Brooks and Dunn Talks About Bringing ‘Reboot II’ on the Road
Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn are Kelly Ford’s Backstage Country co-hosts from November 18 to 22. The country music award-winning duo recently released Reboot II, a follow-up to 2019’s Reboot. Both albums feature reimagined versions of their classic songs.
Brooks and Dunn’s 2025 Tour
Brooks told Ford that the Reboot II tour is looking good. “You know, honestly, we have toured for a couple of years, and we went and cut out some real new production. We work with some guys from Canada. We actually met when we were doing the Vegas stuff and they worked with U2 and Stones, as well as some of those great circus stuff.”
He added, “And so they’ve done it all and they have a lot of really creative ideas that you’re really not that used to seeing in country music touring. And we just sat down with them, had a meeting recently because we thought it may be time to revamp what we’d done the last couple of years. Even though we’re going into quite a few markets that we haven’t been in in the last couple of years.”
Dunn liked all the wild and cool ideas presented to them. Brooks added, “Yeah, we’re using 60, 74 screens now where it looks like when you look from the audience that you can walk into.” Dunn reiterated however that they still need to “look like we got a foot in cowboy land,” paying homage to their roots.
Backstage with Brooks and Dunn
Ford asked the duo about their backstage preparation before every show. Brooks mentioned they drink. Dunn agreed and added they also talk to their road guys. “We all have extra mini shots and then we go ahead. It used to be ceremonial, then we do what we have to do. I have to do a toast every night. Some are bad, some are good.”
Dunn elaborated, “But basically, that’s something we started doing. I don’t know if it was our first show, but it probably was. Now it’s gotten to be a thing, sometimes up for 30 shots before a show. If somebody has a bunch of guests or the band that’s opening for us want to do shots with us at night.”
Performing with Younger Acts
Touring with younger artists on the road, Ford asked Brooks and Dunn how it felt knowing these artists looked up to them. For example, Mitchell Tenpenny called them “legends.”
Dunn said they knew what it felt like to be in that position before. “Charlie Daniels called us back at a festival one time and asked us to come up on the bus. And we just sat there and visited, just calmly visited. And he goes, ‘How come it’s so fun to have you guys out here? I’m glad you’re here. I love what you’re doing.’” He added, “To just hop up on the bus with them and be, ‘Hey, we smoked it tonight,’ yeah and ‘Great show.’ And we ended up being friends.”
Brooks added, “That’s always been a thing. I think it’s how we’re both built. There’s no reason not to respect an artist who’s certainly making their way, but obviously they’re good enough.” He continued, “They’re there in the first place, and they’re musicians and artists just like we are. Just because we’ve been doing it longer than them that’s no reason, you get to be looking down your nose at anybody.”
Brooks and Dunn will start touring in March 2025. Find out more about Brooks and Dunn’s tour dates and venues by visiting their website at https://www.brooks-dunn.com/#tour.
