Ronnie Dunn - Wikipedia

American singer-songwriter (born 1953) For the English footballer, see Ronnie Dunn (footballer).

Ronnie Dunn
Dunn in 2017
Background information
Born	Ronald Gene Dunn (1953-06-01) June 1, 1953 (age 72)Coleman, Texas, U.S.
Origin	Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.[1]
Genres	Country
Occupations	Singer songwriter musician
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1983–present
Labels	MCA/Churchill Arista Nashville Little Will-E Records NASH Icon Big Machine
Member of	Brooks & Dunn
Spouse	Janine Dunn ​(m. 1990)​
Website	ronniedunn.com

Musical artist

Ronald Gene Dunn (born June 1, 1953) is an American country music singer-songwriter and record executive. Starting in 2011, Dunn has worked as a solo artist following the temporary dissolution of Brooks & Dunn. He released his self-titled debut album for Arista Nashville on June 7, 2011, reaching the Top 10 with its lead-off single, "Bleed Red". After leaving Arista Nashville in 2012, Dunn founded Little Will-E Records. On April 8, 2014, Ronnie Dunn released his second solo album, Peace, Love, and Country Music through Little Will-E Records. On November 11, 2016, he released his third album Tattooed Heart on NASH Icon label. His fourth album Re-Dunn was released on January 10, 2020.

In 2019, Dunn was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as a member of Brooks & Dunn.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Dunn was born in Coleman, Texas, and attended 13 schools in his first 12 years of school.[3] He began school in New Mexico, and finished his formal education at Abilene Christian University in 1975 as a psychology major. While playing bass guitar and singing with bands in clubs in the Abilene, Texas, area, the university gave him the choice of either quitting the band or the university.[citation needed] He left the university, then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a chance at the country music scene. He lived there for many years while drawing much inspiration from local honky tonks such as Tulsa City Limits, prominently featured in the music video for Brooks & Dunn's hit "Boot Scootin' Boogie". While in college, he served as a music and youth minister at Avoca Baptist Church in Avoca, Texas.[citation needed]

Musical career

[edit]

Brooks & Dunn

[edit]

Dunn began his musical career as a solo artist. He charted two minor singles with Churchill/MCA Records: in 1983, he released "It's Written All Over Your Face", and in 1984, "She Put the Sad in All His Songs". In 1990, Kix Brooks and he formed Brooks & Dunn. In 1991, they released their first album, Brand New Man, certified six-times platinum by the RIAA. Brooks & Dunn released 12 studio albums, two greatest-hits albums, and a Christmas album.[4]

Brooks & Dunn sold over 30 million albums,[5] had 20 number-one singles on Billboard, and were one of the most consistently successful acts on the concert circuit. In 2009, they announced they were temporarily disbanding in 2010. On December 3, 2014, Brooks & Dunn reunited, and along with Reba McEntire, performed a series of concerts throughout the summer and fall of 2015.

2011–2012: Debut solo album and departure from Sony

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In late 2010, Dunn announced that he was working on a solo album. The album's first single, "Bleed Red", was released to country radio on January 29, 2011, and debuted at number 30 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week ending February 19, 2011, and ended as a top 10, his first of his solo career. Dunn's self-titled album Ronnie Dunn was released on June 7, 2011. The second single from the album, "Cost of Livin'", was released on June 6, 2011, and debuted at number 56 on the country chart. It peaked at number 19, followed by "Let the Cowboy Rock" at number 31. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums, as well as number five on the Billboard 200, selling 45,000 copies in its first week in the US.[6]

In June 2012, Ronnie Dunn took to social media to ask his fans what the fourth single on the album should be. Shortly after, Ronnie got a call from the executives at Sony Music saying that his "fb post killed the 'Let the Cowboy Rock' single". He then requested for radio to start playing "Once" as the next single. Before the song could be released to radio as a single, he was released from the label.

