
Feature Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Brooks & Dunn came together because of a Nashville publishing company looking for a new duo, but the chemistry between Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn turned a business experiment into one of the most successful partnerships in country music history. Brooks was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, while Dunn was born in Coleman, Texas. Before joining forces, both men spent years pursuing solo careers. Brooks released singles through Capitol Records during the 1980s and worked as a songwriter, while Dunn recorded for independent labels and competed in talent contests throughout Texas. In 1990, songwriter and producer Tim DuBois suggested that the two work together. The partnership clicked immediately, and Arista Nashville signed them to a recording contract. In a country music world where artists like Garth Brooks, Reba, Travis Tritt, and Alabama all dominated the scene, Brooks and Dunn made a significant dent.
Their debut album, Brand New Man, arrived in 1991 and launched an extraordinary run of success. The title track became their first number one country hit, followed by chart toppers including “My Next Broken Heart,” “Neon Moon,” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” The latter helped fuel the line dancing craze that swept across the United States during the early 1990s. The album sold more than six million copies and established Brooks & Dunn as a dominant force in country music. Their mix of honky tonk, contemporary country, and energetic live performances connected with both traditional country fans and younger listeners discovering the genre.
The success continued throughout the decade with albums including Hard Workin’ Man, Waitin’ on Sundown, Borderline, If You See Her, and Tight Rope. Hit singles seemed to arrive one after another. Songs such as “Hard Workin’ Man,” “She Used to Be Mine,” “She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind,” “Little Miss Honky Tonk,” “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone,” “My Maria,” “A Man This Lonely,” “How Long Gone,” and “Husbands and Wives” became staples of country radio. Their ability to balance Ronnie Dunn’s powerful lead vocals with Kix Brooks’ energetic personality helped create a partnership that stood apart from other country acts of the era.
By the time the 2000s arrived, Brooks & Dunn had already become one of the most successful duos in the history of country music. Albums such as Steers & Stripes, Red Dirt Road, Hillbilly Deluxe, Cowboy Town, and Cowboy Town produced additional major hits including “Only in America,” “Red Dirt Road,” “That Ain’t No Way to Go,” “Play Something Country,” “Believe,” “Hillbilly Deluxe,” and “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.” The song “Believe” became one of the most acclaimed recordings of their career, earning major industry recognition and showcasing a deeper, more reflective side of their songwriting and performance style.
The duo officially announced a farewell tour in 2009 and released #1s … and Then Some, a compilation featuring many of their biggest hits. At that point, Brooks & Dunn had accumulated an astonishing record of success, including more than 20 number one singles and dozens of Top 10 hits. Their catalog became one of the defining soundtracks of modern country music. After their split, both artists pursued solo projects. Kix Brooks focused on his solo recording career and radio work, while Ronnie Dunn released successful solo albums and continued touring.
Their separation ultimately proved temporary. Brooks & Dunn reunited in 2015 for a series of performances with Reba McEntire in Las Vegas. The renewed partnership reminded fans how powerful the duo remained on stage. In 2019, they released Reboot, a collaborative album that featured contemporary country artists performing Brooks & Dunn songs alongside the duo. A second volume, Reboot II, followed in 2024. The projects introduced their music to a new generation while celebrating the catalog that had made them country music legends.
Brooks & Dunn’s awards history is remarkable. They won the Country Music Association Vocal Duo of the Year award 14 consecutive years between 1992 and 2005. They also earned multiple Academy of Country Music awards, including numerous Vocal Duo of the Year honors. Their commercial success includes more than 30 million records sold, making them the best selling duo in country music history. Their appeal comes from combining traditional country themes with contemporary production, memorable melodies, strong songwriting, and performances that consistently connected with audiences.
Outside of recording and touring, both members pursued individual business and entertainment ventures. Kix Brooks became a radio personality through American Country Countdown, while Ronnie Dunn continued extensive solo recording and songwriting work. Together, they participated in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s educational and promotional efforts and remained active ambassadors for country music through industry events, concerts, and special projects. Their legacy rests not only on their chart success but also on the lasting influence they had on country music during the 1990s and 2000s, a period in which Brooks & Dunn helped define the sound of mainstream country radio.
