Dierks Bentley’s new take on Tom Petty’s “American Girl” debuted on Tom Petty Radio (Ch. 31) during an exclusive conversation with David Fricke on February 22.
The “American Girl” cover comes from the forthcoming Tom Petty tribute album, Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty (out May 31), which aims to highlight Tom Petty’s lasting influence on country music. During his interview with David, Dierks discussed launching the upcoming album, his inspirations behind the new rendition, and what Tom Petty means to the country community.
Hear the new song and Dierks’ full interview with David Fricke, which are available to stream now on the SiriusXM app.
Produced by Jon Randall, Dierks’s version of “American Girl” is a banjo-forward, spirited reimagination with fiddles, right-hand organ figures, and mandolin runs. Dierks’ vocals capture the song’s sense of urgency and inject Tom’s signature pride.
“Petty’s southern roots shined through across his songwriting and storytelling. He might not have ever been considered as country, but you can’t go into a bar in Nashville without hearing this song. It is one of the greatest songs in a life’s work of great American songs,” Bentley says. “The spirit of this woman, the idea of such relentless hope — and disappointment — ignites such a spark. Jon and I were driven to make that feeling of American roots stand tall.”
Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty features a collection of country and Americana artists — including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Marty Stuart, Lady A, Thomas Rhett, and more — reimagining Tom Petty classics.
1. “I Should Have Known It” – Chris Stapleton
2. “Wildflowers” – Thomas Rhett
3. “Runnin’ Down a Dream” – Luke Combs
4. “Southern Accents” – Dolly Parton
5. “Here Comes My Girl” – Justin Moore
6. “American Girl” – Dierks Bentley
7. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” – Lady A
8. “I Forgive It All” – Jamey Johnson
9. “I Won’t Back Down” – Brothers Osborne
10. “Refugee” – Wynonna Judd & Lainey Wilson
11. “Angel Dream #2” – Willie Nelson & Lukas Nelson
12. “Learning to Fly” – Eli Young Band
13. “Breakdown” – Ryan Hurd feat. Carly Pearce
14. “Yer So Bad” – Steve Earle
15. “Ways to Be Wicked” – Margo Price & Mike Campbell
16. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” – Midland
17. “Free Fallin’” – The Cadillac Three feat. Breland
18. “I Need To Know” – Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives
19. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” – Rhiannon Giddens feat. Benmont Tench
20. “You Wreck Me (Live)” – George Strait
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