Dierks Bentley Writes Memorial Song for Jordan Sterling

Phoenix-bred country star Dierks Bentley's newest song is a melancholy tribute to Phoenix resident Jordan Sterling, who died earlier this year at 34, after a life-long battle with cystic fibrosis.

Jordan and his sister, Brooke, were profiled by Megan Irwin in our 2006 story, "Borrowed Time," which chronicled the siblings' very different battles against cystic fibrosis. (Brooke is a yoga instructor who uses alternative and natural medicine; Jordan took a more traditional approach.) According to this blog by his stepmother, Jordan Sterling's health began to seriously decline last year, after a doctor accidentally pierced one of his arteries. He died in Phoenix at St. Joseph's Hospital on January 29.

Bentley was a close friend. The Arizona native has been making waves in Nashville for the past few years -- he's sold more than five million copies of his first three studio albums, and he's also been the recipient of a CMA Horizon Award. He was also, at one time, the youngest person inducted to the Grand Ole Opry. Bentley's song for Sterling, "Hey Jordan," is a rather upbeat acoustic guitar song, but contains lines rife with sadness, like "I miss you, and I want you back/Don't know how I'm gonna live without that laugh" and "Hey Jordan, how is heaven? I bet they're glad to have you home."

Hear Bentley introduce and perform "Hey Jordan" by playing the video below.