They were the kings of the ’90s honky-tonk scene. They rode high through the 2000s. Then, after a decade out of the spotlight, Brooks & Dunn just stepped back in and reminded everyone whose name is still etched into the ACM record books.
At the 2025 ACM Awards, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn won Duo of the Year for a record-setting 17th time, extending their own industry record and marking their first win in 15 years. As initially highlighted by VegasInsider.com, Brooks & Dunn now hold the all-time record for most wins in the ACM Duo of the Year category. The last time they took home this trophy? 2009. That gap alone is jaw-dropping, but the real story is what they’ve built throughout their career.
They didn’t just win more than anyone else. They defined the category. The ACM’s CEO Damon Whiteside confirmed it on show night, noting that this 17th win “marks their first win in the category in 15 years and increases their count to a record 17th win.” No other duo in country music history comes remotely close.
Here’s what dominance looks like: Brooks & Dunn won every Duo of the Year award from 1991 to 1997, then again from 2000 to 2007, plus one more in 2009. That run alone gave them 16 wins, interrupted only by the occasional Sugarland surge or a short break from releases. Then came 2025, and that total jumped to 17, spanning four different decades.
For context, their closest competitors aren’t even in the same ballpark:
- Brothers Osborne: 4 wins
- Dan + Shay: 3 wins
- Sugarland: 2 wins in the Duo category
The math isn’t even close. You could combine every other major duo in the last two decades, and they still wouldn’t catch them.
For You
And if you’re thinking this win came out of nowhere, it didn’t. The last few years have been a quiet comeback tour for the duo. After reuniting for a Vegas residency with Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn dropped Reboot in 2019, an album of revamped hits featuring younger stars like Luke Combs and Kacey Musgraves. That led to their Reboot Tour, which has stretched into 2024 due to fan demand and sold-out dates. They’ve opened for Morgan Wallen, gone viral on TikTok with a revived version of “Neon Moon,” and introduced their music to an entirely new generation of fans.
At the 2025 ACMs, they shared the stage with Cody Johnson for a raucous “Red Dirt Road” performance. When it was time to collect their award, Kix Brooks grinned and said, “Thank y’all for paying our rent for the past 30 years,” while Ronnie Dunn, a little misty-eyed, simply said, “God bless y’all.”
This win isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s a reminder that the roots of country music still matter. Brooks & Dunn built a career on fiddles, barroom heartbreak, and Friday night energy, and somehow, in the age of algorithms and streaming wars, that sound still hits home.
There’s a reason industry pros voted them back on top. Country music changes, but legends like Brooks & Dunn keep finding new ways to matter. Seventeen wins. Thirty-one total ACM awards. Four decades of relevance.
And they’re not done yet.