Complete List Of Brooks & Dunn Songs From A to Z
- A Few Good Rides Away – Waitin’ on Sundown – 1994
- A Man This Lonely – Borderline – 1996
- Again – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- Ain’t Nothing ’bout You – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- Ain’t Nothing ’bout You – Reboot – 2019
- Ain’t Nothing ’bout You – Reboot II – 2023
- All of You – If You See Her – 1998
- All Out of Love – Tight Rope – 1999
- American Dreamer – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Beer Thirty – Tight Rope – 1999
- Believe – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- Believe – Reboot – 2019
- Believe – Reboot II – 2023
- Believer – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- Boot Scootin’ Boogie – Brand New Man – 1991
- Boot Scootin’ Boogie – Reboot – 2019
- Boot Scootin’ Boogie – Reboot II – 2023
- Boot Scootin’ Boogie (Club Mix) – Hard Workin’ Man – 1993
- Born and Raised in Black and White – If You See Her – 1998
- Brand New Man – Brand New Man – 1991
- Brand New Man – Reboot – 2019
- Brand New Man – Reboot II – 2023
- Brand New Whiskey – If You See Her – 1998
- Building Bridges – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- Can’t Stop My Heart – Tight Rope – 1999
- Caroline – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- Chance of a Lifetime – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Cheating on the Blues – Brand New Man – 1991
- Cool Drink of Water – Brand New Man – 1991
- Cowboy, Cowboy – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Cowboy Town – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Cowgirls Don’t Cry – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Damn Right I’m Gonna Miss You – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Deny, Deny, Deny – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- Don’t Look Back Now – Tight Rope – 1999
- Down by the River – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- Drop in the Bucket – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Drop in the Bucket – Reboot II – 2023
- Drunk on Love – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Every River – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- Feels Good Don’t It – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- Go West – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- God Must Be Busy – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Goin’ Under Gettin’ Over You – Tight Rope – 1999
- Good Cowboy – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- Good Day to Be Me – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- Good Girls Go to Heaven – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- Hard Workin’ Man – Hard Workin’ Man – 1993
- Hard Workin’ Man – Reboot – 2019
- Hard Workin’ Man – Reboot II – 2023
- Heartbroke Out of My Mind – Hard Workin’ Man – 1993
- Her West Was Wilder – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- Hillbilly Deluxe – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- Hillbilly Deluxe – Reboot II – 2023
- Holy War (hidden track) – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- How Long Gone – If You See Her – 1998
- How Long Gone – Reboot II – 2023
- Husbands and Wives – If You See Her – 1998
- Hurt Train – Tight Rope – 1999
- I Am That Man – Borderline – 1996
- I Can’t Get Over You – If You See Her – 1998
- I Can’t Put Out This Fire – Hard Workin’ Man – 1993
- I Fall – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- If That’s the Way You Want It – Waitin’ on Sundown – 1994
- If You See Him/If You See Her – If You See Her – 1998
- I’ll Never Forgive My Heart – Waitin’ on Sundown – 1994
- I’ll Never Forgive My Heart – Reboot II – 2023
- I’ll Take Your Heart – If You See Her – 1998
- I Love You More – Tight Rope – 1999
- I May Never Get Over You – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- I’m No Good – Brand New Man – 1991
- Indian Summer – Reboot II – 2023
- It Ain’t Me If It Ain’t You – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- I Used to Know This Song by Heart – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- I’ve Got a Lot to Learn – Brand New Man – 1991
- Johnny Cash Junkie (Buck Owens Freak) – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Just Another Neon Night – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- Little Miss Honky Tonk – Waitin’ on Sundown – 1994
- Lost and Found – Brand New Man – 1991
- Lost and Found – Reboot – 2019
- Lucky Me, Lonely You – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up for Nothing – Borderline – 1996
- Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up for Nothing – Reboot – 2019
