Introduction
Released on June 6, 2005, “Play Something Country” emerged as the lead single from Brooks & Dunn’s ninth studio album, Hillbilly Deluxe . Co-written by Ronnie Dunn (of Brooks & Dunn) and Terry McBride—who also played bass in their road band—the song was recorded under the guidance of producers Kix Brooks, Tony Brown, and Ronnie Dunn .
The creative spark for the song ignited after a show in Minnesota during Brooks & Dunn’s Deuces Wild tour. Inspired by rising country star Gretchen Wilson’s bold, barroom energy, Dunn shared his idea with McBride aboard their tour bus: a fiery woman bursts through the honky-tonk doors, demanding: “Play something country!” . Terry McBride recalled that the duo envisioned a “ballsy chick” with swagger, hand on hip, setting the stage for a raucous, electric-guitar and horn-driven anthem .
Musically, the high-energy track features pulsating electric riffs and a punchy horn section that capture the honky‑tonk atmosphere . Its lyrics are narrated from the perspective of a bartender or honky‑tonk band leader who encounters this no-nonsense woman calling out her musical preference—and igniting a rowdy, dance-floor celebration. The music video, directed by Michael Salomon and released mid‑2005, reinforces the imagery: Brooks & Dunn perform inside a lively bar where the central female character commandeers the scene—lasso and dance moves included .
“Play Something Country” marked a milestone—it became Brooks & Dunn’s twentieth and final No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking in September 2005, and also crossed over to reach No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 .
Nearly two decades later, the song lives on: in September 2024, Brooks & Dunn re-recorded it with modern star Lainey Wilson for their collaborative Reboot II album. Wilson’s fiery vocals and a ZZ Top–style swagger breathe contemporary energy into the classic track .
From its tour‑bus inception to its reign atop the charts—and even a vibrant reimagining in 2024—“Play Something Country” remains a defining moment in Brooks & Dunn’s legacy: a foot-stomping celebration of pure country spirit and enduring performance charisma.
Video
Lyrics:
Crank up the band, play the steel guitar
Hank it up a little, let’s rock this bar
Threw back a shot; yelled: “I’m a George Strait junkie
“Ha-ooh-hoo, play something country
“Ha-ooh-hoo, aw, play something country.”