Brooks & Dunn
Encyclopedia
Brooks & Dunn was an American country music
duo consisting of Kix Brooks
and Ronnie Dunn
, who were both vocalists and songwriters. They were paired by record producer Tim DuBois
in 1990. Before the duo's foundation, both members of the duo were solo recording artists. Brooks wrote songs for John Conlee
, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
and Highway 101
and released a solo album for Capitol Records
; both he and Dunn also charted two solo singles apiece in the 1980s.
Signed to Arista Records
in 1991, the duo recorded ten studio albums, one Christmas album and three compilation albums for the label. They also released fifty singles, of which twenty went to number one on the Hot Country Songs
charts and nineteen more reached top ten. Two of these number-one songs, "My Maria
" (a cover of the B.W. Stevenson
song) and "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You
", were the top country songs of 1996 and 2001, respectively, according to the Billboard Year-End
charts. The latter is also the duo's longest-lasting number one, at six weeks. Several of their songs have also reached the Billboard Hot 100
, where the duo's highest peaks are "Ain't Nothing 'bout You" and "Red Dirt Road
", both at number 25. Brooks & Dunn also won the Country Music Association
Vocal Duo of the Year award every year between 1992 and 2006, except for 2000. Two of Brooks & Dunn's songs also won the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
: "Hard Workin' Man
" in 1993 and "My Maria" in 1996. All but two of the duo's studio albums are certified platinum
by the Recording Industry Association of America
. Their highest-certified is their 1991 debut Brand New Man
, which is certified sextuple-platinum for shipments of six million copies.
The duo announced their retirement in August 2009 and performed their final concert on September 2, 2010 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Brooks has been the host of the radio show American Country Countdown
since 2006, while Dunn has continued to record for Arista as a solo artist.
Leon Eric "Kix" Brooks III was born May 12, 1955 in Shreveport, Louisiana
, and before moving to Nashville in 1979, he worked the club circuit in Alaska and Maine. He was also a neighbor of country singer Johnny Horton
. Brooks worked as a songwriter in the 1980s, co-writing the number-one singles "I'm Only in It for the Love
" by John Conlee
, "Modern Day Romance
" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
and "Who's Lonely Now
" by Highway 101
. He also released several singles through the independent Avion label, including "Baby, When Your Heart Breaks Down", which charted at number 73 on Hot Country Songs
in 1983. In 1989, he released a self-titled studio album
through Capitol Records
. This album included his second and final solo chart entry, "Sacred Ground
", which peaked at number 87 and was later a number two hit in 1992 for McBride & the Ride
.
Ronnie Gene Dunn was born June 1, 1953 in Coleman, Texas
. He played bass guitar
in local bands during high school
and he briefly studied theology at Abilene Christian University
with the intention of becoming a Baptist preacher. Dunn was "kicked out" of the school because he played in bars. Dunn recorded for the Churchill label between 1983 and 1984, and reached number 59 with "It's Written All Over Your Face" and "She Put the Sad in All His Songs". In 1989, session drummer Jamie Oldaker
entered Dunn in a talent contest sponsored by Marlboro, which Dunn won. The grand prize in the competition included a recording session in Nashville. The producer of that session, Scott Hendricks
, recommended Dunn's recordings to Tim DuBois
, then an executive of Arista Records
. DuBois paired Brooks and Dunn because he thought that they would work well together as songwriters, and after the two recorded a demo
, he suggested that they form a duo.
", entered the Hot Country Songs
charts in June 1991 and went to number one. It was the title track to the duo's debut album, Brand New Man
, which was released two months later. Brooks and Dunn wrote this song and several other cuts in collaboration with Don Cook
, who also co-produced the album with Hendricks. The next three single releases from Brand New Man ("My Next Broken Heart
", "Neon Moon
" and "Boot Scootin' Boogie
") all made number one on the country music charts as well, making for the first time in country music history that a duo or group had sent its first four singles to the top of the charts. A fifth single, "Lost and Found
", peaked at number six. "Boot Scootin' Boogie", which had previously been the b-side to "My Next Broken Heart", also made number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and its commercial success led to a renewed interest in line dancing throughout the United States. Brand New Man was certified platinum
by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA) in August 1992 for shipments of one million copies; by 2002, the album had been certified sextuple-platinum for shipments of six million. The album also spent more than 190 weeks on the Top Country Albums charts. In 1992, the duo won the Duo of the Year Award from the Country Music Association
(CMA), which also nominated them for that year's Album of the Year and Horizon awards. Brooks & Dunn won the association's Duo award for every year from then until 2006, except for 2000 when the award went to Montgomery Gentry
. After the album's release, Brooks & Dunn began touring as well.
Brand New Man received a positive review from Allmusic, whose critic Daniel Gioffre thought that the album showed the duo's diversity of musical influences. Alanna Nash
of Entertainment Weekly
was less positive, criticizing the duo's sound for being "imitative".
was the title of Brooks & Dunn's second album. Released in 1993, it was led off by its title track
, which peaked at number four on the country music charts. The album included two number-one singles in "She Used to Be Mine
" and "That Ain't No Way to Go
" (respectively the third and fifth releases), as well as "We'll Burn That Bridge
" and "Rock My World (Little Country Girl)
", the former of which went to number one at Radio & Records
. In 1993, "Hard Workin' Man" won the duo a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
, and the album was nominated for Best Country Album. Hard Workin' Man earned its highest RIAA certification in 2002, when it was certified quintuple platinum. Brian Mansfield
gave a generally-positive review in Allmusic, saying that its up-tempo songs "rocked harder" than any of the songs from the first album.
While "Rock My World" was climbing the charts, Brooks & Dunn charted two additional cuts which were not official singles: "Ride 'em High, Ride 'em Low", which they contributed to the soundtrack
of the 1994 film 8 Seconds
, and a cover of "Corrine, Corrina" recorded in collaboration with Asleep at the Wheel
for a tribute album to Bob Wills
. Both of these cuts peaked at number 73. Dunn also contributed a guest vocal to Lee Roy Parnell
's mid-1994 cover of the Hank Williams song "Take These Chains from My Heart
", which was a single from Parnell's album On the Road
. Dunn did not receive a chart credit for this song.
on a cover of his song "Folsom Prison Blues
". This cover appeared on the album Red Hot + Country
, a charity album made by the Red Hot Organization
to benefit AIDS
awareness. By the end of the month, the duo released its third studio album, Waitin' on Sundown
. It also produced five charting singles, three of which made number one on the country charts: "She's Not the Cheatin' Kind
", "Little Miss Honky Tonk
" and "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone
". The other two singles, "I'll Never Forgive My Heart
" and "Whiskey Under the Bridge
", both made top ten.
Allmusic critic Thom Owens thought that the album's singles were "solid" but that the rest of the songs were "filler". A review of the single "She's Not the Cheatin' Kind" from the same site praised it for its "hard-driving, honky-tonk spirit". Nash praised the honky-tonk sound of "I'll Never Forgive My Heart", but thought that most of the other songs relied on "contrivance". Randy Lewis of the Orlando Sentinel
gave a generally-positive review, saying that the "minidrama" of "A Few Good Rides Away" (which Brooks co-wrote) was the strongest track on the album.
, was also their first for Arista Nashville
as opposed to the main division of Arista. It was led off by a cover version
of B.W. Stevenson
's 1972 single "My Maria
". Brooks & Dunn's version of the song spent three weeks at number one in mid-1996 and peaked at number 79 on the Billboard Hot 100; it was also that year's top country song according to the Billboard Year-End
charts. Dunn said that he was initially reluctant to cover "My Maria" because the duo had not previously recorded any cover songs. The song won Brooks & Dunn its second Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Group or Duo, and the duo won the 1996 Entertainer of the Year award from the Country Music Association. In 1997, the duo toured a double-headliner tour with Reba McEntire
. Borderline produced another number one in "A Man This Lonely
" and the top ten hits "I Am That Man
" and "Why Would I Say Goodbye
"; "Mama Don't Get Dressed Up for Nothing
", the third single, became the duo's first release not to make the top ten.
Michael McCall of Allmusic and Alanna Nash of Entertainment Weekly both thought that the album's material was "cliché", and thought that the "My Maria" was the strongest song on it. A more positive review came from Larry Stephens of Country Standard Time
, who thought that the album had "the right mix" of songs.
", "He's Got You
" and "Days of Thunder". The first two were released as singles, with respective peaks of three and two on the country charts. The Greatest Hits Collection was certified platinum in April 1998, and double-platinum in 2001.
