At 71 and 73 years old, respectively, it doesn’t get much better than catching legendary country music duo Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn live in concert.
And with more than 50 awards, over 20 No. 1 hits, three decades in the industry, and the badge of honor that comes with being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the two still show absolutely no signs of slowing down. One half of the “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” singers recently sat down with good friend Bobby Bones for his Netflix show The Bobbycast to talk all about what the pair still has in store, including a brand new album (yes, you read that right) as well as reflecting on the busy year of touring they endured.
On top of their own headlining tour, Brooks & Dunn joined country music superstar Morgan Wallen on the road for a second year on the road, which given the duos afformentioned accolades, came as a bit of an eyebrow raiser when first announced. Because truly, in the last three decades, do you recall Brooks & Dunn ever being… the opener?
While there’s no denying Wallen’s own massive success, arguably becoming one of the most well-known names in the genre (and most successful considering he’s the highest certified country artist), nonetheless, the ’90s legends joining the Sneedville native on the road is a pretty big badge of honor. If you found yourself in the category of people questioning why Brooks & Dunn decided to hop on Wallen’s stadium-scaping tour, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
During the show, even Dunn admitted at first the decision took some convincing. He shared, “We had to think about it. We had to think about what just all the implications and perceptions. You know stuff that would happen.”
He went on to discuss how the experience was a tad bit ego-stripping from the start, considering all the years they’ve spent as the main act: “At first, it was uncomfortable, because you walk up there and go, ‘Man, I’m the opening act in a scenario where we’re used to headlining.’ Once they got over the hump, though, he admitted it opened their career to a whole new generation.
“What it proved was he brings such a younger [crowd], it doesn’t look younger to me, it looks like all the people we’ve always played for. But We’ll stop at our shows right now, and Kix will go, ‘How many of ya is this the first time you’re seeing a Brooks & Dunn show?’ 80% of the audience goes off. Like, what? That’s what doing the Morgan shows is all about.“
And to Morgan’s benefit, apparently bringing out his “Neon Moon” collaborators helped him prove something about himself to those who may question his genre-blending sound: “He tells me. He goes, ‘The reason why I have you guys up there is because of the people who say that I’m not country enough.’ It really works. It has worked well for the both of us.”
Wallen’s 2025 and 2026 tours also featured a stacked lineup of fan-favorite artists, including Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Hudson Westbrook, Thomas Rhett, Flatland Cavalry, Jason Scott & The High Heat, and more. And I’d say that impressive roster of country talent only helped him prove his point about staying true to his country roots, while also making his tour one of the most sought-after tickets of the year.
And kudos to Wallen for the bold invitation to the duo because if there’s one thing we can all agree on, regardless of age or musical taste, it’s that you really can’t go wrong with a little Brooks & Dunn. As for Dunn, he ultimately had no regrets about their decision to join Wallen on the road.
As of right now, the cards are still up in the air for both artists, with a release date for Brooks & Dunn’s upcoming album still unannounced. Not to mention, with Wallen heading back to the stage for his 2027 Sand In My Boots Festival, there’s no doubt a few more shows and an album are imminently on their way.
Check out Ronnie Dunn’s full interview, exclusively on Netflix HERE.