Introduction
At 71, Ronnie Dunn is finally sharing the truth about what really went on with Brooks & Dunn, giving fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at the highs and lows of one of country music’s most iconic duos.
In a frank interview marking his milestone birthday, Dunn explained that the duo’s 2010 “split” wasn’t the dramatic fallout many assumed but simply a necessary break after nearly twenty years of nonstop touring and recording. “We were exhausted,” he admitted, noting that since the early ’90s they had been on the road almost continuously, filling arenas, releasing hit after hit, and always feeling the pressure to raise the bar. Dunn emphasized that he and Kix Brooks stayed close during the break, keeping in touch by phone and supporting each other’s solo work.
Their 2015 decision to reunite for a Las Vegas residency with Reba McEntire, he said, came from a place of renewed energy and mutual respect. Dunn also reflected on the personal cost of constant touring, saying he’s now learned to balance his health and family life better. “I had to learn to slow down and take care of my voice and body if I wanted to keep going,” he said, referencing the recent health scares that worried fans during live shows. He stressed that Brooks & Dunn’s lasting success is rooted not just in sales but in friendship, trust, and their ability to grow together as artists. Dunn even joked that disagreements between him and Kix usually blew over in about ten minutes. Looking back, he expressed pride that the duo helped bring country music to a wider audience and inspired a new generation of performers. Looking forward, Dunn says there’s still more music to create and more stages to play—but this time on their own terms. Fans have embraced his openness, flooding social media with messages of thanks for finally telling the story behind the music that shaped their lives.