DIERKS BENTLEY - She Hates Me - Capitol Records Nashville

It has been far too long since we have heard a new Dierks Bentley track.  And just in time for the Valentine’s Day, the country star released a funny-but-sad comedic twist on a breakup ballad, one that will have us all entertained from start to finish.  “She Hates Me” is available now, both digitally and on all streaming platforms, via Capitol Records Nashville.

Written by Dierks along with Ashley Gorley, Ross Copperman, and Chase McGill at a writing camp last spring, “She Hates Me” bares resemblance, in theory and spirit, to the likes of previous hit singles “Somewhere On A Beach” and “Drunk On A Plane”. 

Seemingly falling out of nowhere during the session, the tune later found new life for Bentley with some help with some friends and family.

“We were goofing around with this idea before diving into our next ‘serious song’, really just trying to make each other laugh,” Bentley said.  “It really came to life in the studio, and then my kids were requesting it and then I was getting texts from friends who had heard it, so I started taking it more seriously!  I love any opportunity to laugh at myself – especially my younger self, and ‘She Hates Me’ definitely provides that.”

Featuring his unique style of country music, which has been captivating fans for over 20 years, “She Hates Me” is a tongue-twisting story of a girl who is no longer falling for the country boy charm.  Accompanied by a hilariously dark music video, the tune tells the tale of Bentley’s realization that not only is his love interest not coming back, and not only does she not want to get together, but she dislikes him to his core and wants to hurt him in every way possible.

Is he dreaming or is he hallucinating?  Either way, Dierks is suffering from emotional heartbreak as well as revenge-filled rage, collectively contributing to a horribly-amusing post-breakup experience.

Featuring heavy-ish rocking guitars, grooving drums, and spirited hooks alongside Bentley’s trademark vocal delivery, the crooningly-spirited breakup ballad falls right in the wheelhouse of why we have loved the country star’s music for so many years, completed with the cleverly simplistic and deliberate lyrical anecdotes.

“She hates me

My hair, my truck, my dog, my music makes her crazy

She done been there, done that, ain’t comin’ back, no maybes

Thought one day we’d be on some acres raisin’ babies

She should be fallin’, only problem is she hates me”

Slated as his most recent release since 2023’s “Something Real,” “She Hates Me” has us all hoping and pining that new music is on the horizon from the country music superstar.

Beginning with his debut single and instant-classic hit “What Was I Thinkin’” in 2003, Bentley’s career has produced eight Number One albums, 22 Number One songs, more than nine billion global streams, plus 15 GRAMMY® nominations and membership in the historic Grand Ole Opry.

(Review Written By: Chad Carlson)