Kix Brooks

Leon Eric “Kix” Brooks III was born on May 12, 1955, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He developed an interest in music at an early age, giving his first paid performance at twelve. After attending Sewanee Military Academy and Louisiana Tech University, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in the early 1980s to pursue a music career. He began as a staff songwriter for Tree Publishing, achieving his first significant success with “Modern Day Romance,” a number one hit for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1985, which he co-wrote. Brooks also released a solo album, “Kix Brooks,” in 1989 on Capitol Records, which included the song “Sacred Ground,” later a hit for McBride & the Ride.

In 1990, Brooks joined forces with Ronnie Dunn to form the duo Brooks & Dunn. Their debut album, “Brand New Man,” released in 1991, launched them to stardom with four consecutive number-one hits. Over two decades, Brooks & Dunn became the best-selling country duo of all time, achieving forty-one Top Ten hits, including twenty number ones. The duo earned numerous accolades, such as two Grammy Awards, nineteen Country Music Association awards, and thirty Academy of Country Music awards. Brooks typically provided backing vocals, though he led on singles like “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone,” their only number one hit with his lead vocals.

Brooks & Dunn announced their disbandment in 2009 after twenty years. Brooks then resumed his solo career, releasing “New to This Town” in 2012, featuring nine co-written songs. He also composed the soundtrack for and starred in the 2014 western film “Ambush at Dark Canyon.” In 2014, Brooks & Dunn reunited for a series of successful concerts in Las Vegas with Reba McEntire, continuing through 2015. Brooks was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as a member of Brooks & Dunn in 2019. Beyond music, Brooks hosted the syndicated radio program “American Country Countdown” from 2006 to 2024 and co-owns Arrington Vineyards, a Nashville winery.