Introduction
“Honky Tonk Stomp,” released on August 10, 2009, stands as a distinctive entry in Brooks & Dunn’s illustrious career . Written by Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride, and Bobby Pinson, the track emerged as the 50th single from the duo and served as the second and final release from their 2009 compilation #1s… and Then Some .
Musically, the song delivers a rollicking, up‑tempo country‑rock anthem powered by crunchy electric guitars, a stomping rhythm, and Dunn’s gritty vocal delivery about a sizzling night out in honky‑tonk country. Notably, the title was suggested by Ronnie Dunn after Bobby Pinson introduced the song’s initial concept — the name perfectly encapsulating the rowdy party atmosphere.
A major highlight is the collaboration with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, whose signature Texas‑blues guitar licks and vocal cameo inject a raw rock edge into the performance . Gibbons’s participation not only broadened the song’s sonic palette but also underscored the duo’s willingness to push their honky‑tonk roots toward rock‑tinged territory—earning it praise as one of Brooks & Dunn’s hardest‑rocking tracks .
Upon release, “Honky Tonk Stomp” made a modest debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at #97, later climbing to #16 on the Hot Country Songs chart in late October 2009 . Its music video, directed by Thien Phan and partially filmed at Amarillo, Texas’s iconic Cadillac Ranch, features Gibbons alongside the duo—and was voted among GAC’s Top 50 videos of the year .
As one of two new singles on their final pre-hiatus album, “Honky Tonk Stomp” not only celebrated Brooks & Dunn’s rock‑infused honky‑tonk roots but also served as a bold closing chapter before their 2010 “Last Rodeo” tour and subsequent five‑year hiatus .