Brooks & Dunn DONE: Duo To Split After 20 Years

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Brooks & Dunn are done.

Best-selling country duo Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn posted a message on their Web site Monday saying they agreed to "call it a day" after 20 years of making music together.

"This ride has been everything and more than we could ever have dreamed ... We owe it all to you, the fans," they said in the message. "If you hear rumors, don't believe them, it's just time."

Brooks & Dunn will release a greatest-hits album on Sept. 8 and tour one last time in 2010.

The duo's many hits include "Boot Scootin' Boogie," "My Maria," "Red Dirt Road" and "Cowgirls Don't Cry" with Reba McEntire.

The men's label, Arista Nashville, said the group has sold more than 30 million albums.

Brooks, 54, and Dunn, 56, were struggling solo artists when Arista's Tim DuBois urged them to join forces in 1990. Together they've scored 23 No. 1 hits.

They've recorded 10 studio albums, the latest 2007's "Cowboy Town."

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"They've been to the mountaintop and they've accomplished everything that two human beings joined together musically can do in a career," said Brian Philips, president of Country Music Television. "They've had every kind of hit. Literally, they've explored every musical texture and tempo and style and flavor."

CMT is scheduled to tape Brooks & Dunn performing and discussing their music Wednesday for an episode of the show "Invitation Only" to air in October.

Philips called the announcement of the split a complete surprise. He said he has no idea what they might do in the future, but he's certain it will involve music.

"The guys that I know, I can't imagine either of those two individuals walking away from music. That's unthinkable," Philip said.

The pair steeped itself in the mythical West (the duo's emblem is a sun-bleached steer's skull) and rode the charts with a driving honky-tonk sound. Brooks & Dunn took a turn with 2003's "Red Dirt Road" and often pay homage to their classic rock influences, including playing shows with the Rolling Stones and ZZ Top.

Brooks & Dunn won the Country Music Association's vocal duo of the year award every year between 1992 and 2006, except for 2000.

The CMA named the duo entertainer of the year in 1996.

Other country groups have called it quits only to reunite. The mother-daughter duo The Judds split in 1991 but regrouped to tour and record years later.

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On the Net:

http://www.brooks-dunn.com/site.php

Comments

[4evright]

Im not a fan of country "pop", but they were part of the best of that genre. I like it old school, but I got to give credit where credit is due. You can't argue with 30 million sold.

[bflaska]

Since they were early supporters of George W Bush and played at a number of his rallies in his first presidential bid, and so were rewarded by playing at his first inaugural, if only because of those two things, I say good riddance.

[mediamarv]

*yawn*

(with a Southern accent)

[GoDogGo]

How will country survive the loss of frosted highlights and hair product?

[Jeff Cunningham]

Eh, about five or six years too late, you ask me. They grew stale a while ago ... *wonders what happened to good, honest, actual country music*

[audadvnc]

Uh, Brook who?

[negirl]

No offense

[negirl]

Hall and Oates? How old are you people?

[jaf]

Oh so the guy who shot a caged bear cub and called it hunting is going solo. How manly!

[beardog1]

I believe that was Gentry of Montgomery Gentry

[4evright]

Cmon...there's plenty of country music bashing here, but know what you are writing before you write it.

[hip dibler]

it's a sad, sad day for about 8 people.

[BlackJAC]

Now watch their sales go up, which will "convince" them to "come out of retirement."

[Dbos]

Which one is Brooks and which is done

[plzchuteme]

Though I consider some country music in my eclectic playlist, I wouldn't consider myself a fan. Good music is good music, no matter where it comes from. Brooks and Dunn never appealed to my taste so they have remained mostly off my radar, but it appears that they are the "Hall and Oates" of country music with Ronnie Dunn doing the heavy lifting in performance.

[lgreene]

This smacks of the perpetual "Farewell Tour" the Judds did a while back.

[UncleJimbo]

I thought they were an Alabama Law Firm!

[spiderbucket]

Good riddance. They suck and they give Country Music a bad name.