Brooks & Dunn and Lainey Wilson Ignite CMA Fest 2025 with “Play Something Country”
There are nights at CMA Fest that feel like history in the making — when the past, present, and future of country collide in a single song. That’s exactly what happened on the summer stage in Nashville when Brooks & Dunn invited Lainey Wilson to join them for a raucous performance of their 2005 hit “Play Something Country.”
What followed wasn’t just a crowd-pleaser. It was a passing of the torch — and a reminder that country music, in all its grit and swagger, still knows how to bring the house down.
Brooks & Dunn: Legends Still on Fire
For decades, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks have been the duo who could electrify any stage. With Ronnie’s powerhouse voice soaring over ballads and barn-burners alike, and Kix’s boundless energy whipping crowds into a frenzy, Brooks & Dunn have earned their place as one of the greatest country acts of all time.
When they tore into the opening of “Play Something Country,” the energy was instant. Ronnie’s vocals hit with the same grit and fire that made the song a mid-2000s anthem, while Kix raced across the stage with his trademark showmanship, grinning wide as he stoked the crowd’s roar. The song’s demand — to hear something real, something raw, something country — rang out like both a battle cry and a celebration.
Enter Lainey Wilson
Just when the crowd thought they knew what was coming, Lainey Wilson charged onto the stage. Cowgirl hat tipped low, denim hugging her frame, she came with swagger, fire, and the unmistakable confidence of a star in full command of her rise.
Her voice cut through the Tennessee night like a shot of whiskey — smooth, strong, and burning all at once. She didn’t just sing the lines; she owned them, giving the song a fiery new edge that had fans screaming.
The chemistry was undeniable. Ronnie’s deep, soulful grit paired perfectly with Lainey’s bold power, while Kix egged them both on, spinning, dancing, and driving the crowd into a frenzy.
A Rowdy Anthem Reborn
“Play Something Country” has always been a song that celebrated the wild side of the genre — the honky-tonk girls, the Friday-night madness, the unapologetic demand for real country music. With Lainey stepping in, the anthem gained fresh bite.
Her energy didn’t just complement Brooks & Dunn — it challenged them, pushed them higher, and turned the performance into a duel of power and passion. By the time the chorus hit with all three voices locking together, the festival grounds erupted.
Fans weren’t just watching; they were living it. Dancing, shouting, raising their arms in rhythm, the audience became part of the celebration. The song stopped being a performance and became a party — a declaration that country music is alive, loud, and unstoppable.
A Collision of Legacy and Future
What made the performance unforgettable wasn’t only the fire on stage but the symbolism behind it. Brooks & Dunn are icons whose career has defined modern country, selling out arenas and leaving a trail of hits that remain anthems. Lainey Wilson, meanwhile, represents the new wave — bold, unfiltered, and unapologetically country.
Their collaboration proved that legacy and future aren’t in competition; they’re in harmony. Brooks & Dunn showed they can still own the night. Lainey proved she can stand shoulder to shoulder with legends — and hold her ground.
The Moment Fans Will Never Forget
As the final chorus roared, Ronnie, Kix, and Lainey leaned into the mic together, harmonizing with the kind of raw joy that can’t be rehearsed. Fireworks lit the Nashville sky. Fans were on their feet, singing until they were hoarse, swept up in a performance that will be replayed in memories for years to come.
It didn’t just rock the festival. It wrote a new chapter — one where the road Brooks & Dunn paved met the trail Lainey Wilson is blazing.
By the end of the night, it was clear: this wasn’t just a duet. It was a collision of generations, a full-throttle reminder that the heart of country beats strongest when its legends and rising stars ride together.