Brooks & Dunn collaborated with Reba McEntire to perform "If You See Him/If You See Her
", which was the lead-off single to Brooks & Dunn's If You See Her
and McEntire's If You See Him
, both of which were released on the same day. Arista and MCA Nashville, the label to which McEntire was signed, both promoted the single. This cut went to number one, as did the next two singles from If You See Her: "How Long Gone
" and a cover of Roger Miller
's "Husbands and Wives
", which also became the duo's first top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Dunn recorded the vocals for "Husbands and Wives" in one take. Also included on the album was "Born and Raised in Black and White", the first song of the duo's career in which they alternated on lead vocals. The album's fourth single was "I Can't Get Over You
", which was a top five country hit. Following it was "South of Santa Fe", which peaked at number 41 on the country charts and thus became the duo's lowest-peaking single there. In 2001, If You See Her reached double-platinum certification in the United States.
Jana Pendragon, in her review for Allmusic, praised Dunn's vocal performances on "Husbands and Wives" and the title track, but thought that most of the other cuts were "formula". Country Standard Time writer Kevin Oliver criticized the album for having "wildly uneven" material, calling the McEntire collaboration a "snoozer" and "South of Santa Fe" "wretched".
's "Missing You
", which the duo took to number 15 in late 1999. The album's other two singles were "Beer Thirty" at number nineteen and "You'll Always Be Loved By Me
", which peaked at number five in 2000. Dunn co-wrote some songs on this album with Terry McBride
(of McBride & the Ride), and Brooks collaborated with Bob DiPiero
. Two non-single releases made the charts while "Beer Thirty" was climbing: the album track "Goin' Under Gettin' Over You", which made number 60 based on unsolicited airplay, and a cover of Bob Seger
's "Against the Wind
", which the duo recorded for the soundtrack
to the cartoon King of the Hill
. Tight Rope was certified gold for U.S. shipments of 500,000 copies, but did not receive any higher certification.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
gave this album a mixed review, referring to the "Missing You" cover as a "misstep". Jon Weisberger thought that the album was "consistent" but added that it did not have any "surprises".
, was released on April 17, 2001. For this album, the duo worked with producer Mark Wright, who also produced for Lee Ann Womack
at the time. Its lead-off single, "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You
", became their longest-lasting Number One hit, with a six-week stay at that position. This song was the second song of the duo's career to be named the top single of the year according to Billboard Year-End; it was also their highest peak on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time, peaking at number 25 there. The next two singles from Steers & Stripes both made Number One as well: "Only in America
" and "The Long Goodbye", the latter of which was written by Ronan Keating
and Paul Brady
. After it, the duo charted at number five with "My Heart Is Lost to You
" and number twelve with a cover of Kim Richey
's "Every River". All of these other singles also made the pop charts.
This album was generally well-received, with the reviews in Allmusic and Country Standard Time noting that the album was more consistent than the previous ones. Nash was less favorable, referreing to the up-tempos as "retreads" but praising Dunn's voice.
. Four of its cuts made the country music charts based on seasonal airplay: the title track, "Hangin' 'round the Mistletoe", "Rockin' Little Christmas" and a rendition of "Winter Wonderland
".
Red Dirt Road
, the duo's eighth studio album, was released in 2003. It was led off by its title track
, which became the duo's eighteenth number one on Billboard. Two more singles were released from it: "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl
", which spent five weeks in the number three position, and "That's What She Gets for Loving Me
" at number six. On the Hot 100, these songs respectively peaked at 25, 39 and 53.
Erlewine described Red Dirt Road as a concept album
in his review of it, saying that its title track and other songs offered a "tribute to their roots and upbringing." Nash gave the album an A-minus rating, saying that Brooks & Dunn "dig even deeper" on the album; she also referred to the title track as a "gutsy account of the terrible beauty of coming of age." A less favorable review came from Country Standard Time, whose critic Jeffrey B. Remz called it "satisfactory, but not much more." Both Nash and Remz compared "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" to the sound of The Rolling Stones
.
, in October 2004. The album included singles from If You See Her, Steers & Stripes and Red Dirt Road, as well as the previously-unreleased "That's What It's All About
" and "It's Getting Better All the Time
". Respectively, these cuts peaked at numbers two and one on the country music charts, as well as 38 and 56 on the Hot 100.
In August 2005, the duo released "Play Something Country
", the first cut from its ninth studio album, Hillbilly Deluxe
. According to Dunn, this song was inspired by Gretchen Wilson
, with whom the duo was touring at the time. A month after the album's release, "Play Something Country" became the duo's twentieth and final number one on Hot Country Songs, and went to number 37 on the pop charts. The album's second single, "Believe
", peaked at number eight and won the duo the next year's Single of the Year and Song of the Year awards from the Country Music Association. After it was "Building Bridges", which featured guest vocals from Vince Gill
and Sheryl Crow
and peaked at number four. Before the duo released this song, it was released in the mid-1980s by its co-writer Larry Willoughby
, and later by Nicolette Larson
. The final release from Hillbilly Deluxe was the title track, which peaked at number sixteen on Hot Country Songs.
Erlewine gave this album a positive review, saying that it was not "quite as ambitious" as the previous two albums, but "just as satisfying".
, was released on October 2, 2007. Its lead-off single "Proud of the House We Built
" reached number four on the country charts and 57 on the Hot 100. Following this song were "God Must Be Busy
" at number eleven and "Put a Girl in It
" at number three. After this song, the duo released "Cowgirls Don't Cry
", which they later performed with Reba McEntire at the Country Music Association awards. Following this performance, the song was re-released with McEntire's vocals. In early 2009, the song peaked at number two on the country charts.
The duo released its final compilation, #1s… and Then Some
, on September 8, 2009. The album features 28 past hits songs and two new songs. Both of these new songs, "Indian Summer
" and "Honky Tonk Stomp
" (the latter a collaboration with Billy Gibbons
of ZZ Top
), peaked at number sixteen on the country music charts.
Dunn contributed a cover of Gary Stewart
's "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)
" to the soundtrack
to the 2011 film Country Strong. He released a self-titled
solo album through Arista in 2011. The album includes the singles "Bleed Red
" and "Cost of Livin'
", both of which have charted in the top 40.
to each of their studio albums, Brooks & Dunn wrote short stories about Slim & Howdy, fictionalized cowboy
versions of themselves. The duo worked with Bill Fitzhugh in late 2008 and wrote a book titled The Adventures of Slim and Howdy
.
Brooks & Dunn are renowned for their high-energy stage shows. In 2008, Brooks & Dunn paired up with ZZ Top
and Rodney Atkins
for a tour entitled Cowboy Town. This concert has been shown on GAC
as well. Other recent tours have featured Australian country singer Keith Urban
, fellow duo Montgomery Gentry
, and Gretchen Wilson
. Their Deuces Wild tour of 2005 featured fellow country duo Big and Rich. In 2006, the duo opened for the Rolling Stones at their Omaha, Nebraska
show. Also in 2006, they toured with country artist Sara Evans
and embarked on their The Long Haul Tour, which featured artists Jack Ingram
and Sugarland
.
The duo's songs have been used by President George W. Bush
as his official campaign songs in both his 2000 election and 2004 re-election campaigns. In 2000 then Texas Governor Bush chose the blue-collar line-dance-friending hit of the mid-1990s, "Hard Workin' Man
," and in 2004 the President selected the patriotic hit, "Only in America
." Brooks & Dunn both supported the President's re-election campaign, performing at a Republican rally featuring Laura Bush
on the eve of the election. John Kerry
also had it played at the 2004 Democratic National Convention
. The song also played when Barack Obama
announced Joe Biden
as his vice president in Springfield, Illinois in 2008. "Only in America" was played after President Barack Obama gave his nomination acceptance speech in 2008.
They performed a concert tour in Australia in February and March 2008.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
duo consisting of Kix Brooks
Kix Brooks
Leon Eric "Kix" Brooks III , is an American country music artist, best known for being one half of the duo Brooks & Dunn.-Early life:...
and Ronnie Dunn
Ronnie Dunn
Ronnie Gene Dunn is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for being one half of the duo Brooks & Dunn. In 2011, Dunn began working as a solo artist following the breakup of Brooks & Dunn...
, who were both vocalists and songwriters. They were paired by record producer Tim DuBois
Tim DuBois
Tim DuBois is a Nashville-based music executive. He attended Oklahoma State University and received a B.A. and M.A. in Accounting. He then entered into the music business and has taken part in multiple aspects of the industry including songwriting, record labels, management, and production...
in 1990. Before the duo's foundation, both members of the duo were solo recording artists. Brooks wrote songs for John Conlee
John Conlee
John Conlee is an American country music singer. Between 1978 and 2004, Conlee charted a total of thirty-two singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and recorded eleven studio albums...
, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California in 1966. The group's membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded...
and Highway 101
Highway 101
Highway 101 is an American country music band founded by Paulette Carlson , Jack Daniels , Curtis Stone and Scott "Cactus" Moser . With Carlson as lead vocalist, the band recorded three albums for Warner Bros. Records Nashville and charted ten consecutive Top Ten hits on the Hot Country Songs...
and released a solo album for Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
; both he and Dunn also charted two solo singles apiece in the 1980s.
Signed to Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
in 1991, the duo recorded ten studio albums, one Christmas album and three compilation albums for the label. They also released fifty singles, of which twenty went to number one on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts and nineteen more reached top ten. Two of these number-one songs, "My Maria
My Maria
"My Maria" is a song co-written by B. W. Stevenson and Daniel Moore. Stevenson released "My Maria" as a single in August 1973, and the song became a Top 10 hit, peaking at #9 on the US pop chart. It remained in the Top 40 for twelve weeks. In addition, "My Maria" spent one week at #1 on the US...
" (a cover of the B.W. Stevenson
B.W. Stevenson
B.W. Stevenson , born Louis Charles Stevenson, was an American country pop artist, working in a genre now called progressive country. "B.W." stood for "Buckwheat." Stevenson is most famous for his song "My Maria", co-written with Daniel Moore.He was born in Dallas, Texas and attended W.H...
song) and "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You
Ain't Nothing 'bout You
"Ain't Nothing 'bout You" is a song recorded by country music duo Brooks & Dunn and released as a single on February 12, 2001. It was the first single from their 2001 album Steers & Stripes, and was nominated by the Country Music Association for Single of the Year...
", were the top country songs of 1996 and 2001, respectively, according to the Billboard Year-End
Billboard Year-End
Billboard Year-End charts are a cumulative measure of a single or album's performance in the United States, based upon the Billboard magazine charts during any given chart year. Billboard's "chart year" runs from the first week of December to the final week in November...
charts. The latter is also the duo's longest-lasting number one, at six weeks. Several of their songs have also reached the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, where the duo's highest peaks are "Ain't Nothing 'bout You" and "Red Dirt Road
Red Dirt Road (song)
"Red Dirt Road" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music group Brooks & Dunn. It was released in April 2003 as the first single from the band's album Red Dirt Road. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at number 25 on the...
", both at number 25. Brooks & Dunn also won the Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
Vocal Duo of the Year award every year between 1992 and 2006, except for 2000. Two of Brooks & Dunn's songs also won the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
The Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded from 1970 to 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:*In 1970 the award was known as Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group...
: "Hard Workin' Man
Hard Workin' Man (song)
"Hard Workin' Man" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn that peaked at number four on the US Country charts in 1993. It was the first single released from their album, also titled Hard Workin' Man. It also won the duo the Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in...
" in 1993 and "My Maria" in 1996. All but two of the duo's studio albums are certified platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
. Their highest-certified is their 1991 debut Brand New Man
Brand New Man
Brand New Man is the debut album by country duo Brooks & Dunn. The album produced four consecutive Number One singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in "Brand New Man", "Boot Scootin' Boogie", "My Next Broken Heart", and "Neon Moon"; in addition, "Lost and Found" was a #6...
, which is certified sextuple-platinum for shipments of six million copies.
The duo announced their retirement in August 2009 and performed their final concert on September 2, 2010 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Brooks has been the host of the radio show American Country Countdown
American Country Countdown
American Country Countdown, also known as ACC or American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks, is an internationally syndicated radio program which counts down the top 30 country songs of the previous week, from No. 30 to No. 1, according to the Mediabase country chart...
since 2006, while Dunn has continued to record for Arista as a solo artist.
History
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, and before moving to Nashville in 1979, he worked the club circuit in Alaska and Maine. He was also a neighbor of country singer Johnny Horton
Johnny Horton
John Gale "Johnny" Horton was an American country music and rockabilly singer most famous for his semi-folk, so-called "saga songs" which began the "historical ballad" craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s...
. Brooks worked as a songwriter in the 1980s, co-writing the number-one singles "I'm Only in It for the Love
I'm Only in It for the Love
"I'm Only in It for the Love" is a 1983 single written by Kix Brooks, Deborah Allen, and Rafe VanHoy and recorded by John Conlee. "I'm Only In It For the Love" was John Conlee's fourth number one on the country chart. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of twelve weeks...
" by John Conlee
John Conlee
John Conlee is an American country music singer. Between 1978 and 2004, Conlee charted a total of thirty-two singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and recorded eleven studio albums...
, "Modern Day Romance
Modern Day Romance
"Modern Day Romance" is the title of a song written by Kix Brooks and Dan Tyler and recorded by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band from their 1985 album Partners, Brothers and Friends. It was released in June 1985 as the lead single from the album, Partners, Brothers and Friends. "Modern Day Romance" was...
" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California in 1966. The group's membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded...
and "Who's Lonely Now
Who's Lonely Now
"Who's Lonely Now" is a 1989 single by Highway 101. "Who's Lonely Now" was Highway 101's ninth country hit and the last of four number one country hits. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of twenty-six weeks on the country singles charts.-Chart performance:-References:...
" by Highway 101
Highway 101
Highway 101 is an American country music band founded by Paulette Carlson , Jack Daniels , Curtis Stone and Scott "Cactus" Moser . With Carlson as lead vocalist, the band recorded three albums for Warner Bros. Records Nashville and charted ten consecutive Top Ten hits on the Hot Country Songs...
. He also released several singles through the independent Avion label, including "Baby, When Your Heart Breaks Down", which charted at number 73 on Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
in 1983. In 1989, he released a self-titled studio album
Kix Brooks (album)
Kix Brooks is the solo debut album by American country music artist Kix Brooks. It was released on Capitol Records in 1989, two years before he joined Ronnie Dunn in the duo Brooks & Dunn. The album was re-released in 1993 on compact disc via Liberty Records...
through Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. This album included his second and final solo chart entry, "Sacred Ground
Sacred Ground (song)
"Sacred Ground" is a country music song, co-written and originally recorded by American singer Kix Brooks, prior to his joining Ronnie Dunn in the duo Brooks & Dunn. Brooks' version was issued in 1989 as a single, and was included on his 1989 self-titled debut album.A second version was recorded...
", which peaked at number 87 and was later a number two hit in 1992 for McBride & the Ride
McBride & the Ride
McBride & the Ride was an American country music band initially composed of Terry McBride , Ray Herndon and Billy Thomas . The group was founded in 1989 through the assistance of record producer Tony Brown...
.
Ronnie Gene Dunn was born June 1, 1953 in Coleman, Texas
Coleman, Texas
Coleman is a city in Coleman County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,127 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Coleman County.-Geography:Coleman is located at ....
. He played bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in local bands during high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and he briefly studied theology at Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute...
with the intention of becoming a Baptist preacher. Dunn was "kicked out" of the school because he played in bars. Dunn recorded for the Churchill label between 1983 and 1984, and reached number 59 with "It's Written All Over Your Face" and "She Put the Sad in All His Songs". In 1989, session drummer Jamie Oldaker
Jamie Oldaker
James Oldaker is an American rock music, blues rock and country music drummer and percussionist. He was born September 5, 1951 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is an exponent of the shuffle style....
entered Dunn in a talent contest sponsored by Marlboro, which Dunn won. The grand prize in the competition included a recording session in Nashville. The producer of that session, Scott Hendricks
Scott Hendricks
Scott Hendricks is an American record producer who has worked with several country music artists. He has had over 80 top 10s, and 45 number 1 hits. Between 1995 and 1997, he was also the president and chief executive officer of Capitol Records Nashville...
, recommended Dunn's recordings to Tim DuBois
Tim DuBois
Tim DuBois is a Nashville-based music executive. He attended Oklahoma State University and received a B.A. and M.A. in Accounting. He then entered into the music business and has taken part in multiple aspects of the industry including songwriting, record labels, management, and production...
, then an executive of Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
. DuBois paired Brooks and Dunn because he thought that they would work well together as songwriters, and after the two recorded a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
, he suggested that they form a duo.
1991–1992: Brand New Man
The duo's first single, "Brand New ManBrand New Man (song)
"Brand New Man" is the debut single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It is also the first single off their album, Brand New Man, and their first Number One single on the country charts.-Music video:...
", entered the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts in June 1991 and went to number one. It was the title track to the duo's debut album, Brand New Man
Brand New Man
Brand New Man is the debut album by country duo Brooks & Dunn. The album produced four consecutive Number One singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in "Brand New Man", "Boot Scootin' Boogie", "My Next Broken Heart", and "Neon Moon"; in addition, "Lost and Found" was a #6...
