Brooks & Dunn Ready To Cross "Every River"

ACM Entertainers of the Year Enlist Writer/Raver Kim Richey for Latest

Nashville: Having seen their first three singles from Steers & Stripes go straight to the top of Billboard's Country Chart -- 2001's Single of the Year, the 6 week #1 "There Ain't Nothing 'Bout You," the bulked-up patriotism of "Only In America" and Paul Brady's yearning "The Long Good-Bye" -- for the first time since their mondo-, mondo-platinum Brand New Man debut, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks have been stretching it out musically for their seventh power-platinum project's wind-out by embracing some pretty progressive songs: the Latin-steeped Top 5 "My Heart Is Lost To You" and the surging definition of devotion "Every River."

"I just wore her Bitter Sweet cd out -- the one with 'Every River'," Dunn says, with great passion. "That was one of my bus CDs and I just fell in love with it, so we decided to cut it. There's this amazing music out there, if you just stay open -- and Kix and I really try to keep listening to everything."

Brooks & Dunn have always been willing to look outside the box for their material, having embraced songs from Emmylou Harris lynchpin Buddy Miller ("My Love Will Follow You") and wild-eyed vocal cyclone Gary Stewart ("Brand New Whiskey") -- in addition to writing some of the genre's most enduring songs (see pretty much everything on their Greatest Hits). But they're also quick to share their music with others… inviting Richey into the studio to be part of Steers & Stripes, which debuted at #1 on Billboard's Country Album chart.

"Kim was kind enough to come in and sing on it," says Brooks with an appreciative tone. "We were there the day she did her vocals; she said she liked the cut, the way it sounds -- and that was before the Rickenbackers were on it! So that makes you feel pretty good, that the writer is okay with what you've done with their song.

"After all, it had almost been her single... it had been her choice for a single, so you know she knew what kind of song this was, and being so musical, she probably had ideas of what she wanted it to be."

As the purveyors of the Neon Circus & Wild West Show begin winding down for another year -- the duo's second incarnation of the greatest show on 18-wheels with Dwight Yoakam, Gary Allan, Trick Pony, Chris Cagle, emcee Cledus T Judd and a passle of contortionists, trick ropers, rodeo clowns and the like was the highest grossing tour per date of any in country music -- it still always comes down to the music. Having begun writing in earnest for their next album, the record-setting duo remains committed to what brought them.

"For various reasons, there are some extremely talented singers and songwriters who may not get on the radio. It makes you feel very fortunate to be able to make it to the mainstream," Dunn says, acknowledging the truth of this business, and B&D's commitment to exposing great music that may've been overlooked. "So it's nice to share that music some people may've missed…."

Their frolic and blue velvet It Won't Be Christmas Without You -- which runs the gamut of Western swing to full-tilt honky tonk to lush string-drenched traditionalism -- hits stores Oct. 22. The reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainers of the Year are also turning their eyes to Nov. 9 and the Country Music Association Awards -- broadcast live on CBS -- where they're nominated for both Entertainer and Duo of the Year.

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