17 Dierks Bentley Number One Songs Ranked

Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

November 20th, 2021 12:00 AM

Dierks Bentley has scored 17 number one songs in his career, and there’s no sign that the man is slowing down.

In Nashville, it’s customary to celebrate each number one song with a number one party. I’ve been to my share of Dierks parties. Bentley’s music is consistent and loved by country radio.

On his 46th birthday today (11/20), we’re ranking our favorite Dierks chart-toppers.

• 17. “Woman, Amen” (2018)

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  A song Dierks co-wrote; it was inspired by his wife. But as he notes, "I've come back from so many writing appointments over the past 12 years like 'I wrote this song about you,' and she's like, 'Just because it's a love song doesn't mean it's about me.'”

• 16. “Am I the Only One” (2011)

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  Bentley told Billboard at the time, that following his bluegrass album ‘Up on the Ridge,’ he wanted to "be back on the radio, and I wanted my fans to hear our stuff. I wanted to come back with a song that was fun for fans." And this was definitely a fun song.

• 15. “I Hold On” (2013)

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  This cool song describes the singer staying true to what he enjoys and is comfortable with, including an old truck, an old guitar, and his lover. The truck referenced is his 1994 Chevy Silverado that he and his late father drove to Nashville. He still drives it today.
• 14. “Somewhere on a Beach” (2015)

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  In this song, Dierks sings to his ex-girlfriend about his life after they broke up. He tells her he has a new girlfriend and adds that she and he are together having fun together "somewhere on a beach."

• 13. “Come a Little Closer” (2005)

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  This was one of Bentley’s early hits, and in reviews of the song Billboard compared the sexiness of the tune to that of the late Conway Twitty.

• 12. “Sideways” (2009)

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  The song sings about the male character's attempt to talk to a female in a bar. Despite not being able to hear her name because of the loud noise, he still tries to come on to her, saying that he wants to "get a little sideways" with her.
• 11. “Home” (2011)

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  A native Arizonian, Dierks says he was inspired by the Tucson, Arizona shooting that killed six people and critically injured U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords in January 2011.

• 10. “Feel That Fire” (2008)

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  To promote the single, Bentley shipped more than 2000 boxes of Cracker Jacks to various radio stations (a reference to "she wants the toy in the Cracker Jack," a line from the opening).

• 9. “Settle for a Slowdown” (2005)

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  One more of Dierks’ early chart-toppers, this song’s music video paints a picture of a woman leaving him and their trailer in the desert for Hollywood. Bentley eventually shows up in Hollywood at a mansion and sings the chorus.
• 8. “Say You Do” (2014)

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  Dierks said at the time of this song’s release, that "Say You Do" was the song on his album ‘Riser’ that he loved from the very beginning. He added that he and his camp knew it was going to be a single; they just had to find the right time for it.

• 7. “5-1-5-0” (2012)

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  I just love the up-tempo beat and lyrics to this fun song about going crazy. The title is a reference to the 5150 "involuntary psychiatric hold" in the California Welfare and Institutions Code. Favorite line: “Somebody call the Po-po.”

• 6. “Different for Girls” (featuring Elle King) (2016)

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  Elle King was the perfect choice for a duet partner on this song. Never a big award winner, but always a nominee, this song gave Bentley a win for "Vocal Event of the Year" at the 2016 CMA Awards. It was also nominated for the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
• 5. “Living” (2019)

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  Something we should all do more of, “Living” is right on the mark. The official video of the song features Dierks, and his then 5-year-old son Knox, playing together in the backyard, a water park, a go-kart track, and a laser tag arena.

• 4. “Drunk on a Plane” (2014)

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  An up-tempo gem from Bentley. The song is about a man who is left behind at the altar and takes a trip to Cancún by himself after he is unable to obtain a refund for the airplane tickets he had purchased for a honeymoon.

• 3. “Every Mile a Memory” (2006)

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  Quite an emotional ride, the song tells the story of a man missing a woman and how everything he sees and hears evokes her memory. Great song to listen to if you are feeling heartbreak.
• 2. “What Was I Thinkin'” (2003)

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  Bentley’s very first radio single, and he scored a chart-topper right out of the box. The fun lyrics reference 1980’s TV show ‘Dukes Of Hazard’ and sparked a friendship with actor John Schneider, whose character is referenced in the lyrics “like Bo Duke sliding over the hood.”

• 1.”Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)” (2007)

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  It’s the song I go to whenever I want to hear some Dierks. The song was made available as downloadable content for the video game “Rock Band” on December 16, 2008.

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Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

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Dierks Bentley