2013–2014: Little Will-E Records and Peace, Love, and Country Music

[edit]

In March 2013, Ronnie Dunn previewed the song "Country This" on SoundCloud. On June 4, 2013, Ronnie released the two new tracks, "Country This" and "Kiss You There", exclusively on iTunes. The songs were each previewed for a month on The Highway on Sirius XM.

On July 9, 2013, Dunn announced his new record deal, a joint effort between HitShop Records and his own label Little Will-E Records with HitShop executing radio promotion while Dunn retains personal brand control. The lead-off single for his second solo album, "Kiss You There", was released to country radio on July 29, 2013. After an unsuccessful run with it, Dunn and HitShop Records parted ways.

On November 19, 2013, Dunn released the second single from the forthcoming album, "Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes". In January 2014, Dunn also released "Grown Damn Man" as a promotional single from the second solo album. The album, Peace, Love and Country Music, was released on April 8, 2014.[7]

2014–2018: Nash Icon record deal and Tattooed Heart

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On December 1, 2014, Ronnie Dunn began to speculate on his Facebook page that he had signed with the newest imprint of Big Machine Label Group, NASH Icon, but the label never confirmed nor denied it. On January 12, 2015, the president of Big Machine, Scott Borchetta, officially announced that Dunn had joined Reba McEntire and Martina McBride, making him the third artist to join the roster. Borchetta stated in a press release, "Ronnie Dunn has one of the smoothest, most-recognized, and most-popular voices of the last 25 years in country music. I'm truly honored to have him join us and take his rightful place as an icon. Great music is on the way." Dunn also commented in the article, saying, "This is the best possible scenario that I can imagine. The Big Machine and Cumulus combination is a force, and I am proud to be included in this innovative venture." The press release went on to announce Ronnie Dunn was about to hit the studio to record what is now his third solo album and that the lead-off single of the album was released in early spring of 2015.

The lead single from Dunn's third solo album, "Ain't No Trucks in Texas", was released on July 17, 2015. On April 22, 2016, Dunn announced the second single, "Damn Drunk", on his Facebook page. The song was released August 5, 2016. On August 22, 2016, Dunn announced that the title of his third solo album was Tattooed Heart; it was released on November 11, 2016.

2019–present: Reboot and Re-Dunn

[edit]

In 2019, Brooks & Dunn returned to the studio for the first time since the release of their 2009 compilation, #1s... and Then Some. The result was a new album, Reboot, a collection of some of Brooks & Dunn's greatest hits re-recorded as duets between the duo and up-and-coming country music stars. The album was released on April 5, 2019. It debuted at number one on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.

Dunn performed at the 2019 Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum Concert and Induction Ceremony.

Dunn announced in 2019 that he would be releasing a covers album in January 2020. Titled Re-Dunn, the album is a collection of 24 classic rock and country covers. A cover of "Amarillo by Morning" was released on September 6, 2019.[8]

Personal life

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Dunn married his wife, Janine, on May 19, 1990; they have three children.[9][10]

Awards

[edit] Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Brooks & Dunn

As a member of Brooks and Dunn, Dunn has 30 ACM awards, winning Top Vocal Duo every year since 1991, except for 2000 (the honor went to Montgomery Gentry) and 2008 (in which Sugarland won), before winning the award for the last time in 2009. The duo also won three Entertainer of the Year awards and Vocal Event of the Year in 2005, for their hit "Building Bridges" with Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow's background vocals, along with Single of the Year for the gospel song "Believe." That same year, Brooks and Dunn were part of a group of country artists presented with the new Triple Crown Award by the Academy of Country Music, which recognized the amazing feat of winning Top New Artist (or Duo/Group), Top Vocalist (or Duo/Group), and Entertainer of the Year. He is a member of the Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas Music Halls of Fame. With 18 won, Brooks and Dunn are tied for the most Country Music Association awards wins, sharing the honor with Vince Gill. They have the second-most Academy of Country Music awards with 30, surpassed only by Miranda Lambert with 35. Dunn was also the National Anthem singer before Game 3 of the 2011 World Series in Arlington, Texas. As a solo artist, Dunn has two Grammy nominations and over 23 Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) Million-Airplay awards. He was the BMI Country Music Songwriter of the Year in 1996 and 2001.

