Whatever Happened to Brooks & Dunn?
What To Know
- Brooks & Dunn, one of country music’s most successful duos, rose to fame in the 1990s with a string of chart-topping hits and record-breaking albums after forming in 1988.
- After dominating the country charts and winning numerous awards, the duo amicably split in 2009, pursued solo projects, and held a farewell tour in 2010.
- They reunited in 2015 for Las Vegas shows with Reba McEntire and have since continued performing together, including an anticipated appearance at Nashville’s Big Bash on New Year’s Eve.
Brooks & Dunn are one of the most beloved duos in country music. Now, Kix Brooks,70, and Ronnie Dunn, 72, are set to perform at New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash. Their appearance is highly anticipated, as some people didn’t even realize they had gotten back together after breaking up in 2009. But the ’90s superstars are back together
How did Brooks & Dunn get their start?
Brooks & Dunn formed in 1988 after songwriter and record producer Tim DuBois suggested pairing Brooks and Dunn, two solo artists who had each been working the Nashville circuit for years. The chemistry was immediate. They signed with Arista Nashville and, within a few years, became one of the most dominant acts in country music history. Their debut single, “Brand New Man,” went to number one in 1991, setting off a historic run. The follow-up singles “My Next Broken Heart,” “Neon Moon” and their own version of “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” all hit number one as well, making Brooks & Dunn the first duo or group in country music history to send their first four singles to the top of the charts.
Their debut album, Brand New Man, would eventually be certified sextuple platinum and spend more than 190 weeks on the Top Country Albums chart. “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” also helped repopularize line dancing across the United States.
Throughout the 1990s, Brooks & Dunn maintained an almost unreal level of consistency. Albums like Hard Workin’ Man, Waitin’ on Sundown, and Borderline produced a steady stream of hits, including “She Used to Be Mine,” “That Ain’t No Way to Go,” “She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind” and “Little Miss Honky Tonk.” Their cover of “My Maria” became the top country song of 1996 and earned them their second Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. In 1996, they also made history by becoming the first duo to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award.
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By the early 2000s, the hits were still coming. Steers & Stripes delivered “Ain’t Nothing ’bout You,” their longest-running number one at six weeks and Billboard’s top country song of 2001. That same album included “Only in America,” later used in presidential campaigns across party lines, and “The Long Goodbye.” Red Dirt Road followed in 2003, with the title track becoming their 18th number-one single. Over the course of their career, Brooks & Dunn released 50 singles, 20 of which reached number one, with another 19 landing in the top 10, a level of chart dominance few acts have ever matched.
Awards followed them for more than a decade. They won Country Music Association Vocal Duo of the Year every year from 1992 through 2006 except 2000, and added Grammy wins for “Hard Workin’ Man” and “My Maria.” Nearly all of their studio albums were certified platinum or higher, with Brand New Man remaining their highest-certified release.
Why did Brooks & Dunn break up?
However, fans were stunned when Brooks & Dunn announced in August 2009 that they would retire as a duo. They framed the decision as amicable and closed the chapter with a farewell tour titled The Last Rodeo. Their final concert took place on September 2, 2010, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Afterward, both continued working as solo artists. Dunn released his self-titled solo album in 2011, which included the top 10 country hit “Bleed Red,” followed by additional solo projects in 2014 and 2016, while Brooks released New to This Town in 2012 and remained active as a songwriter, performer and radio host.
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Where are Brooks & Dunn today?
In 2015, Brooks & Dunn reunited for a series of Las Vegas concerts with Reba McEntire, marking their first performances together in five years. What started as a limited run eventually reopened the door for creative projects. In 2019, they released Reboot, an album of re-recorded hits featuring guest vocals from contemporary country artists. They expanded that idea with Reboot II, released November 15, 2024, which featured additional collaborations across country, rock and blues. Now, with their upcoming performance on New Year’s Eve, they are proving they still love to perform together.
In 2026, the duo will be playing a handful of European concert dates, as well as festivals in Arizona and Texas.
How can you watch New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash?
The special airs on CBS and live on Paramount+ on December 31, 2025, at 8/7c. In addition to Yoakam, Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Gretchen Wilson and many others will also perform.
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March 2022
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