Brooks & Dunn Shocks The World By Winning 2024 CMA Duo of the Year
To put it plainly, someone screwed up. The CMA Awards are not here to honor the past legends of the genre with current awards. They’re here to affirm the agendas of Music Row’s major labels, and push whatever manufactured hot commodity some producer has concocted by giving then an award they probably don’t deserve.
But despite the odds, Brooks & Dunn is the CMA Vocal Duo of the Year for 2024. And though it’s partly due to an incredibly weak field—and probably a concerted push by a label due to the duo’s recent Reboot II release—it’s also good to see that older country acts can still pull of the improbable, and the deserved.
The numbers behind this win are quite astounding. This is the first time the duo has won the CMA Duo of the Year in 17 years, and it’s also 32 years removed from when they won the award for the first time.
Brooks & Dunn are no strangers to winning the CMA Duo of the Year. They won the award every year between 1992 and 2006, except for 2000 when Montgomery Gentry nabbed it. That’s 14 Duo of the Year awards alone. This year makes it 15. The win, along with others over the years, made them the most awarded artist in CMA history, only to be tied later in the night by Chris Stapleton.
But unlike country group Old Dominion who won their ridiculous 7th CMA Group of the Year trophy Wednesday night (11-20), those 15 Duo of the Year awards for Brooks & Dunn were deserved. Don’t mistake it, in their day, the duo received criticism for being a little too pop and a little too pretty, just like some of their contemporaries in the greater “Class of ’89” such as Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, and Travis Tritt.
But time has revealed the music of Brooks & Dunn to be eternally relevant, and strongly country. Their performance of the 2006 classic “Believe” on the 2024 CMA Awards literally brought the audience to tears. Ronnie Dunn might be 71, but he still is one of the most powerful and emotive singers in all of country music, in part because he comes from an era when you had to be a good singer to make it.
“It’s shocking,” Ronnie Dunn said backstage afterwards. “I don’t even know how to put it into words honestly.”
“Unexpected,” Kix Brooks added. “Most people will say that. If we said that 20 years ago, you could say BS. But for us to expect this in ’24? Probably not.”
The win feels reminiscent of George Strait’s Entertainer of the Year win in 2013 in the midst of Strait’s farewell tour. It was out-of-the-blue as well, but deserved. It was also seen as a going away gift. But for Brooks & Dunn, this might be the start of a 3rd run.
There were few bright spots at the 2024 CMA Awards (read the SCM LIVE Blog for full details). But the idea that a 35-year-old duo could win Duo of the Year gives hope that other legends could win in the future, especially since both the Duo and Group categories continue to remain such open fields.
November 20, 2024 @ 10:53 pm
They should win it every year if that’s the competition they are going against
November 20, 2024 @ 11:38 pm
I remember when Brooks & Dunn first hit the air in 1991 with “Brand New Man.” One of the things I loved about the song–witten by the duo and their producer Don Cook– was how it slyly evoked classics from country’s past. The first thing you hear–without even an instrumental introduction–is Ronnie Dunn singing “I saw the light” (homage to Hank), followed by “the line I’m walking” (Cash). “a Rolling Stone,” (OK, classic rock) and “Wild side” (Hank Thompson and Kitty Wells). The homage was there for listeners who were familiar the old music but was suble enough that most listeners probably weren’t even aware of it.
November 21, 2024 @ 9:18 am
This is a really well made point. We’ve become conditioned to assume any reference or homage to the past is just gonna be shallow nostalgia bait, but it *can* work and is fantastic and bridges gaps when it’s done correctly.
November 24, 2024 @ 9:33 am
That first album was all killer , no filler. The quality was stellar all around. Nothing comes close now. Same goes for a lot of artists in the same era. I was playing clubs and the set list was fantastic. There was also a wide variety of country music.
November 21, 2024 @ 12:56 am
It was kinda shocking when King George won EOTY in 2013 and when Garth won it back in 2017.
But the difference there was that George & Garth were still releasing new music, albums, & radio singles. Heck, they are both still actively releasing stuff today.
As for Brooks n Dunn, they haven’t released anything new since 2007? No new albums, songs or singles to radio. So this is extra shocking. (And no, I don’t consider the REBOOT as something new)
November 21, 2024 @ 4:50 am
Ronnie Dunn is the best male singer ever – truthfully, I believe that. Hope he releases another solo album soon. Or maybe there will be an all new Brooks and Dunn album.
November 21, 2024 @ 4:59 am
They have 18,000 arena seats to fill for a late spring local show, so winning this will help market that and their other 2025 tour dates, not that I wouldn’t be considering not going if they had not won last night.
And apparently, in the last week they’ve added Molly Tuttle as an opener to the already listed David Lee Murphy opening set.
November 21, 2024 @ 5:05 am
In regard to your live blog, I went to the Luke combs/eric church concert to raise money for North Carolina after the hurricane. And it was the first time I ever heard Bailey Zimmerman and everyone I was with was shocked by how terrible he was. Knew nothing about him going in and he only performed like one or two songs but he was by far the worst performer of the night. Hope he goes away soon.
