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Introduction
BREAKING UPDATE: For fans of ’90s country, Brooks & Dunn stand as nothing less than royalty. With timeless anthems like “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and “Neon Moon,” they helped define an era. Yet behind their chart-topping success lies a gripping story of ambition, tension, and an extraordinary return to glory.
Long before becoming the most celebrated duo in country music, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn were struggling solo acts in Nashville. Brooks, a Louisiana-born songwriter, was fighting to make his mark, while Dunn, a Texan once expelled from seminary for playing honky-tonk gigs, was chasing his own path. Their fates aligned when industry executive Tim DuBois recognized their potential as a duo. Though hesitant at first, the two immediately struck gold, crafting songs that shot straight to number one.
Their debut album Brand New Man (1991) became a runaway success, selling over 6 million copies. In an unprecedented streak, its first four singles all topped the charts. With the release of “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” they ignited a national line-dance craze, forever reshaping the sound and culture of country music.
For nearly twenty years, Brooks & Dunn reigned supreme, amassing over 30 million album sales and racking up more awards than any other country duo in history. Yet beneath the spotlight, creative disagreements and stylistic clashes began to take their toll. By the late ’90s, they were recording separately, and the growing divide eventually led to the shocking announcement of their split in 2009, followed by the Last Rodeo farewell tour in 2010.
Both pursued solo ventures afterward, but neither reached the same heights on their own. In 2015, to the delight of fans, the pair reunited for a hit Las Vegas residency that proved their chemistry was undeniable. Since then, they’ve released two Reboot albums, revisiting classics with contemporary artists, and are once again taking their music on the road.
From reluctant collaborators to record-breaking icons and back again, their story is one of resilience and renewal. Brooks & Dunn aren’t simply a duo — they’re a cornerstone of country music itself.