Introduction
After three decades of dominating the charts and becoming country music legends, Brooks & Dunn have shocked fans with a confession they’ve kept hidden for nearly 30 years — something they now say “should’ve been told sooner, but we didn’t have the courage.”
In a short video posted on Ronnie Dunn’s personal page — less than five minutes long — the duo sits in front of the camera, no stage lights, no glamor, just a small corner of the same old studio where they recorded “Neon Moon” back in 1992.
“We lied,” Kix Brooks begins. “Not out of malice, but because we didn’t know how to face it.”
And then, the admission: Some of their biggest, most award-winning songs — beloved by millions — were not entirely written by them. A few of those hits were actually penned by an “uncredited friend,” a wandering songwriter who lived with them during their early, unknown years.
“We always meant to give him credit… But everything just took off too fast,” Ronnie says, his eyes glassy. “‘Red Dirt Road’ — he wrote the first line.”
The man’s name remains unknown to the public, only that he passed away a few years ago. Brooks & Dunn say they’re now trying to track down his family to return full songwriting credit and all royalties from the songs he helped create.
The internet exploded: some angry, some heartbroken, but most deeply moved. “What makes them legends isn’t perfection, but the courage to be honest,” one longtime fan commented.
It’s unclear what this revelation will lead to — a documentary? A tribute tour? — but one thing is certain: Brooks & Dunn just added one of the most honest and powerful chapters to their legacy.