Kix Takes Control
Out of all the duos that have ever existed in country music, Brooks & Dunn is always considered to be at the top of the pack. Together, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks created an impressive catalog of hit songs.
In a true testament to the duo’s talent, Ronnie and Kix would take turns singing lead on their songs. No matter who sang lead, Brooks & Dunn continued to bring in hits, proving they had the versatility to create a lasting legacy, and they did just that.
Some of the most unforgettable Brooks & Dunn tunes were led by Kix, including a number one hit from 1995. That song, along with three others, made our list of the top four Brooks & Dunn songs led by the one and only Kix Brooks. Are you ready to see which songs made the cut?
4. “Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up For Nothing”
1996’s “Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up For Nothing” was the fourth single of Brooks & Dunn’s to feature Kix as the lead vocalist. In addition to singing lead vocals, Kix also co-wrote the song, which was released as the third single off of their album Borderline.
The song is about a woman who gets all dressed up and tries to convince her lover to take her out on the town. After being cooped up in the house all week, she’s anxious to let loose and have a little fun, as the song goes, “We can go high rollin’ or beer joint jumpin’. Mama don’t get dressed up for nothing.”
Kix carried the fun-loving tune all the way to the 13th spot on the Billboard chart after it originally debuted at the 74th spot. No surprise that the song was also a huge hit with the duo’s Canadian fans, where it claimed the eighth spot on the country chart.
3. “Lost And Found”
When Brooks & Dunn released their debut album Brand New Man in 1991, it instantly established the duo as a force to be reckoned with in country music. Fans just couldn’t get enough of the album’s pure country tracks, including its fifth and final single “Lost and Found.”
Released in September 1992, Kix took the lead on “Lost and Found,” a song in which the narrator goes on a wild goose chase in search of his love who ran away. As he takes off in search of her to try and make things right, he realizes that finding her will be next to impossible, as he sings “It’s kinda like a lost and found in a border town. You’re askin’ ’bout a diamond ring. They just look at you like you’ve lost your mind. Say they haven’t seen a thing.”
Kix perfectly portrays the narrator’s sense of desperation and hopelessness through his voice, which played a huge role in the song’s chart success. It ended up taking the sixth spot on the country charts in both the U.S. and Canada, and remains a favorite of Brooks & Dunn’s fans to this day.
2. “Rock My World (Little Country Girl)”
“Rock My World (Little Country Girl)” was only the second Brooks & Dunn single to feature Kix on lead vocals, and fans went wild when it was released. The song ended up taking the second spot on the Billboard country chart and topped the chart in Canada.
In the song, Kix sings about a country girl he’s smitten for and how he wants to be her man. Even though she seems like a sweet girl on the surface, Kix’s narrator is captivated by her fiery personality, as he sings, “Looking so sweet it oughta be a crime. She plays with my heart and messes with my mind. Acts like Madonna but she listens to Merle. Rock my world little country girl.”
Like the narrator in the song, fans were also captivated by the story of the girl who could rock a cowboy’s world. As a result, Kix helped lead the tune to a 20 week stay on the charts.
1. “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone”
What Brooks & Dunn fan could ever forget the duo’s emotional single “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone”? As the duo’s third single that featured Kix on lead, the song soared to the top of the Billboard chart. By the end of 1995, the song proved to be one of the top country songs of the year when it claimed the 13th spot on the year-end charts.
Written by Ronnie and Kix along with Don Cook, “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” tells the story of a couple in the midst of a crumbling relationship. The narrator tries to make his girl understand how hurt he is by her mistreatment of him. Even though he loves her, the narrator knows that he’s no longer happy and considers leaving, singing, “Someday, girl, you’re gonna wake up, and wonder what went wrong. You better kiss me, ’cause you’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.”
Kix’s emotional delivery is undoubtedly what led to the song’s success, and is also the reason why we awarded it the top spot on our list.
Which one of the songs on this list is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!