BROOKS & DUNN capped off a triumphant amphitheater headlining tour with wins last week at the Country Music Association awards and last night at the American Music Awards, just as their latest single “That’s What It’s All About” hit #2 on Billboard magazine’s Country Singles & Tracks chart and #38 on the Hot 100 Singles chart.

KIX BROOKS and RONNIE DUNN--the second best-selling duo of all time after Simon & Garfunkel, who’ve “…run their raging career with grace and even some daring” (Rolling Stone 9/4/03)--made their debut hosting this year’s CMA’s (Nashville, 11/9), where they also performed “It’s Getting Better All The Time.” It’s the next single from their newly released Greatest Hits Collection II CD (Arista Nashville).

The outspoken pair--invited to host the CMA’s after Vince Gill’s 12-year run--kiddingly told the national television audience of over 37 million people that they were the only nominees for the “You’re Not As Good As Vince Gill” award. Of their role as hosts, the Nashville Tennessean said they did a “fine, funny job running the show.” The duo won their 12th award for “Vocal Duo of the Year” (and their 14th overall), which DUNN said came as a very pleasant surprise, joking that they were “already halfway through making a rap record.”

BROOKS & DUNN--who’ve now sold over 27 million albums--also took home their fourth American Music Award Sunday night (11/14) for “Favorite Band, Duo or Group (Country).” They were on hand in Los Angeles to accept the trophy, and also presented the award for “Best Rap/Hip Hop, Duo or Group” with Macy Gray.

Late last year, RONNIE and KIX released their critically lauded eighth studio album Red Dirt Road, which featured the #1 title track