I want you to be my wife I ain't got much to give you but what I got means everything Its my last name

I also was a huge 'Dukes of Hazzard' fan. I used to have T-shirts that said 'Dierks of Hazzard' custom-made.

I'm thinking of you, that's all I do, all the time. You're always the first and the last thing on this heart of mine. No matter where I go, or what I do, I'm thinking of you.

When you go to the Opry for a show or hear it on the radio, you get the whole circle of country music.

George Strait is the king and Kenny Chesney is about as big as it gets right now, though I wouldnt mind going back out on the road with him. Maybe I could go out on the road with some singers from other genres.

I try to make an album that reflects what I love about country music. It's not just all about happy parties all the time. There are some sad songs.

You can't write about stuff you don't know about. You have to live it. You have to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty. Live life to be a good songwriter.

I think the great country songs mixed with some of that bluegrass instrumentation - and surrounding all that with a little bit of a rock vibe and energy - is the kind of music I make.

And if I want to get involved in choosing sides, I usually pick hockey or football.

And I'm the biggest country fan there is, but I'm always a little cautious of a slower song or just a song with subject matter.

I have been waiting a long time for this. It's been my dream forever. Now that it's a reality, I love it. I haven't been burnt out at all and I have a bunch of guys with me that feel the same way.

Patty Griffin is iconic, and there's no other word to really describe her. She is iconic for a lot of people - not only for me but for a lot of fans. Her voice is one of a kind, and she's such an important figure in the American music scene.

I'm always looking for things that make me kind of uncomfortable.

In Vegas, everyone lets their hair down a little bit and it's a little looser. You expect to see some different stuff and hear some different stuff. Even the red carpet is different here.

I mean, the last thing I want to do is be involved in politics.

No, as an artist, you have to be free to explore all the corners of your heart. There are no boundaries.

Country music has always been the best shrink that 15 bucks can buy.

I think if you sing a song for the first time to your mom and dad, or your friends, and they go, 'That's pretty cool'-if you're playing at the local bar somewhere, or the coffee shop, singing songs, or if you have a gig somewhere and you're singing your own songs, I think that's some version of making it. ... It's not just about having commercial success; it's about having a great life.

I always say the best applause you can get is when you walk from backstage up to your microphone at a concert. It's also nice to walk up to the mike at an awards show, and that applause is great, too, but the best is when your fans are cheering for you.

You cant write about stuff you dont know about. You have to live it. You have to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty. Live life to be a good songwriter.