Dierks Bentley’s Focus: Family, Music, and a Legacy Unimportant

Dierks Bentley is currently seeking a stable phone connection. The acclaimed country singer is speaking from a Florida beach, his call disrupted by spotty service. However, these minor technical difficulties are a small inconvenience compared to the joy of spending extra time with his family during a brief tour hiatus.

At 49, Bentley prioritizes his wife and three children above his two-decade-long career in country music. He even pilots his own plane to transport his band, ensuring everyone returns home efficiently. He explains that balancing family and career is challenging, particularly when one deeply cares about their family.

Bentley’s new album, *Broken Branches*, explores a different facet of his life. This eleventh album delves into the motivations of young people who relocate to Nashville to pursue music careers.

Since relocating from Arizona to Nashville in the mid-1990s, Bentley has built a remarkably consistent career, boasting eight number-one albums and 22 number-one singles. He’s cultivated a distinctive sound, blending traditional bluegrass with anthemic rock. While he lacks major crossover hits or widespread fame, *Billboard* magazine recently named him among the 20 most significant country artists of the 21st century.

The album’s themes prompted Bentley to create the Broken Branches Fund. In collaboration with the Music Health Alliance, this fund provides mental health resources to the music industry. He highlights the importance of providing healthcare support for his touring musicians and aims to increase awareness and access to mental health support.

Before concluding his call to reconnect with his children, Bentley discusses aspiring country musicians, the emotional demands of a musical career, and how he measures his personal success. He emphasizes that work-life balance is simply life itself; either one succeeds or they don’t.

An Interview with Dierks Bentley

Esquire: Did you approach this album with a specific goal?

Dierks Bentley: I let the songs guide this album’s creation. The song “Broken Branches,” discovered after a year of work, provided a central theme—the idea of every Nashville musician as a branch separated from their family tree. I constructed the album around that song’s concept.

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Esquire: How did this influence your creative direction?

DB: I reflected on my own move to Nashville at age 19, exploring the city’s highs and lows, heartbreak, and the spiritual searching I undertook. These themes are common in country music, but I focused on the act of leaving family to pursue a dream.

Esquire: You wrote fewer songs on this album than usual. Was this intentional?

DB: While I’ve always been confident in my songwriting, I now prioritize the overall album’s structure. I write many songs, but I also carefully select tracks from a vast pool. The origin of a song matters less; I search for the best songs overall.

Esquire: You’ve always utilized classic country wordplay. Do you ever experience a “eureka!” moment when you discover a perfect phrase?

DB: Nashville songwriting differs through its meticulous craft and editing. The song “Jesus Loves Me” exemplifies great Nashville songwriting; it’s a stunning example. Including songs I didn’t write allows me to appreciate them genuinely.

Esquire: What inspired your new mental health initiative?

DB: The “broken branches” theme connects to this. Choosing a country music career involves a different lifestyle, often leading to isolation. It’s a challenging work environment.

Esquire: Is the country music community embracing mental health discussions?

DB: Absolutely. Younger country artists openly share their emotions on social media, removing the stigma. They’ve brought this to the forefront; we’re merely following their lead. My generation differed; open discussion about mental health was less common. Music has been my therapy, but today’s artists face pressures we never experienced.

Esquire: *Billboard* recently listed the top 20 country artists of this century.

DB: I made the list! I’m grateful but uninterested in legacy. Fan experiences and my children are my priorities. My kids don’t know about my chart success; they know me as a present and involved father.

Esquire: You don’t consider your legacy?

DB: I don’t. I’ve had my time. I’m thrilled to see newer artists get their chance. I’m committed to making music and intend to continue.