"Bourbon in Kentucky" | ||||
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Single by Dierks Bentley | ||||
from the album Riser | ||||
Released | June 10, 2013 | |||
Recorded | 2013 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:45 | |||
Label | Capitol Nashville | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Ross Copperman | |||
Dierks Bentley singles chronology | ||||
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"Bourbon in Kentucky" is a song written by Ryan Tyndell, Hillary Lindsey, and Gordie Sampson, and recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley with backing vocals by Kacey Musgraves. It is the first single from his seventh studio album, Riser . The song peaked at #45 on Country Airplay six weeks after its release date, becoming Bentley's lowest charting single at the time. He later spoke on the song's disappointing performance while promoting the album release, stating that it "bombed" and that "we knew" it was a big risk releasing a dark song as the first single in the summertime, but he was happy with the great reception it got from his core fanbase. [1]
The song is about a man who consumes bourbon whiskey when heartbroken, but claims that there "ain't enough bourbon in Kentucky for me to forget you." It features a backing vocal from Kacey Musgraves.
Bentley told Great American Country, "I’ve never heard anything like ‘Bourbon’ before…I really love the angst of it. I’ve been there before where you can’t drink your way through a heartache or a broken heart. There’s such an aggressive lonesomeness in this song." [2]
Jon Freeman of Country Weekly gave the song an "A", comparing its production to both U2 and Bentley's late 2011-early 2012 single "Home". He also praised the lyric as "a tried-but-true drinkin’ and cryin’ lyric for something that manages to sound modern without feeling uncomfortably shoehorned in there." [3] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock also compared the production style to U2, and said that "The melody is appropriately moody as it matches the lyrics about a man who doesn't have any way of getting over and past a relationship, as he's clearly lost without the love of his life." [4] Giving it 4 stars out of 5, Billy Dukes of Taste of Country said that "Lyrically, ‘Bourbon in Kentucky’ breaks no new ground, but the atmosphere created in studio is like nothing released to country radio before." [5]
When the song was released in June 2013, a music video for it was filmed and it had to be released later on. The single slid quickly off the charts, with the label promoting Bentley's next single, 'I Hold On'. The music video remained unreleased until it premiered in February 2014 as 'Bourbon in Kentucky - The Lost Video. It was directed by Ryan Pallotta. [6]
The song debuted at #56 on Country Airplay the week of its release. After a slow climb, it peaked at #45 on its sixth week on the chart, before dropping to #48 and then falling down the charts, becoming Bentley's lowest-charting single until 2017's "What the Hell Did I Say".
Chart (2013) | Peak position |
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US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [7] | 40 |
US Country Airplay ( Billboard ) [8] | 45 |
Frederick Dierks Bentley is an American country music singer and songwriter. In 2003, he signed to Capitol Nashville and released his eponymous debut album. Both it and its follow-up, 2005's Modern Day Drifter, are certified Platinum in the United States, and his third album, 2006's Long Trip Alone, is certified Gold. It was followed in mid-2008 by a greatest hits package. His fourth album, Feel That Fire, was released in February 2009, and a bluegrass album, Up on the Ridge, was released on June 8, 2010. His sixth album, Home, followed in February 2012, as did a seventh one, Riser, in 2014. Bentley's eighth album, titled Black, was released in May 2016, and his ninth, The Mountain, was released in June 2018. His tenth studio album, Gravel & Gold, was released in February 2023.
American country music singer and songwriter Dierks Bentley has released ten studio albums, one live album, one compilation album, and 33 singles. In 2003, Capitol Nashville released Bentley's self-titled debut album. The album's first single, "What Was I Thinkin'", reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, his highest-charting single there to date. Bentley then released two studio albums in 2005 and 2006 and produced several number 1 hits on Billboard Hot Country Songs. In 2007, Bentley released a live concert DVD, Live and Loud at the Fillmore, which was recorded in Denver, Colorado.
Eric Thomas Paslay is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has released one album for EMI Nashville, which contains the hit singles "Friday Night", "Song About a Girl", and "She Don't Love You". In addition to these, Paslay has written several hit singles for other artists, and has collaborated with Amy Grant, Dierks Bentley, Charles Kelley, among others.
"Home" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released in October 2011 as the second single from his 2012 album of the same name. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in March 2012. Bentley co-wrote this song with Dan Wilson and Brett Beavers. The song was selected by the Arizona Centennial Commission to serve as its official song for the state's 100 year celebration.
