Dierks Bentley and his wife, Cassidy, have been married for nearly 20 years, and the “Same Ol’ Me” artist can think of one gift in particular that’s the most interesting one they’ve exchanged.

It happened two decades ago, when Bentley’s smash-hit anthem “What Was I Thinkin” released and the singer-songwriter found himself on the road full-time. At that time, he found some old letters that he and Cassidy had sent each other and other things she’d sent him. An item that stood out was a mixed CD of songs Cassidy had been listening to, with three hearts on it.

“I just found that it was so meaningful, Bentley said, per his record label, noting that “those gifts you give each other before any money, before anything else was going on, just music, giving of mixtapes was so cool.”

Bentley also sent music to Cassidy, and now, he believes “the most interesting thing I’ve given her and she’s given me was just mixtapes, because there’s nothing like music to put into words and the thoughts you have in your head that you can’t formulate yourself.”

Read Bentley’s thoughts, per his record label, here:

“’When ‘What Was I Thinkin’’ was released in 2003, I didn’t know what my life would look like, and all of a sudden, I found myself out on the road full-time, just gone. So, the place where I was staying, I had some friends pack it up and move it into a storage facility…and in there I found some letters that she and I had written back and forth when we were dating. I was working at The Nashville Network and she was working out in San Francisco and found some letters I had written her and I’d gotten back and some stuff she’d sent me, including a CD of songs she’d been listening to, back when you made CD mixes and there’s like these three hearts on that CD. I just found that it was so meaningful for me those gifts you give each other before any money, before anything else was going on, just music, giving of mixtapes was so cool. She reminded me of a mixtape that I had sent her. I’d sent it to her via FedEx, because it was so important she get this as quickly as possible. This was sadly before, I guess we had internet back then, but you really couldn’t send songs over the internet. I think the most interesting thing I’ve given her and she’s given me was just mixtapes, because there’s nothing like music to put into words and the thoughts you have in your head that you can’t formulate yourself.”

Bentley is getting ready to release his 10th studio album this month, after two decades as a country artist. Gravel & Gold includes some previously-released tracks that quickly became fan-favorites, including “Gold,” “Same Ol’ Me,” “High Note,” — featuring Billy Strings, Charlie Worsham, Jerry Douglas on dobro, Sam Bush on mandolin and guitar star Bryan Sutton — and “Cowboy Boots,” featuring Ashley McBryde. The whole project is set to make its debut on February 24.

Karla Cantrell