Introduction
Introduction: “Brand New Man” – Brooks & Dunn (1991) meets Luke Combs (2019)
“Brand New Man” was the debut single and title track from Brooks & Dunn’s first album, released in 1991. Written by duo members Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn with Don Cook, the song went straight to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in June 1991, marking one of the rare occasions a debut single debuted at the top of the charts. It led a string of four consecutive No. 1 country hits for the duo, including “My Next Broken Heart,” “Neon Moon,” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” .
Produced by Don Cook and Scott Hendricks, the track showcased honky‑tonk flair, a punchy chorus, and lyrics about personal transformation through love. Its biblical imagery—“I saw the light… I’ve been baptized… I’m a brand new man”—became emblematic of the duo’s energetic yet emotionally resonant songwriting style.
Nearly three decades later, in April 2019, Brooks & Dunn revisited the song as a duet with contemporary star Luke Combs for their album Reboot. This project paired the duo with younger country artists to reimagine classic hits. The version with Luke Combs retains much of the original’s arrangement while lending Combs’s trademark soulful grit to the chorus and harmony vocals .
Released as the lead track on Reboot, this collaboration again made chart impact, reaching No. 30 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and No. 42 on Country Airplay. It also earned Brooks & Dunn a 2019 CMA nomination for Musical Event of the Year . Their chemistry came alive onstage too — notably during a dramatized appearance on CMT’s Crossroads in June 2019, where Combs joined the duo for a heartfelt live rendition .
This version honors the song’s legacy while bridging generations: it’s a respectful revival that underscores Brooks & Dunn’s lasting influence and Luke Combs’ reverence for the country mainstream that came before him.
Video
Lyrics
[Chorus]
I saw the light I’ve been baptized
By the fire in your touch and the flame in your eyes
I’m born to love again
I’m a brand new man
[Verse 1]
Well, the whole town’s talkin’, ’bout the line I’m walkin’
That leads right to your door
Oh, how I used to roam
I was a rolling stone
[Verse 2]
I used to have a wild side, they say a country-mile-wide
I’d burn those beer joints down
That’s all changed now
You turned my life around
[Chorus]
Oh, I saw the light I’ve been baptized
By the fire in your touch and the flame in your eyes
I’m born to love again
I’m a brand new man
[Verse 3]
I used to love ’em and leave ’em, oh, I’d brag about my freedom
How no one could tie me down
Then I met you
Now my heart beats true
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[Verse 4]
Baby you and me together, feels more like forever
Than anything I’ve ever known
We’re right on track
I ain’t looking back
[Chorus]
Yeah, I saw the light I’ve been baptized
By the fire in your touch and the flame in your eyes
I’m born to love again
I’m a brand new man
[Interlude]
[Chorus]
Oh, I saw the light I’ve been baptized
By the fire in your touch and the flame in your eyes
I’m born to love again
I’m a brand new man
[Chorus]
Yeah, I saw the light I’ve been baptized
By the fire in your touch and the flame in your eyes
I’m born to love again
I’m a brand new man
[Outro]
Yeah, I’m born to love again
I’m a brand new man