The CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Nominee Writes and Records Song for Film
Based on Home State of Arizona’s Granite Mountain Hotshots
Columbia Pictures and Black Label Media’s Only The Brave in Theaters Nationwide October 20
The distinctive vocals of multiplatinum singer/songwriter and Arizona native Dierks Bentley resonate throughout “Hold The Light,” his first-ever song written and recorded for a motion picture. Also featuring Bon Iver’s S. Carey, “Hold the Light” is featured in Columbia Pictures and Black Label Media’s Only The Brave, in theaters nationwide October 20. The song was written by Bentley, Carey, Joe Trapanese and Jon Randall.
Bentley first took action in 2013 when he organized and hosted the Country Cares Concert in Arizona, which raised more than half a million dollars for the families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The new song honors and embodies the spirit of the true heroism depicted in the film and is available now at all digital retailers and streaming partners.
In composing the song, Bentley and Carey worked closely with Only the Brave composer Joe Trapanese. In the collaboration, the songwriters worked Trapanese’s film theme into the music of the song, providing a seamless transition between song and score and resulting in a song that is integral to the film itself.
“This is at the top, if not the most meaningful experience I’ve ever been a part of,” said Bentley. “It hits me harder than any other song I’ve had a chance to be a part of. Over the last couple years I’ve met and gotten to know Brendan, the sole survivor, and my mom has met with some of the guys’ families, and it’s still unfathomable to put yourself in any of their shoes. But, our goal was to create a message of hope and love. I’m honored to have been a part of it.”
Joseph Kosinski, the director of the film, added, “This story resonated deeply with Dierks from the beginning – he was one of the first to raise money to support the families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and his commitment has been unwavering since then. The theme comes from the score and the lyrics come from the heart, so it was a natural fit for the film.
- Carey said, “Working on this song with Joe, Dierks, and the whole crew was a true honor. My brother-in-law has been a wildlands fire fighter for the last several years so I had a somewhat personal starting point for the creative process. I’m extremely thankful to be able to honor these men, these true heroes, in the form of a song in a beautiful, powerful film.
For a first listen of the track excslusively on USA Today and to hear more about what it meant to Bentley, Carey and survivor Brendan McDonough to honor the sacrifice of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, visit: https://usat.ly/2fedbvs
To learn more about Only the Brave, see a testimonial video in which Bentley, Carey and survivor Brendan McDonough describe honoring the sacrifice of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and find out how you can support the wildland firefighter communities through The Granite Mountain Fund, go to www.OnlyTheBrave-Movie.com.
It’s not what stands in front of you – it’s who stands beside you. Only the Brave, based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, is the heroic story of one unit of local firefighters that through hope, determination, sacrifice, and the drive to protect families, communities, and our country become one of the most elite firefighting teams in the country. As most of us run from danger, they run toward it – they watch over our lives, our homes, everything we hold dear, as they forge a unique brotherhood that comes into focus with one fateful fire. The film stars Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale, with Taylor Kitsch and Jennifer Connelly. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer, based upon the GQ Article “No Exit” by Sean Flynn, the film is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Menchel, Erik Howsam, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill, Dawn Ostroff, and Jeremy Steckler.
Current CMA “Male Vocalist of the Year” nominee Dierks Bentley has a “reputation as one of the hardest-working entertainers in country music” (Music Row) as “he sells out enormous tours, is a perennial favorite of format radio stations, and earns critical acclaim without compromising his artistic vision,” (Entertainment Weekly). With 17 No. One hits and more than one billion digital streams he “continues to take risks that pay off,” (USA Today) as his eighth studio album BLACK, has been hailed the “most fully-formed LP of his career,” (TIME). After making its debut at the No. One position on Billboard’s all-genre Top Albums Chart and Top Country Albums chart, BLACK has garnered nominations from the ACM, CMA, GRAMMY andBillboard Music Awards while earning three consecutive No. Ones; the gold-certified title track and the PLATINUM certified hits “Somewhere On A Beach” and “Different For Girls.” “The bluegrass picker, the love song singer and the stadium rocker all packaged together” (Associated Press) has been a Grand Ole Opry member for over a decade and has illustrated his depth and diversity as an artist with “ferocious live performances” (Fresno Bee) throughout his 2017 WHAT THE HELL WORLD TOUR, which claimed the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Tours selling over 750 million tickets. For more information visitwww.dierks.com.