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Dierks Bentley is hinting at a rootsy direction for his upcoming 2026 shows — and fans got an early preview when he performed a bluegrass-style version of his hit “Free and Easy” alongside Ricky Skaggs.
The collaboration was shared while announcing Bentley’s newly revealed Off the Map Tour, suggesting that acoustic and bluegrass influences could play a bigger role in this year’s live sets. The refreshed take on the longtime fan favorite adds fiddle-driven energy and traditional flair to the nearly 20-year-old song.
The Off the Map Tour launches June 12 in Rogers, Arkansas, with tickets going on sale Feb. 20. Kaitlin Butts and Cole Goodwin are among the scheduled opening acts. The run of dates is spaced around Bentley’s stadium appearances with Luke Combs, which begin March 21 and continue into summer.
Although tour materials don’t promise onstage collaborations, Bentley has a history of reworking his catalog and inviting special guests during concerts, leaving the door open for surprise moments like the Skaggs performance.
Bentley’s most recent album, Broken Branches (2025), featured the single “She Hates Me” and collaborations with artists including Miranda Lambert, John Anderson, and Stephen Wilson Jr. The new tour and stylistic teasers may point toward another evolving phase in his live sound.
SOURCE: Taste Of Country