Dierks Bentley and Friends Raise Over $200K for Nashville Children’s Hospital

For the sixth straight year, Dierks Bentley hosted his Miles and Music for Kids event in Nashville, raising over $200,000 for Vanderbilt's Children's Hospital. The charity motorcycle ride started in Columbia, Tenn. at the Harley Davidson headquarters, and concluded at Riverfront Park in Nashville for a star-studded concert on the gorgeous fall day in Music City.

Bentley's closest friends in music came out to support the star and the event, which he holds so close to his heart. While Bentley revealed the scheduled lineup weeks prior to the event, he promised plenty of last minute additions that were bound to happen.

"It’s great," Bentley told Taste of Country before the ride. "There are a lot of guys who call me who want to be a part of it. We listed the people who were going to be part of the ride and the concert a couple of weeks ago, and then I get other people who call me and say they want to be part of it. [Lady Antebellum's] Charles Kelley … he’s bouncing around here somewhere. He’s going to be part of the ride with us today, and [we'll] get him to sing with us, which is really the whole idea of the event … to be spur of the moment. You never know who’s going to jump up onstage. This is a down-home Tennessee-style concert and day. It’s just real laid back. I try to take as many pictures as I can with as many fans as possible and have fun with them."

"Dierks and I are really good friends, and it's nice to have a good time and hang out with friends," said Kelley, who participated in the 2008 Miles and Music event in Nashville. "We get to ride Harley's and cut up a little bit. It's nice to have this be able to work out for my schedule."

Bucky Covington, Craig Campbell, the Warren Brothers -- Brett and Brad Warren -- and Sean Patrick McGraw joined Bentley and Kelley on the two-hour long ride that took them through the countryside along with hundreds of other fans and Harley lovers. Following the ride from Columbia to downtown Nashville, the concert portion of the event kicked off with performances by Campbell, Kevin Fowler, Josh Thompson, Colt Ford, the Eli Young Band, and of course Bentley.

The concert was hosted by CMT Radio's Cody Allan, who brought on each act. Campbell opened the show with a set of two songs" 'Family Man' and his latest single, 'Fish.' Fowler took the stage next, where he treated fans to some of his biggest hits including 'Pound Sign,' 'Hell Yeah, I Like Beer,' 'Don't Touch My Willie' and his current hit on the rise, 'That Girl.' Fowler also performed his self-penned hit 'Beer, Bait and Ammo,' which had been recorded by artists like Mark Chesnutt and Sammy Kershaw. "Now if I could just get Dierks Bentley to cut it, I'd make a lot of money, and y'all would never see me again," quipped Fowler before launching into the tune, which Bentley joined him for toward the end of the song.

Thompson was up next in the lineup. He got the crowd riled up in no time with his hits 'Blame It on Waylon,' 'Won't Be Lonely Long,' 'Beer on the Table,' and the anthem 'Way Out Here.' He also gave fans a sneak peak of what's next to come from the handsome singer when he played 'Comin' Around' -- his forthcoming debut single from his next album slated for release next year.

Ford's performance consisted of a medley of Charlie Daniels Band's 'Devil Went Down to Georgia,' Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' and Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer,' which he sang lead and played drums. He closed out his set with the recent Jason Aldean chart-topper 'Dirt Road Anthem,' which Ford co-wrote. Lady A's Charles Kelley joined Ford onstage where he sang the choruses.

Following the Eli Young Band's performance, including their current Top 10 single, 'Crazy Girl,' Bentley took the stage for the night's finale. Bentley didn't let a single fan down as he tore through some of their favorites, including 'Feel That Fire,' 'Am I the Only One,' 'Every Mile a Memory,' 'Lot of Leavin' Left to Do,' 'Come a Little Closer' and 'What Was I Thinkin'.' Colt Ford joined Bentley during 'Sideways,' while Charles Kelley lent his vocals to 'Long Trip Alone' and a new tune, 'What You Done to Me.'

Bentley took to his Twitter page late Sunday night to thank those who helped make a difference after the activities of the day were able to sink in for the singer.

"Wide awake thinking about today," he tweeted. "Over 200k raised by our fans and motorcycle riders for Miles and Music for Kids. Unreal. Good good stuff."

For more information on the Miles and Music for Kids events or to see where Bentley will be performing throughout the remainder of the year, visit his website here.