Year	Association	Category	Result
2011	Inspirational Country Music Awards	Mainstream Inspirational Country Song - "Bleed Red"[11]	Nominated
2013	55th Grammy Awards	Best Country Song- "Cost of Livin'"	Nominated
		Best Country Solo Performance- "Cost of Livin'"	Nominated

Discography

[edit] Main article: Brooks & Dunn discography

Studio albums

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Title	Details	Peak chart positions				Title
		US Country[12]	US[13]	CAN[14]	UK Country[15]
Ronnie Dunn	Release date: June 7, 2011 Label: Arista Nashville Formats: CD, music download	1	5	20	9	US: 266,000[16]
Peace, Love, and Country Music	Release date: April 8, 2014 Label: Little Will-E Records Formats: CD, music download	—	—	—	—
Tattooed Heart	Release date: November 11, 2016 Label: Nash Icon Formats: CD, music download	3	33	90	—	US: 40,600[17]
Re-Dunn	Release date: January 10, 2020 Label: Little Will-E Records Formats: CD, music download	17	169	—	—	US: 10,100[18]
100 Proof Neon	Release date: July 29, 2022 Label: Little Will-E Records Formats: CD, music download	49	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

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Year	Single	Peak chart positions				Album
		US Country[19]	US Country Airplay[20]	US[21]	CAN[22]
1983	"It's Written All Over Your Face"	59	—	—	—	—N/a
1984	"She Put the Sad in All His Songs"	59	—	—	—
	"Jessie"	—	—	—	—
2011	"Bleed Red"	10	—	62	78	Ronnie Dunn
	"Cost of Livin'"	19	—	86	—
2012	"Let the Cowboy Rock"	31	—	—	—
2013	"Kiss You There"	—	60	—	—	Peace, Love, and Country Music
	"I Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes"	—	—	—	—
2015	"Ain't No Trucks in Texas"	—	42	—	—	Tattooed Heart
2016	"Damn Drunk" (featuring Kix Brooks)	42	36	—	—
2017	"I Worship the Woman You Walked On"	—	46	—	—
	"That's Why They Make Jack Daniels"	—	51	—	—
2022	"Broken Neon Hearts"	—	—	—	—	100 Proof Neon
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Featured singles

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Year	Single	Artist	Peak positions			Album
			US Country[23]	US Country Airplay[24]	CAN Country
1994	"Take These Chains from My Heart"	Lee Roy Parnell	17		21	On the Road
2007	"I Don't Want To"	Ashley Monroe	37		—	Satisfied
2009	"Garth Must Be Busy"	Cledus T. Judd	—		—	Polyrically Uncorrect
2014	"Pray for Peace"	Reba McEntire	—	—	—	Love Somebody
2023	"Rodeo Man"	Garth Brooks	—	25	—	Time Traveler
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other appearances

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Year	Song	Album
2013	"Baby, It's Cold Outside"(Kelly Clarkson featuring Ronnie Dunn)	Wrapped in Red
2018	"The Crossing"(feat. The Blind Boys of Alabama)	King of the Road: A Tribute to Roger Miller

Music videos

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Year	Video	Director
2011	"Bleed Red"	Thien Phan
	"Love Owes Me One"
	"I Can't Help Myself"[25]
	"How Far to Waco"[26]
	"Cost of Livin'"[27]
2012	"Let the Cowboy Rock"[28]
2013	"Kiss You There"[29]	Sherman Halsey
2014	"You Don't Know Me"
2015	"Ain't No Trucks In Texas"	Peter Zavadil
2016	"Damn Drunk"	TK McKamy

