After nearly 20 years of record-breaking country music, the top-selling duo of country music, Brooks & Dunn, will disband, according to a report on the act's Web site.
Composed of Texan Ronnie Dunn and Louisiana native Kix Brooks, the pair has achieved new highs within country music, winning every award imaginable, including an International Artist Achievement honor from the CMA while on tour in Australia, as well as platinum record sales of more than 30 million.
Best-Selling Country Duo In Country Music History Creates 40-Plus Hit-Country Songs
Earlier this year, in fact, the act team with county star Reba McEntire to make country history with their chart-topping single, Cowgirls Don't Cry, a number that became the duo's 41st top-10 single and pushed them beyond the chart success of country super-group Alabama. Moreover, in 2008 the country singers were immortalized on the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame when they received its 2,367th star.
Brooks & Dunn made its foray onto the country charts and the playlists of commercial-country radio in 1991 with their first four singles, Brand New Man, My Next Broken Heart, Neon Moon and Boot Scootin' Boogie, all of which climbed to the top of the U.S. Billboard country music charts. The musicians' debut album, Brand New Man, was released that same year and ultimately was certfied platinum six times over by the sales-certifying RIAA organization.
Country Duo Releases String of Hit Albums & Scores Numerous Country Music Awards
Over the course of 10 studio albums and two "greatest hits" packages, Brooks and Dunn have accumulated more than 40 top-10 singles on the country music charts, with 20 of those tunes hitting the No. 1 position on the charts. (They also have a 2002 Christmas album to their credit titled It Won't Be Christmas Without You.)
In the awards area, Brooks & Dunn has landed trophies from the Academy of Country Music, the Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, People's Choice Awards, Country Music Television honors and more, including winning he Country Music Association's Vocal Duo of the Year award every year between 1992 and 2006, except for 2000 when Montgomery Gentry took the honor.
Singers Brooks and Dunn Send Message to Country Fans
Regarding the duo's decision to cease performing as Brooks & Dunn, the aforementioned message to country fans from the players reads as follows:
To Our Fans:
After 20 years of making music and riding this trail together, we have agreed as a duo that it's time call it a day. This ride has been everything and more than we could ever have dreamed.... We owe it all to you, the fans. If you hear rumors, don't believe them, it's just time.
We will release our #1's and then some" on September 8th and bid you farewell one last time in 2010, with The Last Rodeo Tour...(dates to be announced).
Brooks & Dunn
For more information, please access the Official Brooks & Dunn Web site.
Lisa L. Rollins - Texas native Lisa L. Rollins, Ph.D., is an award-winning feature writer, interviewer and journalism educator.
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