Those in the know classify Dierks Bentley’s 2010 bluegrass detour, On top of the Edgeas his best all-round album. At Wednesday night’s 2024 CMA Awards, the country singer once again scratched the string music itch, singing a version of Tom Petty’s 1977 anthem “American Girl” as a bluegrass rave-up with a trio of musical standouts: Molly Tuttle on guitar, Sierra Hull on mandolin, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes on violin.

Bentley’s rendition of ‘American Girl’ originally appeared on this year’s tribute album to the late leader of the Heartbreakers, Petty Country: A country music celebration of Tom Petty.

That a song by a rock artist was selected to round out the CMAs should come as no surprise. Petty, who died in 2017, is perhaps country music’s greatest rock influence; and he and the Heartbreakers incorporated elements of country music into their own songs. “We all grew up in the South and were immersed in the music of Hank Williams and George Jones that we heard on the radio,” said Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell. RS earlier this year. “We all loved the Flying Burrito Brothers, and the Byrds when they went to the country (op Sweetheart of the Rodeo). We listened to a lot of countries, and some of it seeped into our consciousness.”

As for Bentley, this isn’t the first time he’s shared the stage with Tuttle, the Grammy-winning singer-guitarist who’s helping bring bluegrass into the future. In 2023, they performed Townes Van Zandt’s “White Freight Liner Blues” together at a show in Toronto; Tuttle and her band Golden Highway opened select dates on Bentley’s Gravel & Gold tour.

Charlie Worsham, a regular member of Bentley’s touring band – who was named CMA’s Musician of the Year tonight – also starred in “American Girl” at the CMA Awards. Like Bentley, he is a fellow disciple of bluegrass and raved about Bentley’s bluegrass activities. RS in 2023. “Dierks has a long-held mantra: mixing kick-ass with bluegrass,” Worsham said. “During his long career he made a string of records featuring mandolin, banjo, Dobro, very lonely harmony, fiddle, steel guitar and chicken-plucked Telecasters. He has a deep respect for liner note people, and he relies on the expertise of great musicians, great songwriters and great producers to guide his record-making process.”