Roots, Toots n' Hoots Blog

The long ride of Brooks & Dunn ends in Music City

Jeffrey Remz  |  February 25, 2010

The long ride of Brooks & Dunn soon will be over. They announced Thursday that their final gig ever (unless it's like the last ever gig of The Eagles and The Who and countless other acts) will be in their home away from home - Nashville. This is part of the Last Rodeo tour in the wake of last year's announcement that the duo will call it a day and pursue other interests.

The Aug. 10 show will be a fundraiser for the Country Music Hall of Fame. Kudos, of course, to country's most successful duo over the past 20 years for choosing the Hall of Fame. They are following in the footsteps of Keith Urban, who organized a highly successful concert last fall to raise money for the museum, which pays homage to country's greats.

The press conference of Brooks & Dunn along with Kyle Young of the Country Music Hall of Fame was an easy going, low ego affair. You get the sense with these guys it's about the music and having fun (although Kix Brooks' jokes and funny moments tended to fall a bit flat. They weren't knee slappers. Let's put it that way).

Of course, Brooks & Dunn could have given their money to lots of different charities and groups, and being the generous pair that they are, B&D have done that in the past. But it does seem fitting that they are closing it out with a bang - they will have special guests aboard at the last of the Last Rodeo tour shows - and raising money for the museum paying homage to the music they love.

Brooks & Dunn were criticized at times in their career for rocking too much and being part of the line dance craze (Boot Scootin' Boogie), but they at least kept it far more country sounding than their later counterparts. The bottom line is that Brooks & Dunn made a positive contribution to country music.