November 21, 2024 @ 8:22 am
Bailey Zimmerman has been around for a while. Not that I’ve been paying close attention to him, but he was never that bad. He was clearly trying to have a Luke Bryan “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” moment. I don’t think it will work.
November 24, 2024 @ 7:49 am
I too have avoided paying attention to him, but I do find it sort of comical how he/his management have been poking around trying to find a path for him.
IIRC, he first popped up on Apple Music for me trying to appeal to the Zach Bryan crowd. He must not have gained much traction with that attempt and is now trying to play to the Morgan Wallen crowd?
November 21, 2024 @ 5:48 am
Wow. Just wow. Maybe the CMA wants these two to put out new music as much as some of us on this side do. I haven’t yet, but I’m going to listen to their new album even though it comes with warnings regarding whether it’s really country or not – because to hear their harmonies are timeless.
November 21, 2024 @ 7:30 am
…in all fairness, dan + shay should have gotten that award for “bigger houses” – one of the best singles and songs on the radio this year – and they came out with a christmas album on top of everything.
November 21, 2024 @ 8:55 am
That song is tripe.
November 21, 2024 @ 7:35 pm
Plus let us not forget all the charitable work done by Dan. He does a ton for local communities, schools, dog shelters, etc..
November 21, 2024 @ 8:48 am
Kix notwithstanding, Dunn has a voice for the ages. Shame he couldn’t have received male artist in the past since he is in a duo.
November 21, 2024 @ 9:14 am
Fine by me. Timeless artistry, great songs and awesome live. Always original and real stylists.
They’re part of the time when Country got back on track in one of its greatest periods 1989- 2002.
A really memorable moment was in 2002; Brooks and Dunn performing with Shiela E.on the 2002 CMAs. And they really laid it down on their remake of “My Maria”.
Some things just don’t go out of style.
November 21, 2024 @ 9:31 am
They’re no duo, are they? It’s 80% Ronnie Dunn and 20% Kix Brooks.
Certainly no Louvin Bros., who should’ve won the awards eternally
November 21, 2024 @ 11:12 am
I enjoyed the 1990s Brooks and Dunn, but felt they jumped ship with their Steers and Stripes album in the early 2000s. Didn’t enjoy much of their music after awards. I wish they’d come out with a new album of original music instead of rehashing the same greatest hits. Traditional country is supposedly cool again, and would be a perfect time for them to take advantage with an album reminiscent of their earlier work.
November 21, 2024 @ 12:35 pm
Oh man, my Brooks & Dunn fandom ran rapid on that three album run Steers & Stripes, Red Dirt Road, and Hillbilly Deluxe. I think that was one of the best run on excellent albums in country music history.
I loved B&D before those albums, but they were rather inconsistent. For every Brand New Man, and Waitin’ on Sundown, there were duds like Borderline and Tight Rope.
B&D had peeked and was going stale before Steers & Stripes brought a whole new creative energy.
November 21, 2024 @ 6:39 pm
I need to go and listen to the entire albums mentioned here. I agree with you Ben, I didn’t enjoy the radio hits of much of their 2000’s stuff with the exception of the song Red Dirt Road which is now one of my favorites.
November 21, 2024 @ 12:29 pm
I just heard the post award press conference and Kix credits TikTok for fueling their return and renewed popularity. I remember commenting that the “Neon Moon” trend years ago was going to be HUGE for B&D and someone pooh-poohed my comment. But that’s ok, that person is a believer now.
I’d like a Reboot III with SCM artists. But the ruse is getting trite. So I’d settle for a new album.
November 21, 2024 @ 3:07 pm
Wasnt ever a big fan though a few songs were great. Nice to see them get some more recognition.
November 21, 2024 @ 5:52 pm
Brooks & Dunn are great and all, but they’ve got to throw Maddie & Tae a bone one of these years. I wonder what the record for most times nominated and not won is
November 21, 2024 @ 11:37 pm
Ask The Bellamy Brothers.
November 21, 2024 @ 6:41 pm
I still couldn’t name a song by Old Dominion.
Brooks and Dunn have been making the podcast rounds too and that is helping them to stay relevant. Funny enough I think Theo Von is doing more for country music than Joe Rogan now.
November 22, 2024 @ 6:59 am
I remember “Brand New Man” (and my favourite B&D song “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”) and they’ve been among my absolute favourites since.Glad they won their 15th CMA Duo Of The Year 18 years after their most recent award (they won 14 of the 15 Duo Of The Year Awards from 1992 to 2006),especially since they’re getting up in age.(Ronnie Dunn is 71,five weeks older than Yours Truly, and Leon “Kix” Brooks is 69). Congrats,boys,shows your fans haven’t and won’t forget you !
November 24, 2024 @ 7:51 am
I love Ronnie Dunn’s voice, but I have to snarkily wonder what the Brooks and Dunn monthly budget is for hair/beard dye for both men.
Credit to Ronnie Dunn though, would not have pegged him for being 71. Dude has looked “50-something” his entire career to me.
November 27, 2024 @ 6:11 am
I love B&D, but this Reboot garbage they’ve been releasing does nothing but bastardize their old hits. Leave those songs alone and give us some new B&D music.