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Born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, Kix Brooks was influenced by a variety of regional
musical styles ranging from Cajun to Blues to Jazz to Country.
Brooks began performing at age 12, then continued performing in clubs and at other venues
throughout high school. He also began writing songs at that time. Eventually he landed in
Nashville, where he joined Tree Publishing Company. Shortly thereafter, artists like the Nitty
Gritty Dirt Band, John Conlee and Highway 101 all scored #1’s with Brooks’ songs.
In 1990 Brooks teamed with Ronnie Dunn to form Brooks & Dunn, who are the highest selling
duo in the history of country music. They have sold more than 30 million records, won more
than 75 major industry awards, had 23 #1 hits, and set a new record with their 41st top 10 single,
breaking a tie with Alabama as the duo or group with the most Top 10 country singles in the
history of Nielsen BDS-monitored airplay.
Never one to let the grass grow under his feet, Brooks ventured into the world of radio in 2006
when he took over the hosting reins of the long-running syndicated radio program, American
Country Countdown. Brooks reflected on his reason for joining ACC as host, “I really enjoy
what I do for a living. I love this business. I love the characters and personalities in this
business. At the end of the day, it’s all about sharing those stories.” The broadcast industry
took note, and in 2009, honored him with the National Broadcasting Personality of the Year
award, making Brooks the first person to ever win a CMA in both the artist and broadcast
categories.
Brooks served as President, in 2004, and Chairman, in 2005, of the Country Music Association
(CMA). He remains an active board member of the CMA. Brooks is also on the boards of
Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and Avenue Bank, and previously served on the Nashville
Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is the local spokesperson for Monroe Harding Children’s
Home and is a founding partner of Arrington Vineyards in Arrington, TN. Brooks and his wife
Barbara have two children, Molly and Eric
