ABC/Image Group LADierks Bentley brought his entire family for the opening of his exhibit Thursday night at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, from his wife Cassidy and his kids to his longtime companion Jake, who happens to arguably be the most famous dog in country music.
“You know, I was walking out of the house and I was like, ‘I gotta grab Jake!’ because Jake’s been with me through every phase of my career, before I had a publishing deal, before I even had a gig really. And then he was there when I got my first gigs downtown, he’d be waiting in the windowsill. He actually wore out a little spot in the couch where he’d wait for me. I’d go to work at TNN and then sometimes I’d go right from work to playing a gig, and come home real late and he’d be there sitting in the window, putting in his time. That was his years of grinding, was waiting in the window for me. He’s been around through it all, so I wanted him to be here to be part of this pretty special deal.”
The “Somewhere on a Beach” hitmaker jokes that Jake appears to be much more impressed with his accomplishment than his daughters do.
“My wife’s here, my daughter Jordan — she’s probably hanging out playing some interactive stuff over there. She’s pretty excited about getting access to an iPad, which doesn’t happen at the house. For them to get to be a part of this, and my oldest daughter’s got a theater thing today, so she doesn’t even know this is happening. In her world, it’s all about her Seussical the Musical play, so this doesn’t even exist. But for Jordan, she’ll remember this moment. But it’s totally surreal. I understand I’m not in the Hall of Fame. But I am in the Hall of Fame!” he laughs.
Dierks Bentley: Every Mile a Memory runs through September 6 at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
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