, which was released two months later. Brooks and Dunn wrote this song and several other cuts in collaboration with Don Cook
Don Cook
Don Kirby Cook is an American record producer and songwriter whose work is mainly in the field of country music. Artists who recorded Cook's material include Barbara Mandrell, John Conlee, Mark Collie, Wade Hayes and Brooks & Dunn...
, who also co-produced the album with Hendricks. The next three single releases from Brand New Man ("My Next Broken Heart
My Next Broken Heart
"My Next Broken Heart" is the second single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Also released as the second single from their debut album, Brand New Man, it was their second straight Number One single on the country charts.-Music video:...
", "Neon Moon
Neon Moon
"Neon Moon" is the third single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released as the third single from their debut album, Brand New Man, as well as their third consecutive Number One single on the country charts...
" and "Boot Scootin' Boogie
Boot Scootin' Boogie
"Boot Scootin' Boogie" is the title of a song written and recorded by the American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Before its release, the band Asleep at the Wheel recorded it on their 1990 album Keepin' Me Up Nights...
") all made number one on the country music charts as well, making for the first time in country music history that a duo or group had sent its first four singles to the top of the charts. A fifth single, "Lost and Found
Lost and Found (Brooks & Dunn song)
"Lost and Found" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in September 1992 as the fifth and final single from their debut album, Brand New Man and it peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
", peaked at number six. "Boot Scootin' Boogie", which had previously been the b-side to "My Next Broken Heart", also made number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and its commercial success led to a renewed interest in line dancing throughout the United States. Brand New Man was certified platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA) in August 1992 for shipments of one million copies; by 2002, the album had been certified sextuple-platinum for shipments of six million. The album also spent more than 190 weeks on the Top Country Albums charts. In 1992, the duo won the Duo of the Year Award from the Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
(CMA), which also nominated them for that year's Album of the Year and Horizon awards. Brooks & Dunn won the association's Duo award for every year from then until 2006, except for 2000 when the award went to Montgomery Gentry
Montgomery Gentry
Montgomery Gentry is an American country music duo composed of vocalists Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry. The two began performing in the 1990s as part of a band which also included Eddie Montgomery's brother John Michael Montgomery, and founded the existing duo in 1999.Signed to Columbia Records,...
. After the album's release, Brooks & Dunn began touring as well.
Brand New Man received a positive review from Allmusic, whose critic Daniel Gioffre thought that the album showed the duo's diversity of musical influences. Alanna Nash
Alanna Nash
Alanna Nash is an American journalist and biographer.Nash holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and is the author of several acclaimed books...
of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
was less positive, criticizing the duo's sound for being "imitative".
1992–1994: Hard Workin' Man
Hard Workin' ManHard Workin' Man
Hard Workin' Man was the second album released by country duo Brooks & Dunn. Like its predecessor, this album had a string of top 5 hits . Its singles were "Hard Workin' Man" , "Rock My World " , "She Used To Be Mine" , "We'll Burn That Bridge" , and "That Ain't No Way To Go"...
was the title of Brooks & Dunn's second album. Released in 1993, it was led off by its title track
Hard Workin' Man (song)
"Hard Workin' Man" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn that peaked at number four on the US Country charts in 1993. It was the first single released from their album, also titled Hard Workin' Man. It also won the duo the Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in...
, which peaked at number four on the country music charts. The album included two number-one singles in "She Used to Be Mine
She Used to Be Mine
"She Used To Be Mine" is the title of a song written by Ronnie Dunn and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in August 1993 as the third single from their second studio album, Hard Workin' Man, the song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks ...
" and "That Ain't No Way to Go
That Ain't No Way to Go
"That Ain't No Way To Go" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in March 1994 the fifth and final single released from their album, Hard Workin' Man...
" (respectively the third and fifth releases), as well as "We'll Burn That Bridge
We'll Burn That Bridge
"We'll Burn That Bridge" is the title of a song written by Don Cook and Ronnie Dunn, and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in May 1993 as the second single from their CD, Hard Workin' Man, it peaked at #2 on the country charts.-Content:The song's narrator meets a...
" and "Rock My World (Little Country Girl)
Rock My World (Little Country Girl)
"Rock My World " is the title of a song written by Bill LaBounty and Steve O'Brien, and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in December 1993 as the fourth single from their album, Hard Workin' Man, as well as the second single to feature Kix Brooks on lead vocals...
", the former of which went to number one at Radio & Records
Radio & Records
Radio & Records was a trade publication providing news and airplay information for the radio and music industries. It originally started out as an independent trade from 1973 to 2006 until VNU Media took over in 2006, up until its final issue in 2009.-History:The company was founded in 1973 and...
. In 1993, "Hard Workin' Man" won the duo a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
The Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded from 1970 to 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:*In 1970 the award was known as Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group...
, and the album was nominated for Best Country Album. Hard Workin' Man earned its highest RIAA certification in 2002, when it was certified quintuple platinum. Brian Mansfield
Brian Mansfield
Brian Mansfield is an American writer and journalist. A longtime music writer and critic for USA Today, Mansfield is also the writer/producer of syndicated weekly radio program America's Opry Weekend for American radio network Dial Global Radio Networks and author and co-author of a number of books...
gave a generally-positive review in Allmusic, saying that its up-tempo songs "rocked harder" than any of the songs from the first album.
While "Rock My World" was climbing the charts, Brooks & Dunn charted two additional cuts which were not official singles: "Ride 'em High, Ride 'em Low", which they contributed to the soundtrack
8 Seconds (soundtrack)
-Chart performance:...
of the 1994 film 8 Seconds
8 Seconds
8 Seconds is a 1994 biographical film about American rodeo legend and world bull riding champion Lane Frost. It details his life from his youth learning how to ride bulls, until his death in 1989. It was directed by John G...
, and a cover of "Corrine, Corrina" recorded in collaboration with Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel is a American country music group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, but based in Austin, Texas. Altogether, they have won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception. In their career, they have released more than twenty studio albums, and have charted more than twenty...
for a tribute album to Bob Wills
Bob Wills
James Robert Wills , better known as Bob Wills, was an American Western Swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader, considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western Swing and universally known as the pioneering King of Western Swing.Bob Wills' name will forever be associated with...
. Both of these cuts peaked at number 73. Dunn also contributed a guest vocal to Lee Roy Parnell
Lee Roy Parnell
Lee Roy Parnell is an American country music artist. Active since 1990, he has recorded eight studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
's mid-1994 cover of the Hank Williams song "Take These Chains from My Heart
Take These Chains from My Heart
"Take These Chains from My Heart" is a 1953 single by Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys, written by Fred Rose and Hy Heath. The song was the last of Hank Williams' country number-one hits. The song reached Number One on the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart.Cover versions of...
", which was a single from Parnell's album On the Road
On the Road (Lee Roy Parnell album)
On the Road is the third studio album by American country music singer Lee Roy Parnell. It was released October 26, 1993 via Arista Nashville...
. Dunn did not receive a chart credit for this song.
Waitin' on Sundown
In early September 1994, the duo collaborated with Johnny CashJohnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
on a cover of his song "Folsom Prison Blues
Folsom Prison Blues
"Folsom Prison Blues" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Cash. The song combines elements from two popular folk genres, the train song and the prison song, both of which Cash would continue to use for the rest of his career...
". This cover appeared on the album Red Hot + Country
Red Hot + Country
Red Hot + Country was the follow-up to No Alternative in the Red Hot Series of compilation albums, a series produced to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues...
, a charity album made by the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
to benefit AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
awareness. By the end of the month, the duo released its third studio album, Waitin' on Sundown
Waitin' on Sundown
Waitin' on Sundown is the third album of country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Released in 1994 on Arista Records, it produced the hit singles "She's Not the Cheatin' Kind", "I'll Never Forgive My Heart", "Little Miss Honky Tonk", "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone", and "Whiskey Under the Bridge"...
. It also produced five charting singles, three of which made number one on the country charts: "She's Not the Cheatin' Kind
She's Not the Cheatin' Kind
For the song that uses the line of this article see "She Loves You""She's Not the Cheatin' Kind" is the title of a song written by Ronnie Dunn and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn...
", "Little Miss Honky Tonk
Little Miss Honky Tonk
"Little Miss Honky Tonk" is the title of a song written by Ronnie Dunn and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in February 1995 as the third single from their third studio album, Waitin' on Sundown...
" and "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone
You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone
"You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in June 1995 as the fourth single from their third studio album, Waitin' on Sundown. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles &...
