Dierks Bentley announces 10th album: What — and who — to expect

"Gravel & Gold," the tenth studio album from 21-time Billboard country music chart-topper and Grand Ole Opry member Dierks Bentley, will arrive Feb. 24.

Describing a process of "persistence and devotion to making the music as authentic and lasting as it can be," the Capitol Nashville project will be the first time Bentley has officially stepped behind the boards as a producer.

"It's been four years since I put out an album, and part of the reason for that is that I wrote and recorded two records that I didn't feel were good enough and had to start over… twice," Bentley explained in a news release. "I'm going to be able to look back on it for the rest of my life and be like, yeah, that was harder than I thought it would be, but zero regrets. I had to get it right. That's the 'Gravel & Gold' of it all."

The album's first single, "High Note," features 2022 Americana Music Awards Artist of the Year — and fellow banjo lover — Billy Strings alongside Jerry Douglas on dobro, Sam Bush on mandolin, Charlie Worsham on guitar and Bryan Sutton on guitar and banjo.

"Bryan Sutton first tipped me off to Billy Strings about seven years ago mentioning that the future of bluegrass was in good hands," Bentley said. "I was totally blown away the first time I saw him. I've cut songs like these since my first record, and I knew I wanted to have him on this one. I'm such a huge fan. It was a lot of fun to have him, Jerry, Sam and Bryan all passing licks around — having them all on this record means a lot to me personally."

The album also features Ashley McBryde on "Cowboy Boots," (described as "sharp writing about a timeless but humble subject"), plus "Beer At My Funeral," which is noted as giving the album "a jab of Roger Miller humor at 21st-century arena scale."

Regarding his aspirations for the project, Bentley added, "I'm in the bluegrass space. I'm in the traditional country space. It's always been important to me to have the love and support of this community in Nashville, particularly the older establishment and the Opry — and to know that I'm able to do that but also get out on the road and play the big venues, too? It doesn't get any better than that for me."

For more information regarding this project and forthcoming 2023 touring dates, visit Dierks.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Dierks Bentley announces 10th album 'Gravel & Gold': What to expect