Dierks Bentley honored a young fan fighting cancer during a recent concert in Ohio.
The country superstar serenaded a 7-year-old fan named Myla, who has been fighting leukemia for just over a year, during his Beers On Me tour date in Cincinnati, Ohio on Friday (Oct. 8) at Riverbend Music Center.
According to the young fan’s mother, Katie, Bentley spotted Myla in the crowd and after reading her homemade sign, complete with photos of herself and Bentley, that read, “Kicking cancer’s butt! It’s only a MOUNTAIN. So I’m out here LIVING because I’m a RISER,” he brought her up on stage.
In a clip shared with us by Myla’s mom, the country hitmaker is seen singing his 2015 hit to the young fan fighting cancer, who is all smiles in the front row of his concert on her Dad’s shoulders.
“Kids and cancer man, that is not good, so we’re going to send this one out to you. Alright Myla,” Bentley told the 7-year-old before singing his chart-topping hit directly to her in the front row.
“Lay your pretty head down on my shoulder / You don’t have to worry anymore / This old world is cold and getting colder / And I know how to lock and bolt the door,” the superstar began to sing to the young fan battling cancer.
After the show, Bentley shared a photo of the memorable moment he shared with Myla on Instagram.
“Had a special moment tonight with a little girl named Myla, who is the true definition of a Riser… thank you for being an inspiration to us all… keep fighting the good fight,” Bentley captioned an image of himself and the young fan on stage.
“You left me speechless and in tears, This momma’s heart is full. Thank you for honoring my little fighter. She is the definition of Riser for sure,” Myla’s mom commented on Bentley’s post. Later adding, “Dierks Bentley fired her spirit to rise and move mountains even more tonight.”
Co-written by Travis Meadows and Steve Moakler, “Riser” is the fifth and final single from Bentley’s seventh studio album of the same name.
Myla was diagnosed with Leukemia, a form of blood cancer, on June 28, 2020, just two weeks before her 6th birthday. After receiving chemotherapy treatments, she was faced with severe complications, which led to a second diagnosis of Charcot Marie Tooth, the same neurological disease that country star Alan Jackson is battling. The illness caused Myla to become immobile, where she didn’t have use of her hands and could not walk.
However, after attending rehabilitation, the 7-year-old made a partial recovery and returned to doing her favorite activities, including ballet. The young country music fan is currently in remission and will have an additional treatment in October 2022.
“She does have a high chance of relapse, but nothing has brought her down,” Myla’s mother Katie told Music Mayhem. “She just smiles and takes life one day at a time. Music and concerts are her go to for happiness. <3”
Earlier this year, in the Spring, Bentley performed a private Zoom concert for the young fan, who is a big fan of Bentley’s, thanks to the Melodic Caring Project, a non-profit that “bridges the gap between music, technology and patients battling serious illness by streaming LIVE personalized concerts to children in hospitals all around the world.”
Later this month, on October 25, Myla will release a song called “Lucky Like a Ladybug,” which will be accompanied by a music video that will showcase her cancer journey, Nashville Opry experience, an interview and more.
The song is a product of a Make-A-Wish trip to Nashville in July 2021, where Myla got to hang out with country singer’s Canaan Smith and Adam Doleac, who are two of her favorites. During the trip, the young aspiring singer had the opportunity to go to a Tennessee Studio to write and record a song.
The track, called “Lucky Like a Ladybug,” features Myla, her mom, dad and older sister singing as well as Levi Ware, who is an established singer/songwriter and Founder/President/Executive Director of the Melodic Caring Project, who made it all possible.