". The other two singles, "I'll Never Forgive My Heart
I'll Never Forgive My Heart
"I'll Never Forgive My Heart" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn that peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
" and "Whiskey Under the Bridge
Whiskey Under the Bridge
"Whiskey Under The Bridge" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Released in September 1995 as the fifth and final single released from their third studio album, Waitin' on Sundown, it peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Critical reception:Larry...
", both made top ten.
Allmusic critic Thom Owens thought that the album's singles were "solid" but that the rest of the songs were "filler". A review of the single "She's Not the Cheatin' Kind" from the same site praised it for its "hard-driving, honky-tonk spirit". Nash praised the honky-tonk sound of "I'll Never Forgive My Heart", but thought that most of the other songs relied on "contrivance". Randy Lewis of the Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
gave a generally-positive review, saying that the "minidrama" of "A Few Good Rides Away" (which Brooks co-wrote) was the strongest track on the album.
Borderline
Brooks & Dunn's fourth album, BorderlineBorderline (Brooks & Dunn album)
Borderline is the fourth studio album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Released in 1996 on Arista Records, the album produced five singles on the Hot Country Songs charts for the duo: the Number One hit "My Maria" Borderline (1996) is the fourth studio album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn....
, was also their first for Arista Nashville
Arista Nashville
Arista Nashville is an American record label that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, operated under the Sony Music Nashville division. Founded in 1989, the label specializes in country music artists, including Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood...
as opposed to the main division of Arista. It was led off by a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of B.W. Stevenson
B.W. Stevenson
B.W. Stevenson , born Louis Charles Stevenson, was an American country pop artist, working in a genre now called progressive country. "B.W." stood for "Buckwheat." Stevenson is most famous for his song "My Maria", co-written with Daniel Moore.He was born in Dallas, Texas and attended W.H...
's 1972 single "My Maria
My Maria
"My Maria" is a song co-written by B. W. Stevenson and Daniel Moore. Stevenson released "My Maria" as a single in August 1973, and the song became a Top 10 hit, peaking at #9 on the US pop chart. It remained in the Top 40 for twelve weeks. In addition, "My Maria" spent one week at #1 on the US...
". Brooks & Dunn's version of the song spent three weeks at number one in mid-1996 and peaked at number 79 on the Billboard Hot 100; it was also that year's top country song according to the Billboard Year-End
Billboard Year-End
Billboard Year-End charts are a cumulative measure of a single or album's performance in the United States, based upon the Billboard magazine charts during any given chart year. Billboard's "chart year" runs from the first week of December to the final week in November...
charts. Dunn said that he was initially reluctant to cover "My Maria" because the duo had not previously recorded any cover songs. The song won Brooks & Dunn its second Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Group or Duo, and the duo won the 1996 Entertainer of the Year award from the Country Music Association. In 1997, the duo toured a double-headliner tour with Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
. Borderline produced another number one in "A Man This Lonely
A Man This Lonely
"A Man This Lonely" is a 1996 song by country duo Brooks & Dunn, found on their album Borderline. It reached #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.-Music video:The video was directed by Michael Oblowitz. The video takes place in the desert in a building....
" and the top ten hits "I Am That Man
I Am That Man
"I Am That Man" is the title of a song written by Terry McBride and Monty Powell, and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in June 1996 the second single released from their fourth studio album, Borderline. The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles...
" and "Why Would I Say Goodbye
Why Would I Say Goodbye
"Why Would I Say Goodbye" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Released as the fifth and final single from their CD, Borderline, it reached a peak of #8 on the US Country chart, and #9 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart...
"; "Mama Don't Get Dressed Up for Nothing
Mama Don't Get Dressed Up for Nothing
"Mama Don't Get Dressed Up For Nothing" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Released as the third single from their CD, Borderline, it received moderate success on the US Country chart, where it peaked at #13, while it was a #8 in Canada...
", the third single, became the duo's first release not to make the top ten.
Michael McCall of Allmusic and Alanna Nash of Entertainment Weekly both thought that the album's material was "cliché", and thought that the "My Maria" was the strongest song on it. A more positive review came from Larry Stephens of Country Standard Time
Country Standard Time
Country Standard Time is a website dedicated to country music and related genres such as Bluegrass and Rockabilly. It provides news and musical reviews pertaining to the genre. It was established in 1992 by Jeffrey B. Remz as a print magazine, which was first published only in New England but went...
, who thought that the album had "the right mix" of songs.
The Greatest Hits Collection and If You See Her
Their first greatest hits compilation was released on September 16, 1997. It comprised most of their singles to that point and three new songs: "Honky Tonk TruthHonky Tonk Truth
"Honky Tonk Truth" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Released as the first single from their CD, The Greatest Hits Collection, it peaked at #3 on the US Country chart.-Music video:...
", "He's Got You
He's Got You
"He's Got You" is the title of a song recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in October 1997 as the second and final single from their album, The Greatest Hits Collection. The song peaked at number 2 on the US Country chart....
" and "Days of Thunder". The first two were released as singles, with respective peaks of three and two on the country charts. The Greatest Hits Collection was certified platinum in April 1998, and double-platinum in 2001.
Brooks & Dunn collaborated with Reba McEntire to perform "If You See Him/If You See Her
If You See Him/If You See Her
"If You See Him/If You See Her" is the title of a song released in 1998 by American country music artist Reba McEntire, along with the duo Brooks & Dunn. It served as the title track to each artist's respective 1998 albums , both released on June 2 of that year...
", which was the lead-off single to Brooks & Dunn's If You See Her
If You See Her
If You See Her is the fifth studio album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn, released in 1998 on Arista Nashville. The album featured five chart singles: "If You See Him/If You See Her" , "How Long Gone" , "Husbands and Wives" , "I Can't Get Over You" , and "South of Santa Fe"...
and McEntire's If You See Him
If You See Him
If You See Him is the twenty-fourth album, released in 1998 by American country music artist Reba McEntire. The lead single was "If You See Him/If You See Her", a duet with Brooks & Dunn, which was concurrently released on Brooks & Dunn's corresponding album If You See Her; the song reached Number...
, both of which were released on the same day. Arista and MCA Nashville, the label to which McEntire was signed, both promoted the single. This cut went to number one, as did the next two singles from If You See Her: "How Long Gone
How Long Gone
"How Long Gone" is the title of a song written by Shawn Camp and John Scott Sherrill, and recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in June 1998 as the second single from their CD, If You See Her...
" and a cover of Roger Miller
Roger Miller
Roger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs...
's "Husbands and Wives
Husbands and Wives (song)
Country music duo Brooks & Dunn covered the song on their 1998 album If You See Her. Featuring lead vocals from Ronnie Dunn, their version was the album's third single, reaching the top of the country singles charts in December 1998. It was also a Top 40 pop hit, peaking at #36 on the Billboard Hot...
", which also became the duo's first top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Dunn recorded the vocals for "Husbands and Wives" in one take. Also included on the album was "Born and Raised in Black and White", the first song of the duo's career in which they alternated on lead vocals. The album's fourth single was "I Can't Get Over You
I Can't Get Over You (Brooks & Dunn song)
"I Can't Get Over You" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was the fourth single from their 1998 album, If You See Her, and it reached a peak of #5 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and #52 on the Billboard Hot 100.-Chart positions:"I Can't Get Over You" debuted at...
", which was a top five country hit. Following it was "South of Santa Fe", which peaked at number 41 on the country charts and thus became the duo's lowest-peaking single there. In 2001, If You See Her reached double-platinum certification in the United States.
Jana Pendragon, in her review for Allmusic, praised Dunn's vocal performances on "Husbands and Wives" and the title track, but thought that most of the other cuts were "formula". Country Standard Time writer Kevin Oliver criticized the album for having "wildly uneven" material, calling the McEntire collaboration a "snoozer" and "South of Santa Fe" "wretched".
Tight Rope
Tight Rope, the duo's sixth album, was also its least commercially successful release. It was led off by a cover of John WaiteJohn Waite
John Charles Waite is an English rock singer and musician. He was lead vocalist for The Babys and Bad English. As a solo artist, he scored several international hits, including 1984's "Missing You", a top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, reaching #1 in the...
's "Missing You
Missing You (John Waite song)
"Missing You" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by British musician John Waite. It was released in June 1984 as the lead single from the album No Brakes...
", which the duo took to number 15 in late 1999. The album's other two singles were "Beer Thirty" at number nineteen and "You'll Always Be Loved By Me
You'll Always Be Loved By Me
"You'll Always Be Loved By Me" is a song recorded by Brooks & Dunn. It is the third and final single released from their 1999 album Tight Rope. It peaked at #5, and is the only single from the album to reach the Top 10. The title of its parent album Tightrope is mentioned in this song.-Chart...
