Las Vegas Weekly

April 18, 2010 · 2:45 PM

Photos: ACM’s top vocal duo Brooks & Dunn are in the spotlight

By Robin Leach

Kix Brooks, left, and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn perform onstage during the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards rehearsals at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 17, 2010.

Photo: Kevin Winters/Getty Images/ACM

No sooner does tonight’s 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards end than Dick Clark’s production team and ACM prepare for tomorrow’s taping of the Brooks & Dunn tribute Last Rodeo to air on CBS as a two-hour special May 23.

Paying tribute to Brooks & Dunn will be performers Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Jennifer Hudson, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Taylor Swift and Sugarland.

Country’s most beloved duo, Brooks & Dunn are calling it quits after 20 hit-filled years. They’re going out in style with this all-star concert tribute special. Ticket sales will benefit the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music’s Lifting Lives. Brooks & Dunn will receive the academy’s Milestone Award for holding the record for the most wins of any artist in the academy’s history with 26, including three Entertainer of the Year Awards.

They also will be honored for holding the record for most Top Vocal Duo wins with 15, eight of which are consecutive from 2000-2007. Brooks & Dunn have had 23 No. 1 hits, sold more than 30 million records and won more than 80 major industry awards during their career. They announced in August that they are retiring as a duo this year and embark on their farewell The Last Rodeo Tour this summer.

Their close friend Reba told me: “It’s impossible to say there’s just one happy, standout memory over their 20 years I have so many memories. I toured with them for four years, which was lots of fun with lots of great memories. I love them like brothers. I love their families. I love their wives. We are all good friends.

“I think they will stay split up. Ronnie (Dunn) has things he wants to do singly. So does Kix (Brooks). I was surprised when Ronnie told me they were breaking up, but it’s the friendliest thing in the world. We just all got off vacation together down in Cancun. It’s not a breakup like a massive split. It’s just going and doing something else after 20 years -- but separately.

“I don’t think they will get back together. Maybe for one special occasion or if they get bored being apart. Maybe I’ll suggest they work with me as a trio. But they’ve always been great buddies, and that’s going to continue. Ronnie listens; Kix does the talking. And they’re performing ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone,’ which is very prophetic.

“We’re going to miss them, but they will still be around. Now instead of Brooks & Dunn, it will be Ronnie and Kix separately.”

Miranda, who will perform on the Brooks & Dunn show, told me: “I think we have gained so much from them that we won’t feel the loss so much. They will still be making music on their own. They won’t get it out of their blood. They’re certainly not going to quit country music -- just working together.

“Watching them and knowing how involved they are with their music and how intrigued by -- and still enjoying -- what they’re doing, I just don’t see them giving it up. I think they only go away for a while.

“Nobody can convince me there won’t be just one more show down the line.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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