Those in the know rank Dierks Bentley’s 2010 Bluegrass detour, Up on the ridgeas his best full-length album. During Wednesday night’s 2024 CMA Awards, the country singer scratched that string music itch again, performing a version of Tom Petty’s 1977 anthem “American Girl” as a bluegrass uproar with a trio musical aces: Molly Tuttle on guitar, Sierra Hull. on mandolin, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes on fiddle.

Bentley’s rendition of “American Girl” originally appeared on this year’s tribute album to the late Heartbreakers frontman, Petty Country: A Celebration of Tom Petty’s Country Music.

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That a song by a rock artist was selected to close the CMAs should come as no surprise. Petty, who died in 2017, is undoubtedly country music biggest rock influence; and he and the Heartbreakers incorporated elements of country music into their own songs. “We all grew up in the South and were infused with the music of Hank Williams and George Jones that we heard on the radio,” Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell said. said r at the beginning of this year. “We all loved the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Byrds when they went country (on Rodeo Lover). We listened to a lot of country and some of it seeped into our consciousness.”

As for Bentley, this isn’t the first time he’s shared the stage with Tuttle, the Grammy-winning singer-guitarist who’s helping bring bluegrass into the future. In 2023, they performed Townes Van Zandt’s “White Freight Liner Blues” together at a show in Toronto; Tuttle and her band Golden Highway opened select dates on Bentley’s Gravel & Gold tour.

Charlie Worsham, a regular member of Bentley’s touring band – who was named CMA Musician of the year tonight – also performed “American Girl” at the CMA Awards. Like Bentley, he is a fellow bluegrass disciple and enjoyed Bentley’s good faith. r in 2023. “Dierks has a longstanding mantra of mixing noise with bluegrass,” Worsham said. “Throughout his long career, he has made a wealth of records that include mandolin, banjo, Dobro, high lone harmony, fiddle, steel guitar and telecaster picks. He has a deep respect for ‘liner note people’ and relies on the expertise of great musicians, great songwriters and great producers to guide his recording process.”

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