", which peaked at number five in 2000. Dunn co-wrote some songs on this album with Terry McBride
Terry McBride (musician)
Terry McBride is an American country music artist. Between 1989 and 1994, and again from 2000 to 2002, McBride was the lead vocalist and bass guitarist in the band McBride & the Ride, a country music group which recorded six studio albums and charted more than ten singles on the Billboard Hot...
(of McBride & the Ride), and Brooks collaborated with Bob DiPiero
Bob DiPiero
Bob DiPiero is an American country music songwriter. He has written 15. U.S. Number 1 hits and countless top 20 hits for the likes of Tim McGraw, The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Shenandoah, Neal McCoy, Highway 101, Restless Heart, Ricochet, John Anderson, Montgomery...
. Two non-single releases made the charts while "Beer Thirty" was climbing: the album track "Goin' Under Gettin' Over You", which made number 60 based on unsolicited airplay, and a cover of Bob Seger
Bob Seger
Robert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...
's "Against the Wind
Against the Wind (Bob Seger song)
"Against the Wind" is the title of a song by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band from the 1980 album Against the Wind. "Against the Wind" was the highest ranking single from the album, peaking at #5...
", which the duo recorded for the soundtrack
King of the Hill (Soundtrack)
King of the Hill: Original Soundtrack is a soundtrack album to the animated Fox sitcom King of the Hill. It was released in 1999 via Asylum Records. The album includes covers of southern rock songs and original songs, performed by country and rock artists...
to the cartoon King of the Hill
King of the Hill
King of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
. Tight Rope was certified gold for U.S. shipments of 500,000 copies, but did not receive any higher certification.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
gave this album a mixed review, referring to the "Missing You" cover as a "misstep". Jon Weisberger thought that the album was "consistent" but added that it did not have any "surprises".
Steers & Stripes
Their seventh studio album, Steers & StripesSteers & Stripes
Steers & Stripes is the seventh studio album, released in 2001, by country duo Brooks & Dunn on Arista Nashville. The album produced five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, of which the first three were all Number Ones...
, was released on April 17, 2001. For this album, the duo worked with producer Mark Wright, who also produced for Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack is an American country music singer and songwriter, who is best known for her old fashioned-styled country music songs that often discuss subjects such as cheating and lost love....
at the time. Its lead-off single, "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You
Ain't Nothing 'bout You
"Ain't Nothing 'bout You" is a song recorded by country music duo Brooks & Dunn and released as a single on February 12, 2001. It was the first single from their 2001 album Steers & Stripes, and was nominated by the Country Music Association for Single of the Year...
", became their longest-lasting Number One hit, with a six-week stay at that position. This song was the second song of the duo's career to be named the top single of the year according to Billboard Year-End; it was also their highest peak on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time, peaking at number 25 there. The next two singles from Steers & Stripes both made Number One as well: "Only in America
Only in America (song)
"Only in America" is the title of a song recorded by the American country music duo Brooks & Dunn on their 2001 album Steers & Stripes. Kix Brooks, one-half of the duo, co-wrote the song with Don Cook and Ronnie Rogers, although it features Ronnie Dunn on lead vocals...
" and "The Long Goodbye", the latter of which was written by Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
and Paul Brady
Paul Brady
Paul Joseph Brady is an Irish singer-songwriter, whose work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age...
. After it, the duo charted at number five with "My Heart Is Lost to You
My Heart Is Lost to You
"My Heart Is Lost to You" is a song recorded by the country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It is the fourth single released from their 2001 album Steers & Stripes. It peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.-Music video:...
" and number twelve with a cover of Kim Richey
Kim Richey
Kimberly Kay "Kim" Richey is an American singer/songwriter. Though her work fits into the general country music category, her sound is not easily categorized. Her songs have been hits on both the country and pop charts...
's "Every River". All of these other singles also made the pop charts.
This album was generally well-received, with the reviews in Allmusic and Country Standard Time noting that the album was more consistent than the previous ones. Nash was less favorable, referreing to the up-tempos as "retreads" but praising Dunn's voice.
It Won't Be Christmas Without You and Red Dirt Road
Brooks & Dunn released a Christmas album in 2002 titled It Won't Be Christmas Without YouIt Won't Be Christmas Without You
It Won't Be Christmas Without You is a Christmas music album by country group Brooks & Dunn released in 2002. Their first album of Christmas music, it features covers of traditional Christmas songs, as well as several newly written tunes...
. Four of its cuts made the country music charts based on seasonal airplay: the title track, "Hangin' 'round the Mistletoe", "Rockin' Little Christmas" and a rendition of "Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland
"Winter Wonderland" is a winter song, popularly treated as a Christmastime pop standard, written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith . Through the decades it has been recorded by over 150 different artists.-History:...
".
Red Dirt Road
Red Dirt Road
Red Dirt Road is the eighth studio album for country duo Brooks & Dunn, released in 2003 on Arista Nashville. Certified platinum for sales of one million copies in the U.S., the album produced three top ten singles: "Red Dirt Road" , "You Can't Take the Honky-Tonk out of the Girl" and "That's What...
, the duo's eighth studio album, was released in 2003. It was led off by its title track
Red Dirt Road (song)
"Red Dirt Road" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music group Brooks & Dunn. It was released in April 2003 as the first single from the band's album Red Dirt Road. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at number 25 on the...
, which became the duo's eighteenth number one on Billboard. Two more singles were released from it: "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl
You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl
"You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" is a song recorded by Brooks & Dunn. It is the second single released from their 2003 album Red Dirt Road. It reached #3 in early-2004.-Music video:...
", which spent five weeks in the number three position, and "That's What She Gets for Loving Me
That's What She Gets for Loving Me
"That's What She Gets for Loving Me" is a song recorded by Brooks & Dunn. It is the third and final single from their 2003 album Red Dirt Road. It peaked at #6 in the United States.-Chart positions:...
" at number six. On the Hot 100, these songs respectively peaked at 25, 39 and 53.
Erlewine described Red Dirt Road as a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
in his review of it, saying that its title track and other songs offered a "tribute to their roots and upbringing." Nash gave the album an A-minus rating, saying that Brooks & Dunn "dig even deeper" on the album; she also referred to the title track as a "gutsy account of the terrible beauty of coming of age." A less favorable review came from Country Standard Time, whose critic Jeffrey B. Remz called it "satisfactory, but not much more." Both Nash and Remz compared "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" to the sound of The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
.
The Greatest Hits Collection II and Hillbilly Deluxe
Arista released Brooks & Dunn's second Greatest Hits package, The Greatest Hits Collection IIThe Greatest Hits Collection II
The Greatest Hits Collection Volume II is the second compilation album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It is the second collection of the duo's most popular releases, chronicling their greatest hits from 1998's If You See Her to 2003's Red Dirt Road...
, in October 2004. The album included singles from If You See Her, Steers & Stripes and Red Dirt Road, as well as the previously-unreleased "That's What It's All About
That's What It's All About
"That's What It's All About" is a song recorded by country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It is one of three new tracks recorded on this greatest hits collection. It is the first single released from Brooks & Dunn's 2004 compilation The Greatest Hits Collection II. It reached #2 in the United...
" and "It's Getting Better All the Time
It's Getting Better All the Time
"It's Getting Better All the Time" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was the second single from their 2004 album The Greatest Hits Collection II.-Chart positions:...
". Respectively, these cuts peaked at numbers two and one on the country music charts, as well as 38 and 56 on the Hot 100.
In August 2005, the duo released "Play Something Country
Play Something Country
"Play Something Country" is the title of a song recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn, co-written by Ronnie Dunn and Terry McBride. It was released in June 2005 as the first single from the duo's 2005 album Hillbilly Deluxe...
", the first cut from its ninth studio album, Hillbilly Deluxe
Hillbilly Deluxe (Brooks & Dunn album)
Hillbilly Deluxe is the ninth studio album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn, released in 2005 on Arista Nashville. Certified platinum in the United States by the RIAA, the album produced four singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts between 2005 and 2007: the Number One hit "Play...
. According to Dunn, this song was inspired by Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Frances Wilson is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman," a number-one hit on the Billboard country charts. The song served as the lead-off single of her debut album, Here for the Party...
, with whom the duo was touring at the time. A month after the album's release, "Play Something Country" became the duo's twentieth and final number one on Hot Country Songs, and went to number 37 on the pop charts. The album's second single, "Believe
Believe (Brooks & Dunn song)
"Believe" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was the second single from their album Hillbilly Deluxe, and it won the Country Music Association's 2006 awards for Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year.-Content:...
