It’s been more than 20 years since Dierks Bentley ripped the roof off of country music with his first No. 1 hit, “What Was I Thinkin’.”

He climbed the ladder — Bentley went from dive bars to honky-tonks, to arenas to stadiums — and along the way, he’s seen artists come and go in the genre. Right now, he’s definitely got a favorite among the “newer” artists in modern country music.

“Hardy, he’s probably the favorite of all the new guys,” Bentley spills during a chat with Taste of Country Nights.

“I listen to a lot of country. You know, I love all the new stuff that’s going on,” he says. Among the albums he’s rotating: Hardy’s new project, Quit!! (July 12).

Like Hardy, Bentley is a songwriter-turned-artist, so it’s nice to see him appreciate another writer’s craft (Hardy has been writing songs for other artists for a decade).

He’s a fan of other stars in Hardy’s circle, too.

“You know, Morgan [Wallen], Jelly Roll — he’s great,” Bentley says, clarifying that his jukebox isn’t limited to what’s on country radio right now. “I love a lot of classic country. [I] Listen to all the old school guys … I’m always listening to something.”

Bentley and Hardy worked together for the 2022 song “Beers on Me,” which also features Breland. Don’t be surprised if more collabs between the two friends come down the pipeline.

Evan Paul is the host of Taste of Country Nights, a syndicated radio show heard on more than 130 country radio stations nationwide, every night from 7PM to midnight. He plays the best new country music and interviews today’s top stars, like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, + more!