CMA Awards nominees Rascal Flatts and Dierks Bentley shared the stage at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Country Music's Biggest Night. Together, the country acts performed the Montgomery Gentry hit "My Town" in memoriam of Troy Gentry, who died in a helicopter crash in early September.

While photos of Gentry flashed on the screen behind them, Bentley and the Flatts performed a rocking, yet moving tribute to Gentry. The performance was upbeat and everything Gentry would have loved ... yet there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Gentry's wife Angie and their daughter Kaylee were in the audience, and when Eddie Montgomery walked on the stage to join in the tribute, Angie was seen visibly smiling through her tears. The entire arena rose to their feet and when Montgomery asked them to sing along with the final chorus everyone from Keith Urban to Chris Stapleton sang along, nearly drowning out the performers onstage.

celebration of life event in Gentry’s honor took place on Sept. 14. Montgomery Gentry's label, Average Joes Entertainment, released a new song, "Better Me,” following Gentry's death; the song comes from a new album that Montgomery Gentry had recently finished recording. The complete details of the record have not yet been announced.

A frequent Vocal Group of the Year nominee (and winner), Rascal Flatts landed yet another CMA Vocal Group of the Year nomination in 2017. The country trio released their 10th studio album, Back to Us, this year. The lead single from that album, "Yours If You Want It" hit No. 1 on the country charts.

Bentley, too, has had a busy 2017, which culminated in his nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year. He continues to play in support of his 2016 release, Black, and spent 2017 out on the road, on his What the Hell World Tour.

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