", peaked at number eight and won the duo the next year's Single of the Year and Song of the Year awards from the Country Music Association. After it was "Building Bridges", which featured guest vocals from Vince Gill
Vince Gill
Vincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...
and Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
and peaked at number four. Before the duo released this song, it was released in the mid-1980s by its co-writer Larry Willoughby
Larry Willoughby
Larry Willoughby is an American country music singer-songwriter and the vice president of A&R at Capitol Records.Willoughby's debut album, Building Bridges, was released in 1984 by Atlantic America...
, and later by Nicolette Larson
Nicolette Larson
Nicolette Larson was an American pop singer. She is perhaps best known for her work in the late 1970s with Neil Young, as well as her 1978 cover of Young's "Lotta Love". The song, her debut single, was a Number One Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks hit and #8 pop hit that year...
. The final release from Hillbilly Deluxe was the title track, which peaked at number sixteen on Hot Country Songs.
Erlewine gave this album a positive review, saying that it was not "quite as ambitious" as the previous two albums, but "just as satisfying".
Cowboy Town and #1s… and then some
Their tenth studio album, Cowboy TownCowboy Town
Cowboy Town is the tenth and final studio album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released October 2, 2007 on Arista Nashville. Produced by the duo and Tony Brown, the album has accounted for four singles on the Billboard country singles charts: "Proud of the House We Built", "God Must...
, was released on October 2, 2007. Its lead-off single "Proud of the House We Built
Proud of the House We Built
"Proud of the House We Built" is the title of a song recorded by the American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Released in June 2007, it was the first single from their 2007 album Cowboy Town...
" reached number four on the country charts and 57 on the Hot 100. Following this song were "God Must Be Busy
God Must Be Busy
"God Must Be Busy" is the title of a song written by Clint Daniels and Michael P. Heeney. It was recorded by country music duo Brooks & Dunn on their 2007 album Cowboy Town...
" at number eleven and "Put a Girl in It
Put a Girl in It
"Put a Girl in It" is the title of a song co-written by singer Rhett Akins along with Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip. The song was recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn on their 2007 album Cowboy Town, and was released in May 2008 as that album's third single. It reached number 3 on...
" at number three. After this song, the duo released "Cowgirls Don't Cry
Cowgirls Don't Cry
"Cowgirls Don't Cry" is a song recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn on their 2007 album Cowboy Town, from which it was released as the fourth single. It was written by Ronnie Dunn, one-half of the duo, and Terry McBride, former lead singer of McBride & the Ride. One month after its...
", which they later performed with Reba McEntire at the Country Music Association awards. Following this performance, the song was re-released with McEntire's vocals. In early 2009, the song peaked at number two on the country charts.
The duo released its final compilation, #1s… and Then Some
Number 1s… and Then Some
#1s… and Then Some is the title of a two-disc compilation album released on September 8, 2009 by country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It is the duo's fifth greatest hits package and their last album together...
, on September 8, 2009. The album features 28 past hits songs and two new songs. Both of these new songs, "Indian Summer
Indian Summer (Brooks & Dunn song)
"Indian Summer" is the title of a song by the American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was written by the duo's members, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, along with Bob DiPiero...
" and "Honky Tonk Stomp
Honky Tonk Stomp
"Honky Tonk Stomp" is the title of a song recorded by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was written by duo member Ronnie Dunn along with Terry McBride and Bobby Pinson. It is the 50th overall single for the duo, the second and final single from their greatest hits package #1s… and Then...
" (the latter a collaboration with Billy Gibbons
Billy Gibbons
William Frederick "Billy" Gibbons is an American musician, actor and car customizer, best known as the guitarist of the Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. He is also the lead singer and composer for many of the band's songs. Gibbons is known for playing his Gretsch Billy Bo guitar and his famous 1959...
of ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
), peaked at number sixteen on the country music charts.
2009–2010: Retirement
On August 10, 2009, Brooks & Dunn announced that they would be splitting up. They informed fans by releasing this statement on their website:Dunn contributed a cover of Gary Stewart
Gary Stewart (singer)
Gary Stewart was a country musician and songwriter known for his distinctive vibrato voice and his southern rock influenced, outlaw country sound...
's "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)
She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)
"She's Actin' Single " is athe title of a song written by Wayne Carson and recorded by American country music singer Gary Stewart. It was released in March 1975 as the third and final single from the album, Out of Hand. The song would be Gary Stewart's third top ten hit on the country chart and his...
" to the soundtrack
Country Strong (soundtrack)
-Original Motion Picture Soundtrack:*Byron Gallimore — tracks 1, 7, 12*James Stroud — track 2*Tony Brown — track 3*Frank Liddell and Luke Wooten — track 4*Frank Liddell and Chuck Ainlay — track 5*Ronnie Dunn — track 6*Michael Knox — track 8...
to the 2011 film Country Strong. He released a self-titled
Ronnie Dunn (album)
Ronnie Dunn is the title of the debut album from country music singer Ronnie Dunn. The album was released on June 7, 2011, via Arista Nashville...
solo album through Arista in 2011. The album includes the singles "Bleed Red
Bleed Red
"Bleed Red" is the title of a song written by Tommy Lee James and Andrew Dorff, and recorded by American country music singer Ronnie Dunn. The song is Dunn's first solo release after Brooks & Dunn disbanded in 2010. "Bleed Red" was released to country radio on January 31, 2011. It is intended to be...
" and "Cost of Livin'
Cost of Livin'
"Cost of Livin'" is the title of a song co-written by American country music singer Ronnie Dunn. It was released in June 2011 as the second single from his self-titled album, and his second release following the split of the duo Brooks & Dunn....
", both of which have charted in the top 40.
Other works
On the 3rd of November, 2008, the duo appeared on a panel to discuss entertainment law at the University of Tennessee's College of Law. They duetted in Cledus T. Judd's "Garth Must Be Busy", a parody of Brooks and Dunn's "God Must Be Busy". They also appeared in Cledus' music video.Musical style
Steve Huey of Allmusic contrasts Brooks' and Dunn's voices, saying that Dunn "was the quietly intense singer with the soulful voice, while Kix Brooks played the part of the high-energy showman." He also describes their sound as "a winning formula of rambunctious, rocked-up honky tonk with punchy, danceable beats [alternated with] smooth, pop-tinged ballads."Slim & Howdy
In the liner notesLiner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
to each of their studio albums, Brooks & Dunn wrote short stories about Slim & Howdy, fictionalized cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
versions of themselves. The duo worked with Bill Fitzhugh in late 2008 and wrote a book titled The Adventures of Slim and Howdy
The Adventures of Slim and Howdy
The Adventures of Slim and Howdy is a 2008 novel by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn and novelist Bill Fitzhugh. The novel features Brooks and Dunn's alter-egos Slim and Howdy as they travel cross-country in pursuit of a musical career.-Plot:Based on characters created by Kix Brooks , The Adventures...
.
On the road
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
and Rodney Atkins
Rodney Atkins
Rodney Allan Atkins is an American country music artist. Signed to Curb Records in 1996, he charted his first single on the Billboard country chart that year, but did not release an album until 2003's Honesty, which included the number 4 hit "Honesty ".If You're Going Through Hell, his second...
for a tour entitled Cowboy Town. This concert has been shown on GAC
Great American Country
Great American Country , is a Nashville, Tennessee-based country music cable television network.-History:The station launched December 31, 1995 and Garth Brooks' video "The Thunder Rolls" was the first video to air on GAC....
as well. Other recent tours have featured Australian country singer Keith Urban
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Urban was born in New Zealand and began his career in Australia at an early age...
, fellow duo Montgomery Gentry
Montgomery Gentry
Montgomery Gentry is an American country music duo composed of vocalists Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry. The two began performing in the 1990s as part of a band which also included Eddie Montgomery's brother John Michael Montgomery, and founded the existing duo in 1999.Signed to Columbia Records,...
, and Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Frances Wilson is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman," a number-one hit on the Billboard country charts. The song served as the lead-off single of her debut album, Here for the Party...
. Their Deuces Wild tour of 2005 featured fellow country duo Big and Rich. In 2006, the duo opened for the Rolling Stones at their Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
show. Also in 2006, they toured with country artist Sara Evans
Sara Evans
Sara Lynn Evans is an American country singer and songwriter.Evans was one of the few traditional-styled singers to emerge from Nashville in the late 1990s, according to Allmusic. Since emerging in the late 1990s, Evans has made five No. 1 Country hits and Gold and Platinum-certified albums by...
and embarked on their The Long Haul Tour, which featured artists Jack Ingram
Jack Ingram
Jack Owen Ingram is an American Texas Country artist signed to Big Machine Records, an independent record label. He has released eight studio albums, one extended play, six live albums and eighteen singles. Although active since 1992, Ingram did not reach the U.S. country Top 40 until the late...
and Sugarland
Sugarland (band)
Sugarland, an American country music duo, is composed of singer–songwriters Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush . Sugarland was founded in 2002 by Kristen Hall with Bush and ultimately became a trio after hiring Jennifer Nettles as lead singer...
