Country star Dierks Bentley has thanked fans for helping him cope with the grief following his father's death on 1 June.

The singer was forced to postpone his first concert in a decade due to what was referred to as "a serious family illness" on 2 June and now it has emerged he flew home to be with his family following the death of his dad.

Bentley returned to the stage for the first time since the tragedy over the weekend and thanked fans for their kind words, messages and understanding.

Speaking at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday, he said, "It was really something I was looking forward to. Good medicine. It's what I needed. The second I got out there, I felt great... All these people I don’t know reaching out in so many great ways." (KL/WNWC/MJ)