Kix Brooks Featured in Readers Digest Christmas Issue -- It Won't Be Christmas Without You Catalyzes Magazine Appearance

Nashville: It's one of American's oldest and best read publications. They're one of country music's most successful -- 24 million sold, 22 #1s, the wildly successful Neon Circus & Wild West Shows -- acts. In December, Reader's Digest features Kix Brooks of reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainers of the Year Brooks & Dunn in a special version of their "Unforgettable" column on Christmas memories that changed the lives of the people living them.

"Believe it or not, I subscribe to Readers Digest," says Brooks from somewhere on the road. "It's one of those magazines where you get a little bit of everything… You sort of survey the world, the people in it, what's going on. I like it, so I was happy to give them something that worked for their Christmas issue."

Worked did it! Brooks' story of the Christmas present he and wife Barbara received when he was a struggling songwriter hammering out his first record deal with Capitol Nashville is a complete attitude adjuster -- and it joins stories from fellow celebs Sela Ward,Peggy Lipton, Della Reese, Catherine Hicks, poet Maya Angelou, J.C. Watts, political consultants and commentators James Carville/Mary Matalin, Daniel Radcliffe, Marlee Matlin and Dan Rather.

"That's the beauty of Readers Digest," Brooks continues. "You never know who you're going to read about or read something from, but they're always interesting people."

Brooks & Dunn, whose "Every River" is scorching the charts -- leaping to #29* from #36* in three weeks, is enjoying the year. With three consecutive #1s - the 2001 Billboard Country Single of the Year with their 6 week #1 "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You," the surging patriotism of "Only In America" and the searing "The Long Good-Bye" -- it's the duo first repeat of that trick since their Brand New Man debut. And the Neon Circus & Wild West Show again dominated the touring plane, being the largest grossing per date country show on the road.

And now the fiery but frolicsome pair, nominated for Entertainer and Duo of the Year at this year's Country Music Association Awards, are gearing up for their first Christmas record: the longingly-titled It Won't Be Christmas Without You. The title song -- a classic string-bathed paean of regret and holiday misery -- was written by Ronnie Dunn and Tulsa-era Eric Clapton/Leon Russell vet Jerry Lynn Williams.

"Those weepy Christmas songs are as much the tradition as anything," says Dunn, with a tilt of his head. "And we've got plenty of everything on here, don't think we don't… but when we say 'everything,' we mean everything -- from jolly to blue."

Get It Won't Be Christmas Oct. 22 -- and pick up December's Readers Digest to find out about one very special gift that changed one struggling young couple's life.

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