CULVER CITY - The distinctive vocals of multiplatinum singer/songwriter and Arizona native Dierks Bentley resonate throughout "Hold The Light," his first-ever song written and recorded for a motion picture. Also featuring Bon Iver's S. Carey, "Hold The Light" is featured in Columbia Pictures and Black Label Media's Only The Brave, in theaters nationwide October 20. The song was written by Bentley, Carey, Joe Trapanese and Jon Randall.
Bentley first took action in 2013 when he organized and hosted the Country Cares Concert in Arizona, which raised more than half a million dollars for the families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The new song honors and embodies the spirit of the true heroism depicted in the film and is available now at all digital retailers and streaming partners.
In composing the song, Bentley and Carey worked closely with Only The Brave composer Joe Trapanese. In the collaboration, the songwriters worked Trapanese's film theme into the music of the song, providing a seamless transition between song and score and resulting in a song that is integral to the film itself.
Bentley said, "This is at the top, if not the most meaningful experience I've ever been a part of. It hits me harder than any other song I've had a chance to be a part of. Over the last couple years I've met and gotten to know Brendan, the sole survivor, and my mom has met with some of the guys' families, and it's still unfathomable to put yourself in any of their shoes. But, our goal was to create a message of hope and love. I'm honored to have been a part of it."
Joseph Kosinski, the director of the film, added, "This story resonated deeply with Dierks from the beginning – he was one of the first to raise money to support the families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and his commitment has been unwavering since then. The theme comes from the score and the lyrics come from the heart, so it was a natural fit for the film."
S. Carey said, "Working on this song with Joe, Dierks, and the whole crew was a true honor. My brother-in-law has been a wildlands fire fighter for the last several years so I had a somewhat personal starting point for the creative process. I'm extremely thankful to be able to honor these men, these true heroes, in the form of a song in a beautiful, powerful film."
To learn more about Only The Brave, see a testimonial video in which Bentley, Carey and survivor Brendan McDonough describe honoring the sacrifice of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and find out how you can support the wildland firefighter communities through The Granite Mountain Fund, go to www.OnlyTheBrave-Movie.com.
It's not what stands in front of you – it's who stands beside you. Only The Brave, based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, is the heroic story of one unit of local firefighters that through hope, determination, sacrifice, and the drive to protect families, communities, and our country become one of the most elite firefighting teams in the country. As most of us run from danger, they run toward it – they watch over our lives, our homes, everything we hold dear, as they forge a unique brotherhood that comes into focus with one fateful fire. The film stars Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale, with Taylor Kitsch and Jennifer Connelly. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer, based upon the GQ Article "No Exit" by Sean Flynn, the film is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Menchel, Erik Howsam, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill, Dawn Ostroff, and Jeremy Steckler.