In January 2018, Dierks Bentley opened his fourth Whiskey Row location—the first outside his home state of Arizona—on Nashville’s Lower Broadway. The allure of the location on Lower Broadway, among the bars and honky-tonks where Dierks got his start, compelled the Arizona native to open the venue in Music City.

On March 15, 2020, at 2:45 p.m., Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced the closure of bars throughout Davidson Country—including downtown’s famed Lower Broadway district—in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The three-floor Whiskey Row Nashville features full bars, dining options and plenty of live music, as well as 90 hourly employees, which Dierks is compensating to the tune of $1,000 each.

Dierks made the announcement via Instagram on March 16, stating, in part: “My heart goes out to all the guys/girls down on Lower Broad. Feels like yesterday that it was me down there working for tips. I am going to immediately give each of our 90 hourly employees $1000 to help in the short run as our community and country try to get a handle on the situation.”

Kudos, Dierks. That’s setting a great example!