Brooks & Dunn featuring the one and only Lainey Wilson really stole the whole darn show at CMA Fest 2025! The duo rocked the joint with their hit “Play Something Country,” and country’s rising star Wilson was just the lass to bring it to the next level. I have to say, at 70 and 72 respectively, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn can sure throw down on stage. Wilson really gave the boys something to work with, working her magic on stage and creating an electric chemistry that had Nashville’s Nissan Stadium pumping.
Brooks & Dunn and their crack band delivered plenty of fretboard fireworks on the hard-driving country hit. This laid out the perfect platform for Brooks & Dunn to sing those hooky lines, while Wilson gave a playful performance that really brought the cheeky lyrics to life. Wilson just has so much fun onstage that it’s impossible not to crack a grin watching her perform, especially when it’s such a banging song. Fans in the comments said this was the performance of the night, and The Music Man has to agree!
Brooks & Dunn performed at CMA Fest on June 5, 2025, and uploaded their cut of “Play Something Country” to YouTube the following month. Fans were digging what the band laid out, adding comments such as “Thank the good Lord for Brooks and Dunn I gotta say the best duo ever,” and “Lainey absolutely crushes this performance. Wow. And the boys just slaying it on the guitars. Stadium just absolutely pumping.”
Brooks & Dunn have treated fans to several big collabs recently. The duo recently uploaded their rendition of “Believe” featuring Jelly Roll from the 58th Annual CMA Awards. Brooks laid down a stately piano part for the ballad, while Jelly Roll sang a heartfelt opening verse. The 1.7 million view performance was a great opportunity to see Jelly Roll working in a different musical format from his usual wheelhouse, and The Music Man has to say he really rose to the occasion.
Brooks & Dunn released “Play Something Country” as the first single from their ninth studio album Hillbilly Deluxe. The song topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, which was the duo’s 20th and final release to reach number one on the chart. In 2024, Brooks & Dunn reissued “Play Something Country” with Lainey Wilson appearing as the featured vocalist. The song opened their 12th studio album Reboot II, which featured re-recordings of their hits with guest vocalists.
