Country superstar Dierks Bentley surprised guests at The Heritage Foundation’s 50th-anniversary gala Friday night with a rocking performance at the Gaylord Hotel in National Grand Harbor, Maryland.
The two-day event featured some of the biggest names in the conservative movement, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and gala keynote speaker Fox News host Tucker Carlson, but attendees were blown away when Bentley, a 14-time Grammy nominee, took the stage for several songs. Bentley’s appearance was kept secret from guests prior to the evening.
“What a fabulous night celebrating free thinking and Liberty at @Heritage 50th anniversary celebration,” Congressman Matt Rosendale (R-MT) tweeted. “Entertainment by Dierks Bentley and Tucker Carlson. Even saw my good friend Scot Miller from Billings. What a night!”
What a fabulous night celebrating free thinking and Liberty at @Heritage 50th anniversary celebration.
Entertainment by Dierks Bentley and Tucker Carlson. Even saw my good friend Scot Miller from Billings. What a night! #Heritage50 pic.twitter.com/0Zlp69Xm97
— Matt Rosendale (@MattForMontana) April 22, 2023
Activists, members of the media, and elected officials were in attendance to celebrate the organization founded in 1973.
“Surprise of the (last half) century, from @Heritage — what a treat,” writer Carolyn Bolton said of Bentley’s singing.
Surprise of the (last half) century, from @Heritage — what a treat #Heritage50 @DierksBentley pic.twitter.com/1R4ydlSx2E
— Carolyn Bolton (@carbolton) April 22, 2023
“I didn’t know I could love @DierksBentley more,” said Heritage communications staffer Gloria Taylor.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP
I didn’t know I could love @DierksBentley more. https://t.co/WroxQmXPFz
— Gloria Taylor (@glo_tay) April 22, 2023
The gala was the pinnacle event of the two-day summit billed as Heritage’s Leadership Summit. According to the organization, the purpose of the event was to “demonstrate consensus around big-picture questions facing America and deliver a conservative policy agenda equipped to unite the movement around an offensive strategy to take back our country, restore self-governance, and rebuild key institutions of civil society.”
Prior to the event, Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts praised the founders of Heritage, as well as others in the movement who have helped achieve success.
“Ever since Heritage’s founding 50 years ago, this organization has dedicated itself to advancing conservative policy with world-class research, analysis, and advocacy,” Roberts said. “Today, we celebrate those who had the vision for Heritage and the accomplishments they achieved on behalf of the American people. We equally celebrate the men and women throughout the conservative movement who have worked tirelessly to save our country alongside all of us.”
For his part, Bentley has not divulged his political beliefs, but has expressed frustration with Washington, D.C., and the politicization of country music.
“[What’s happening in country music] is definitely a microcosm of the country at large,” Bentley told Rolling Stone. “There’s a lot of tension, a lot of anger, a lot of mistrust. A lot of fear being used on both sides to build their base.”
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.