- Memory Town – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- Mexican Minutes – Hard Workin’ Man – 1993
- Missing You – Tight Rope – 1999
- More Than a Margarita – Borderline – 1996
- My Baby’s Everything I Love – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- My Heart Is Lost to You – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- My Heart’s Not a Hotel – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- My Kind of Crazy – Waitin’ on Sundown – 1994
- My Love Will Follow You – Borderline – 1996
- My Maria – Borderline – 1996
- My Maria – Reboot – 2019
- My Next Broken Heart – Brand New Man – 1991
- My Next Broken Heart – Reboot – 2019
- Neon Moon – Brand New Man – 1991
- Neon Moon – Reboot – 2019
- Neon Moon – Reboot II – 2023
- One Heartache at a Time – Borderline – 1996
- One More Roll of the Dice – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- Only in America – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- Only in America – Reboot II – 2023
- Our Time Is Coming – Hard Workin’ Man – 1993
- Play Something Country – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- Play Something Country – Reboot II – 2023
- Proud of the House We Built – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Put a Girl in It – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Red Dirt Road – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- Red Dirt Road – Reboot – 2019
- Redneck Rhythm & Blues – Borderline – 1996
- Rock My World (Little Country Girl) – Hard Workin’ Man – 1993
- Rock My World (Little Country Girl) – Reboot II – 2023
- See Jane Dance – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- She Likes to Get Out of Town – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- She Likes to Get Out of Town – Reboot II – 2023
- She Was Born to Run – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- She’s About As Lonely As I’m Going to Let Her Get – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind – Waitin’ on Sundown – 1994
- She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind – Reboot II – 2023
- She’s the Kind of Trouble – Waitin’ on Sundown – 1994
- She Used to Be Mine – Hard Workin’ Man – 1993
- She Used to Be Mine – Reboot II – 2023
- Silver and Gold – Waitin’ on Sundown – 1994
- South of Santa Fe – If You See Her – 1998
- Steady As She Goes – If You See Her – 1998
- Still in Love with You – Brand New Man – 1991
- Sweet Mystery – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- Temptation #9 – Tight Rope – 1999
- Tequila – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Tequila Town – Borderline – 1996
- Texas and Norma Jean – Tight Rope – 1999
- Texas Women (Don’t Stay Lonely Long) – Hard Workin’ Man – 1993
- That Ain’t No Way to Go – Hard Workin’ Man – 1993
- That Ain’t No Way to Go – Reboot II – 2023
- That’s What She Gets for Loving Me – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- The Ballad of Jerry Jeff Walker – Cowboy Town – 2007
- The Last Thing I Do – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- The Long Goodbye – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- The Trouble with Angels – Tight Rope – 1999
- Til My Dyin’ Day – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- Too Far This Time – Tight Rope – 1999
- Unloved – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- Walk Away Slow – Cowboy Town – 2007
- Way Gone – If You See Her – 1998
- We’ll Burn That Bridge – Hard Workin’ Man – 1993
- What It’s Come Down To – If You See Her – 1998
- When Love Dies – If You See Her – 1998
- When She’s Gone, She’s Gone – Steers & Stripes – 2001
- When We Were Kings – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- Whiskey Do My Talkin’ – Hillbilly Deluxe – 2005
- Whiskey Under the Bridge – Waitin’ on Sundown – 1994
- White Line Casanova – Borderline – 1996
- Why Would I Say Goodbye – Borderline – 1996
- You Can’t Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl – Red Dirt Road – 2003
- You’ll Always Be Loved by Me – Tight Rope – 1999
- You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone – Waitin’ on Sundown – 1994
- You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone – Reboot – 2019
- You’re My Angel – If You See Her – 1998
- Your Love Don’t Take a Backseat to Nothing – If You See Her – 1998
Albums
Brand New Man (1991)
Hard Workin’ Man (1993)
Waitin’ on Sundown (1994)
Borderline (1996)
If You See Her (1998)
Tight Rope (1999)
Steers & Stripes (2001)
Red Dirt Road (2003)
Hillbilly Deluxe (2005)
Cowboy Town (2007)
Reboot (2019)
Reboot II (2024)
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