.
The duo's songs have been used by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
as his official campaign songs in both his 2000 election and 2004 re-election campaigns. In 2000 then Texas Governor Bush chose the blue-collar line-dance-friending hit of the mid-1990s, "Hard Workin' Man
Hard Workin' Man (song)
"Hard Workin' Man" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn that peaked at number four on the US Country charts in 1993. It was the first single released from their album, also titled Hard Workin' Man. It also won the duo the Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in...
," and in 2004 the President selected the patriotic hit, "Only in America
Only in America (song)
"Only in America" is the title of a song recorded by the American country music duo Brooks & Dunn on their 2001 album Steers & Stripes. Kix Brooks, one-half of the duo, co-wrote the song with Don Cook and Ronnie Rogers, although it features Ronnie Dunn on lead vocals...
." Brooks & Dunn both supported the President's re-election campaign, performing at a Republican rally featuring Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
on the eve of the election. John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
also had it played at the 2004 Democratic National Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention
The 2004 Democratic National Convention convened from July 26 to July 29, 2004 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts, and nominated John Kerry and John Edwards as the official candidates of the Democratic Party for President and Vice President of the United States, respectively, in the 2004...
. The song also played when Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
announced Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
as his vice president in Springfield, Illinois in 2008. "Only in America" was played after President Barack Obama gave his nomination acceptance speech in 2008.
They performed a concert tour in Australia in February and March 2008.
Albums
- 1991: Brand New ManBrand New ManBrand New Man is the debut album by country duo Brooks & Dunn. The album produced four consecutive Number One singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in "Brand New Man", "Boot Scootin' Boogie", "My Next Broken Heart", and "Neon Moon"; in addition, "Lost and Found" was a #6...
- 1993: Hard Workin' ManHard Workin' ManHard Workin' Man was the second album released by country duo Brooks & Dunn. Like its predecessor, this album had a string of top 5 hits . Its singles were "Hard Workin' Man" , "Rock My World " , "She Used To Be Mine" , "We'll Burn That Bridge" , and "That Ain't No Way To Go"...
- 1994: Waitin' on SundownWaitin' on SundownWaitin' on Sundown is the third album of country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Released in 1994 on Arista Records, it produced the hit singles "She's Not the Cheatin' Kind", "I'll Never Forgive My Heart", "Little Miss Honky Tonk", "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone", and "Whiskey Under the Bridge"...
- 1996: BorderlineBorderline (Brooks & Dunn album)Borderline is the fourth studio album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Released in 1996 on Arista Records, the album produced five singles on the Hot Country Songs charts for the duo: the Number One hit "My Maria" Borderline (1996) is the fourth studio album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn....
- 1997: The Greatest Hits CollectionThe Greatest Hits Collection (Brooks & Dunn album)The Greatest Hits Collection is the first greatest hits compilation by the American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released in 1997 on Arista Nashville, and it chronicles the greatest hits from their first four studio albums: 1991's Brand New Man, 1992's Hard Workin' Man, 1994's Waitin'...
- 1998: If You See HerIf You See HerIf You See Her is the fifth studio album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn, released in 1998 on Arista Nashville. The album featured five chart singles: "If You See Him/If You See Her" , "How Long Gone" , "Husbands and Wives" , "I Can't Get Over You" , and "South of Santa Fe"...
- 1999: Tight Rope
- 1999: Super HitsSuper Hits (Brooks & Dunn album)-Critical reception:Super Hits received three out of five stars from Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic. Erlewine concludes that the album is "entertaining," although most fans would be "better-served by the definitive Greatest Hits."-Chart performance:...
- 2001: Steers & StripesSteers & StripesSteers & Stripes is the seventh studio album, released in 2001, by country duo Brooks & Dunn on Arista Nashville. The album produced five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, of which the first three were all Number Ones...
- 2002: It Won't Be Christmas Without YouIt Won't Be Christmas Without YouIt Won't Be Christmas Without You is a Christmas music album by country group Brooks & Dunn released in 2002. Their first album of Christmas music, it features covers of traditional Christmas songs, as well as several newly written tunes...
- 2003: Red Dirt RoadRed Dirt RoadRed Dirt Road is the eighth studio album for country duo Brooks & Dunn, released in 2003 on Arista Nashville. Certified platinum for sales of one million copies in the U.S., the album produced three top ten singles: "Red Dirt Road" , "You Can't Take the Honky-Tonk out of the Girl" and "That's What...
- 2004: The Greatest Hits Collection IIThe Greatest Hits Collection IIThe Greatest Hits Collection Volume II is the second compilation album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It is the second collection of the duo's most popular releases, chronicling their greatest hits from 1998's If You See Her to 2003's Red Dirt Road...
- 2005: Hillbilly DeluxeHillbilly Deluxe (Brooks & Dunn album)Hillbilly Deluxe is the ninth studio album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn, released in 2005 on Arista Nashville. Certified platinum in the United States by the RIAA, the album produced four singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts between 2005 and 2007: the Number One hit "Play...
- 2007: Cowboy TownCowboy TownCowboy Town is the tenth and final studio album by country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It was released October 2, 2007 on Arista Nashville. Produced by the duo and Tony Brown, the album has accounted for four singles on the Billboard country singles charts: "Proud of the House We Built", "God Must...
- 2008: Playlist: The Very Best of Brooks & DunnPlaylist: The Very Best of Brooks & DunnPlaylist: The Very Best of Brooks & Dunn is a 2008 compilation album by Brooks & Dunn. It is part of a series of similar Playlist albums issued by Sony BMG, the parent company of Brooks & Dunn's label, Arista Nashville. The album features ten of Brooks & Dunn's singles...
- 2009: #1s… and Then SomeNumber 1s… and Then Some#1s… and Then Some is the title of a two-disc compilation album released on September 8, 2009 by country music duo Brooks & Dunn. It is the duo's fifth greatest hits package and their last album together...
Academy of Country Music
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2010 Crystal Milestone Award |
Top Vocal Duo |
| 2008 | Top Vocal Duo |
| 2007 | Top Vocal Duo |
| Vocal Event of the Year ("Building Bridges" with Vince Gill Vince Gill Vincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a... and Sheryl Crow Sheryl Crow Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop... ) |
|
| 2006 | Top Vocal Duo |
| Home Depot Humanitarian Award | |
| 2005 | Top Vocal Duo |
| Song of the Year ("Believe") | |
| 2004 | Top Vocal Duo |
| 2003 | Top Vocal Duo |
| 2002 | Top Vocal Duo |
| 2001 | Entertainer of the Year |
| Video of the Year ("Only in America") | |
| Top Vocal Duo | |
| 2000 | Top Vocal Duo |
| 1997 | Vocal Duo or Group of the Year |
| 1996 | Entertainer of the Year |
| Top Vocal Duo | |
| 1995 | Entertainer of the Year |
| Top Vocal Duo | |
| 1994 | Top Vocal Duo |
| 1993 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 1992 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| Album of the Year (Brand New Man) | |
| Single Record of the Year ("Boot Scootin’ Boogie") | |
| 1991 | Award Vocal Duo of the Year |
| Top New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year |
Country Music Association
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Single of the Year ("Believe") |
| Music Video of the Year ("Believe") | |
| Vocal Duo of the Year | |
| 2005 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 2004 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 2003 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 2002 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 2001 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 1999 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 1998 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 1997 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 1996 | Entertainer of the Year |
| Vocal Duo of the Year | |
| 1995 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 1994 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 1993 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 1992 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
American Music Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Favorite Country Band, Duo, or Group |
| 2004 | Favorite Country Band, Duo, or Group |
| 1997 | Favorite Country Band, Duo, or Group |
Grammy Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("My Maria") |
| 1993 | Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Hard Workin’ Man") |
Billboard Music Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Favorite Country Group |
People's Choice Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Favorite Country Group |
CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards/CMT Music Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Group or Duo Video of the Year ("Only in America") |
| 2010 | Duo Video of the Year ("Indian Summer") |
TNN/Music City News Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Vocal Group or Duo of the Year |
| 1998 | Vocal Group or Duo of the Year |
| 1997 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 1996 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 1995 | Vocal Group or Duo of the Year |
| 1994 | Vocal Duo of the Year |
| 1993 | Vocal Duo of the Year |