Brooks & Dunn call it quits as duo

Shocking country music news today.

You may already know, but Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn are parting ways next year after a final tour.

The dynamic duo have logged almost 20 years as an act, earned 20 No. 1 hits, even wrote a book.

Could the time be right to pass the torch to a new duo. Maybe Sugarland? Or Montgomery Gentry?

I can’t feel anything but sad.

It’s not that the guys don’t have what it takes: Their recent single, “Cowgirls Don’t Cry”, made it to No. 2 on Billboard, so they’re not chasing a hit record.

They’ve sold 30 million albums, so they’ve left a permanent mark on country music.

They’ve got plenty of money.

So, why, why, why? Or rather, Why not?

For years, B&D have been breaking up. The rumor that they never liked each other circles Nashville ever year, like a jet in a holding pattern. Those are the rumors they mentioned on their web site.

It’s true that the guys were matched up by a record exec (Tim DuBois, the founder of Arista Nashville Records. Can you spell genius?) as both struggled to make it as solo acts in the late 80s. It was the best of arranged marriages. From the time they released their first album, B&D were permanently welded onto the country charts, and tattooed onto the hearts of fans everywhere.

It’s a lot harder to call it quits when you’re still successful, so it may be the guys have some new dreams to chase. But I don’t think it will be long before we see a solo album by either one or both guys. I hope. I really, really hope!

So, why do we love B&D?

First there’s that voice. Then there’s that crazy guy. And when they play live, they’re the most fun-loving sorts. Kix dancing around and Ronnie laughing at his antics. I will never forget when they played Cruzan a year or two ago when the the sky dumped thousands of gallons of rain onto the huge crowd on the lawn, and I looked up to see Ronnie laughing his butt off at their misfortunue.

Then there’s those songs: “Red Dirt Road”, “Believe”, my gosh the list goes on and on. You’d have to play 10 10-song sets to get them all covered!

They’ve left a void that won’t be filled anytime soon. And I for one will be crying myself to sleep tonight.