References

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1. ^ "Ronnie Dunn on Amazon Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
2. ^ "Brooks & Dunn, Ray Stevens to join Country Hall of Fame". March 20, 2019. Archived from the original on March 20, 2019.
3. ^ Ronnie Dunn Texassongwriters.com Retrieved 28 December 2024
4. ^ Bronson, Fred (June 3, 1995). "They Write the Hits". Billboard. p. 60.
5. ^ "About". Brooks & Dunn. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
6. ^ "Adele Reclaims No. 1 on Billboard 200, Book of Mormon Makes History". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
7. ^ Freeman, Jon. "Ronnie Dunn Releases "Peace, Love and Country Music"". Country Weekly. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
8. ^ "Ronnie Dunn Announces Country and Rock Covers Album 'Re-Dunn': 'It's a Passion Project'". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
9. ^ Whitaker, Elizabeth. "Ronnie Gene Dunn". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
10. ^ Wick, Sherri. "Ronnie Dunn & Wife Janine - Living the Dream (Feb. 26, 2018)". Country Fancast. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
11. ^ "Carrie Underwood, Justin Moore + More Nominated for 2011 Inspirational Country Awards". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
12. ^ "Ronnie Dunn Chart History: Top Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
13. ^ "Ronnie Dunn Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
14. ^ "Canadian Albums - Biggest Jump - June 25, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
15. ^ "The Official Charts - Country Albums - June 18, 2011". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
16. ^ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016.
17. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 13, 2017). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: March 13, 2017". Roughstock.
18. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 10, 2020). "Top 10 Country Albums Pure Sales Chart: March 9, 2020". RoughStock. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
19. ^ "Ronnie Dunn Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
20. ^ "Ronnie Dunn Album & Song Chart History - Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
21. ^ "Ronnie Dunn Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
22. ^ "Ronnie Dunn Album & Song Chart History - Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
23. ^ Peak chart positions for featured singles on the Billboard Country Songs:
    • "Ashley Monroe Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
24. ^ "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
25. ^ "I Can't Help Myself - Ronnie Dunn | Music Video | VEVO". VEVO. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
26. ^ "How Far To Waco - Ronnie Dunn | Music Video | VEVO". VEVO. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
27. ^ "CMT : Videos : Ronnie Dunn: Cost Of Livin'". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on September 10, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
28. ^ "CMT : Videos : Ronnie Dunn: Let the Cowboy Rock". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
29. ^ "CMT : Videos : Ronnie Dunn: Kiss You There". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on November 26, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.

v t e Ronnie Dunn
Studio albums	Ronnie Dunn Peace Love and Country Music Tattooed Heart Re-Dunn 100 Proof Neon
Notable singles	"Bleed Red" "Cost of Livin'" "Let the Cowboy Rock" "Damn Drunk"
Related articles	Brooks & Dunn "Take These Chains from My Heart" "Darned If I Don't (Danged If I Do)"

v t e Brooks & Dunn
Kix Brooks Ronnie Dunn
Studio albums	Brand New Man Hard Workin' Man Waitin' on Sundown Borderline If You See Her Tight Rope Steers & Stripes It Won't Be Christmas Without You Red Dirt Road Hillbilly Deluxe Cowboy Town Reboot Reboot II
Compilations	The Greatest Hits Collection Super Hits The Greatest Hits Collection II Playlist: The Very Best of Brooks & Dunn #1s… and Then Some
Singles	1990s "Brand New Man" "My Next Broken Heart" "Neon Moon" "Boot Scootin' Boogie" "Lost and Found" "Hard Workin' Man" "We'll Burn That Bridge" "She Used to Be Mine" "Rock My World (Little Country Girl)" "That Ain't No Way to Go" "She's Not the Cheatin' Kind" "I'll Never Forgive My Heart" "Little Miss Honky Tonk" "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone" "Whiskey Under the Bridge" "My Maria" "I Am That Man" "Mama Don't Get Dressed Up for Nothing" "A Man This Lonely" "Why Would I Say Goodbye" "Honky Tonk Truth" "He's Got You" "If You See Him/If You See Her" (with Reba McEntire) "How Long Gone" "Husbands and Wives" "I Can't Get Over You" "Missing You" "Beer Thirty" 2000s "You'll Always Be Loved by Me" "Ain't Nothing 'bout You" "Only in America" "The Long Goodbye" "My Heart Is Lost to You" "Every River" "Red Dirt Road" "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" "That's What She Gets for Loving Me" "That's What It's All About" "It's Getting Better All the Time" "Play Something Country" "Believe" "Building Bridges" (with Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill) "Hillbilly Deluxe" "Proud of the House We Built" "God Must Be Busy" "Put a Girl in It" "Cowgirls Don't Cry" (with Reba McEntire) "Indian Summer" "Honky Tonk Stomp" (with Billy Gibbons)
Other songs	"Against the Wind" "Born and Raised in Black and White" "Forever Country"
Related articles	Discography Awards and nominations

