NHL Names Country Stars as All-Star Game Celebrity Coaches

Four country boys are trading their boots for skates Jan. 31, as the NHL has bestowed upon Dierks Bentley, Charles Kelley, Vince Gill and Chris Young the honor of guesting as celebrity coaches at the NHL All Star Game in Nashville.

The guys will get to hang out behind the bench with the all-stars alongside NHL head coaches from the Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals at the Bridgestone Arena.

This marks the first time the NHL All-Star game has been hosted in Nashville by its NHL team, the Predators. The new format of the tournament is a three game series in a 3-on-3 format, according to the NHL’s official website.

Though none of the country stars have had any experience coaching in the NHL, Bentley isn’t too worried. According to his Twitter feed, he’s ready to go after getting in some practice with some pint-sized pros: his children, Evelyn, Jordan and Knox.

Bentley recently debuted his new single, “Somewhere on a Beach,” on Ellen, and treated one lucky fan with tickets and a private jet to a beachside festival with five of her friends. His new record Black is slated for release later this year.

Kelley has been busy with his foray into his solo project, The Driver, the title track of which he recorded with Bentley and Eric Paslay. He performed at Miranda Lambert’s Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Unplugged show in Nashville alongside several other stars Jan. 20. Young recently hit No. 1 and went Platinum with his single “I’m Comin’ Over,” the lead-off track of his album by the same name. The album also features Gill on a duet called “Sober Saturday Night.” Gill’s newest album, Down to My Last Bad Habit, is slated for release Feb. 12.

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