I’ve probably overstated it to an annoying degree this year, but country from the ‘90s and early ‘00s has been the prevailing vibe at NRG Stadium in 2025, from Zach Top’s stadium-sized mustache-country revival to Post Malone’s pyro-packed pop twangers.
On Saturday, March 22, Brooks & Dunn pulled into NRG Stadium armed with 15 of their greatest hits to remind 71,265 fans of the duo's stranglehold on the country charts during the Clinton era.
Starting with the one-two punch of 1991’s “Brand New Man” and 1993’s “Hard Workin’ Man” releases. Each chart-topper came with big choruses, crunchy guitars, hair metal drums, and politely raunchy wordplay perfect for honky tonk dance floors and arenas. They were so prolific that by 2009, when all was said and done, a career-spanning greatest hits compilation spanned two discs.
Kix Brooks, 69, and Ronnie Dunn, 71, debuted next door at the Astrodome during RodeoHouston’s 1992 stand, and they remained an annual mainstay through 2010. Their iconic back-to-back stage pose is imprinted indelibly on generations of fans over 19 shows. The pair disbanded for close to a half-decade (personally coaxed back to the stage by Reba McEntire) and made their return to NRG Stadium in 2019 and 2023. The duo’s merchandise in the concourse turns the clock back to the ‘90s, complete with purple lightning and cow skulls.
Brooks & Dunn’s latest releases have included two editions of the Reboot album series, which has paired the duo with some of the biggest country acts on the scene, including Morgan Wallen, Kacey Musgraves, Megan Moroney, and Jelly Roll to reimagine hits like “Neon Moon” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” with new moods and attitudes. The best-selling country duo of all time hasn’t released an album of new material since 2007’s Cowboy Town, but they have teased the prospect of writing new songs in recent interviews.
Kicking off just after 5 pm, B&D launched into an extra punchy “Brand New Man,” delivering a wall of surgically catchy Nashville sound. Brooks hit the mic for “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone,” boosting it with some extra long notes, showing off a voice that’s now aged like a fine wine from the rodeo wine garden.
For most fans, Ronnie has always been the voice, while Kix has been the heart. The former handles the rascally tunes, and the latter laments his troubles at the end of the bar. Entering five decades into their partnership, their biggest hits now come with an additional helping of rumpled road-weariness. Brooks offered up a stripped-down “Lost And Found” after recounting the pair's early days over a cold can of beer, giving the fans a B&D history lesson.
“Hard Workin’ Man” got a hard rock makeover with four guitars upfront and some Motley Crue-biting drums. My theory has always been that the ‘90s country sound has more in common with ‘80s hair metal than we give it credit for, the mullet being the common denominator. “Play Something Country” from 2005’s “Hillbilly Deluxe” was released as a reaction to that era’s identity crisis, and 20 years later, its a quaint time capsule with the P. Diddy mention.
The crowd-pleasing “Neon Moon” provided the biggest singalong of the late afternoon, while “Rock My World - Little Country Girl” featured Brooks testing the limits of his lung capacity with an extended roadhouse harmonica solo.
With just one day left on the schedule, this year’s top drawing act has been Brooks & Dunn, with Parker McCollum, Journey, Zach Top, Grupo Frontera, Carin Leon, and Post Malone following close behind. We’ll see how Luke Bryan does at tomorrow’s final show.
- Brooks & Dunn: 71,265
- Parker McCollum: 71,205
- Journey: 70,978
- Zach Top: 70,865
- Grupo Frontera: 70,775
- Carin Leon: 70,603
- Post Malone: 70,094
Setlist
Brand New Man
My Next Broken Heart
You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone
Ain’t Nothin’ ‘Bout You
Red Dirt Road
Lost And Found
Never Forgive My Heart
Hard Workin’ Man
Play Something Country
Cowgirls Don’t Cry
Neon Moon
Rock My World - Little Country Girl
My Maria
Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Only In America