v t e CMA Song of the Year
1967−1970	"There Goes My Everything" - Dallas Frazier (1967) "Honey" - Bobby Russell (1968) "The Carroll County Accident" - Bob Ferguson (1969) "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" - Kris Kristofferson (1970)
1971−1980	"Easy Loving" - Freddie Hart (1971−72) "Behind Closed Doors" - Kenny O'Dell (1973) "Country Bumpkin" - Don Wayne (1974) "Back Home Again" - John Denver (1975) "Rhinestone Cowboy" - Larry Weiss (1976) "Lucille" Roger Bowling, Hal Bynum - (1977) "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" - Richard Leigh (1978) "The Gambler" - Don Schlitz (1979) "He Stopped Loving Her Today" - Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman (1980)
1981−1990	"He Stopped Loving Her Today" - Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman (1981) "Always on My Mind" - Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, Mark James (1982−83) "Wind Beneath My Wings" - Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar (1984) "God Bless the U.S.A." - Lee Greenwood (1985) "On the Other Hand" - Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz (1986) "Forever and Ever, Amen - Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz (1987) "80's Ladies" - K. T. Oslin (1988) "Chiseled in Stone" - Max D. Barnes, Vern Gosdin (1989) "Where've You Been" - Don Henry, Jon Vezner (1990)
1991−2000	"When I Call Your Name" - Tim DuBois, Vince Gill (1991) "Look at Us" - Vince Gill, Max D. Barnes (1992) "I Still Believe in You" - Vince Gill, John Barlow Jarvis (1993) "Chattahoochee" - Jim McBride, Alan Jackson (1994) "Independence Day" - Gretchen Peters (1995) "Go Rest High on That Mountain" - Vince Gill (1996) "Strawberry Wine" - Matraca Berg, Gary Harrison (1997) "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" - Billy Kirsch, Steve Wariner (1998) "This Kiss" - Beth Nielsen Chapman, Robin Lerner, Annie Roboff (1999) "I Hope You Dance" - Mark D. Sanders, Tia Sillers (2000)
2001−2010	"Murder on Music Row" - Larry Cordle, Larry Shell (2001) "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" - Alan Jackson (2002) "Three Wooden Crosses" - Doug Johnson, Kim Williams (2003) "Live Like You Were Dying" - Tim Nichols, Craig Wiseman (2004) "Whiskey Lullaby" - Bill Anderson, Jon Randall (2005) "Believe" - Ronnie Dunn, Craig Wiseman (2006) "Give It Away" - Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson (2007) "Stay" - Jennifer Nettles (2008) "In Color" - Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto (2009) "The House That Built Me" - Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin (2010)
2011−2020	"If I Die Young" - Kimberly Perry (2011) "Over You" - Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton (2012) "I Drive Your Truck" - Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary (2013) "Follow Your Arrow" - Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves (2014) "Girl Crush" - Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose (2015) "Humble and Kind" - Lori McKenna (2016) "Better Man" - Taylor Swift (2017) "Broken Halos" - Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton (2018) "Beautiful Crazy" - Luke Combs, Wyatt Durrette, Robert Williford (2019)
2021−2030	"The Bones" - Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz (2020) "Starting Over" - Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton (2021) "Buy Dirt" - Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins (2022) "Fast Car" - Tracy Chapman (2023) "White Horse" - Chris Stapleton, Dan Wilson (2024) "You Look Like You Love Me" - Ella Langley, Riley Green, Aaron Raitiere (2025)

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