"Tip It on Back" is a song written by Ross Copperman, Jon Nite, and Tully Kennedy and recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released in August 2012 as the fourth and final single from Bentley's 2012 album Home. This song is also Bentley's first single that he did not co-write.
"Merry Go 'Round" is the debut single by American country music artist Kacey Musgraves. It was released in September 2012 as the lead single from her debut album Same Trailer Different Park. Musgraves co-wrote and co-produced the song with Shane McAnally, with additional writing from Josh Osborne and production assistance from Luke Laird.
"Blowin' Smoke" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Kacey Musgraves, featured on her major label debut album, Same Trailer Different Park. It was released April 1, 2013, as the album's second single. It was written by Musgraves, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally. As of July 10, 2013, the single has sold 135,000 copies in the United States.
"Friday Night" is a song written by Eric Paslay, Rose Falcon and Rob Crosby. It was originally recorded by American country music trio Lady Antebellum on their 2011 album Own the Night. It was later recorded by Paslay in 2013 as his third single for EMI Nashville, and as a song on his self-titled debut album in 2014.
Up All Night is a song recorded by American country music artist Jon Pardi. It was released in March 2013 as Pardi's second single. It is included on his album Write You a Song, which was released on January 14, 2014. The song was written by Pardi, Bart Butler and Brett Beavers.
"Whatever She's Got" is a song recorded by American country music artist David Nail. It was released in May 2013 as the first single from Nail's third studio album, I'm a Fire. The album was released on March 4, 2014. The song was written by Jimmy Robbins and Jon Nite.
"I Hold On" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released in August 2013 as the second single from his 2014 album Riser. Bentley wrote the song with Brett James.
Riser is the seventh studio album by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released on February 25, 2014 by Capitol Records Nashville. It was debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200, becoming his seventh top ten album. The album was nominated for Best Country Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.
"Song About a Girl" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eric Paslay. It was released on February 18, 2014, as the third single from Paslay's self-titled debut album. Paslay wrote the song with Jessi Alexander and Gordie Sampson.
"The South" is a song recorded by American country music band the Cadillac Three. It is their debut release for Big Machine Records.
"Drunk on a Plane" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released in April 2014 as the third single from his seventh studio album Riser. The song has been certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA. The song was written by Bentley, Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins, relating how the protagonist dealt with being jilted by his fiancée at his wedding.
"Biscuits" is a song recorded by American country music artist Kacey Musgraves that serves as the lead single from her second major label studio album, Pageant Material. It was released to country radio on March 16, 2015, through Mercury Nashville and was released to digital retailers the following day. The song was written and produced by Musgraves and Shane McAnally, with additional songwriting by Brandy Clark and additional production by Luke Laird. In December 2015, Billboard ranked "Biscuits" number one on its "10 Best Country Songs of 2015" list and number 16 on its list of the 25 best songs of 2015 across all genres.
"Riser" is a song recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released to radio on June 15, 2015 as the fifth and final single from his seventh studio album of the same name. The song was written by Travis Meadows and Steve Moakler.
American singer Kacey Musgraves has released six studio albums, one soundtrack, four demo albums, four extended plays, 23 singles, six promotional singles, and 15 music videos. The earliest of Musgraves's material was released in the early 2000s with the issuing of demo albums, beginning with children duo effort Texas Two Bits with fellow student Alina Tatum, which self-released Little Bit of Texas in 2000. This was followed by her first solo album Movin' On (2002). She signed to Mercury Nashville in 2012. In early 2013, Musgraves released her debut full-length album Same Trailer Different Park. Critically acclaimed, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number two on the Billboard 200. Its preceding lead single "Merry Go 'Round" peaked within the top 20 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The album would also spawn the top 40 singles "Blowin' Smoke" and "Follow Your Arrow". Same Trailer Different Park has since been certified platinum by the RIAA.
"Think of You" is a song recorded by American country music singers Chris Young and Cassadee Pope. It was written and produced by Young and Corey Crowder, with additional writing from Josh Hoge. "Think of You" was released on January 25, 2016 as the second single from Young's fifth studio album, I'm Comin' Over (2015). The country pop song explores the reminiscence of a recent breakup.
"Somewhere on a Beach" is a song recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released for digital download on January 19, 2016, and to country radio on January 25, 2016, as the lead single from his eighth studio album, Black. The song was written by Michael Tyler, Jaron Boyer, Alexander Palmer, Dave Kuncio and Josh Mirenda.