Ronnie Gene Dunn, born on June 1, 1953, in Coleman, Texas, is an American country music singer-songwriter and record executive.
Raised in a family steeped in both music and hard work, Dunn’s early life was marked by frequent moves.
He attended 13 schools in 12 years across Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
His father, Jesse Eugene Dunn, was a truck driver and musician who performed in local bands while his mother, Gladys Inez Thurmon Dunn, was a devout Baptist who worked as a bookkeeper and telephone operator.
After a brief stint studying psychology at Abilene Christian University, he was asked to leave due to performing in bars.
Dunn then pursued music full-time, eventually moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma, before landing in Nashville.
There, he partnered with Kix Brooks to form Brooks & Dunn, a duo that would redefine country music in the 1990s and beyond.
Siblings
Ronnie has one sibling, a sister named Renee.
However, not much information is known about Renee as the country star has kept much of his personal family life private.
Career
Dunn’s musical journey began in his teens.
He played bass guitar in his father’s band and later performed in local venues in Texas and Oklahoma.
After winning a Marlboro Talent Search in 1989, Dunn earned a recording session in Nashville which led to a contract with Arista Nashville.
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In 1990, he teamed up with Kix Brooks, forming Brooks & Dunn. The duo would become the best-selling country duo of all time.
Their debut album, Brand New Man (1991), produced four consecutive number-one hits.
These included “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” which popularized line dancing in the United States.
Over two decades, Brooks & Dunn released 12 studio albums and sold over 30 million records. They scored 20 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
After the duo’s temporary split in 2010, Dunn launched a solo career.
He released his self-titled album Ronnie Dunn in 2011, which included the top-10 hit “Bleed Red.” He founded Little Will-E Records and released additional solo albums.
These included Peace, Love, and Country Music (2014), Tattooed Heart (2016), and Re-Dunn (2020).
Brooks & Dunn reunited in 2015 for a Las Vegas residency with Reba McEntire. They released Reboot in 2019, followed by Reboot II in 2024, cementing their enduring influence.
Beyond music, Dunn is an avid photographer. He captures Western and wildlife imagery through his Lensmen Project.
Accolades
With Brooks & Dunn, Ronnie secured 20 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards.
These included 14 consecutive Vocal Duo of the Year awards from 1992 to 2006, except in 2000. They won the award again in 2024.
The duo also claimed 30 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, the most of any artist.
They received two Grammy Awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “Hard Workin’ Man” in 1994 and “My Maria” in 1996.
Dunn was named BMI Country Songwriter of the Year twice. He was also Billboard Magazine’s Country Songwriter of the Year in 1996.
He was also inducted into the Arkansas Music Hall of Fame in 2005, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Additionally, he received BMI’s President’s Award for his songwriting contributions.
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