Dierks Bentley is country through and through, but not just because of his music. Bentley jokes his own hygiene habits, or lack thereof, most certainly qualify him as very, very country.
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When asked by The Tennessean what is the most country thing about him, Bentley doesn't hesitate with his answer.
"Is it country not to shower very often?" Bentley asks with a laugh, while backstage at the recent CMA Fest. "I played the other night in Tampa, and I was watching the NHL playoffs. I miss it. I don't get to see any hockey since I'm here."
Bentley goes on to say that several of the Tampa Bay Lightning team members were with Bentley to watch the game, which took place right after one of Bentley's performances.
"i came off stage just drenched with sweat," the "What Was I Thinkin'" singer recalls. "It's Tampa Bay. And they're like, 'You wanna wait to take a shower?' Me and the band guys all laughed. "We're like, 'Shower? We'll shower when we get home. We're just gonna air dry. I'm not gonna shower.'"
What Really Makes Dierks Bentley Country
Cleanliness aside, what really makes Bentley country is how he lives his life, and where he lives.
"I have a 200 acre farm in Hickman County," the Arizona native reveals. "I go out there and fish, and shoot some guns, fire up the bow a little bit. Drive around on four-wheelers and stuff. Just have fun out in the woods. I love being out there."
That might make him country, but he also has a deep, deep love of country music.
"I guess the most country thing about me is just the music I listen to, I guess," he adds.
What also makes Bentley country is the Grand Ole Opry. Bentley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2005, a full-circle moment for him. Before becoming a country music singer, Bentley was actually banned from the Opry, for sneaking around backstage and talking to the artists.
"We leave the door to our dressing room wide open so people can come in and say hi," Bentley says (via American Songwriter). "And, if we're not getting ready, then I want to be out on the stage watching the other bands—just remembering what it feels like to be part of the audience. I don't ever want to lose that feeling of being a fan."
