RING OF "FIRE" (Items on Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury, Patty Griffin, Billy Currington, Kenny Chesney, Collin Raye, Hal Ketchum)

Dierks Bentley will be front and center, pronto, fueling the fire for "Feel that Fire," his fourth album, which lands on Tuesday (2/3).
A ten-day promo jaunt starts on February's first day on NPR's "Mountain Stage" with a performance. On release day, he'll be in the heart of The Apple, performing on the "Today" show.
On February 5, he's back on "Today" and then he'll hop on over to "Live with Regis & Kelly."
On the 4th and 5th, he'll be featured on "GAC Nights" on the cabler.
Dierks will also perform a pre-race concert before the Bud Shoot Out in Daytona on February 7 that you can catch on FOX. Ahead of that, and on the NASCAR theme, he'll host CMT's "Supercharged Weekend (including a peak at his "Crib") and he'll guest on CMT's "Top 20 Countdown" and on GAC's "Top 20 Country Countdown."
On February 11, he'll be in beautiful downtown Burbank for an appearance on "The Tonight Show."
Dovetailed through all of that is a "Feel that Fire" special on GAC (it premieres tonight and runs through next week).
Meanwhile, about the album, Dierks sez, "I know everybody always says it, but I REALLY mean it when I say that this is the best album I've ever made...we came off the road for the first time in 6 years and took our time to make sure it was just right.
"I'm not the kind of guy, who wants to go into the studio every two years and just keep putting out more of the same. I really wanted to change our initial approach to the recording process...do it in more of a rock and roll, or an old outlaw kind of country way. Use your guys; go in the studio; take the clock off the wall. Now, my passion has totally shifted to getting these songs heard by everybody."
Guests on the new platter include Patty Griffin and Ronnie McCoury. The latter on "Last Call," which Ronnie penned. Ronnie and the McCoury clan joined Dierks for his Delfest set last May that I was delighted to emcee.
And as long as we're mentioning Del, happy early birthday! He lands on 70 this Sunday.
The kids at Rhapsody are featuring a new Dierks ditty Saturday. If y'all purchase "Feel that Fire" there, you get "Take Me Down” free.
Here's Dierks starting his whirlwind junket...


Meanwhile, when he's not hiding his pot, Billy Currington (hanging in Key West) ponders his resemblance to Dierks, his love of "The Notebook" and other things for Entertainment Weekly's "Pop Culture Personality Test."

Speaking of Hanging in Key West: "Diminutive country music crooning superstar" Kenny Chesney just dropped a chunk of change for digs in Key West, while his California place still has a For Sale sign on it.

Using the "Love Me" Lyrics Extra: Let Collin Raye say it for you on a greeting card...but you gotta provide the script.

Small Town Saturday Night: Hal Ketchum is coming to Tecumseh, Michigan...this weekend...and one of Tecumseh's finest karaoke talents is opening.

From the Scanner: High on 'grass in Blender, 2002...