Brooks & Dunn and Cody Johnson Reunite for Nostalgic “Red Dirt Road” Performance at the 60th ACM Awards
The 60th Annual ACM Awards in Frisco, Texas, delivered a powerful mix of legacy and new energy — and one of the most crowd-pleasing moments of the night came when Brooks & Dunn took the stage with Cody Johnson to perform the classic hit “Red Dirt Road.”
A Throwback with Fresh Fire
Performing at The Star in Frisco, the legendary duo and the Leather hitmaker transported fans straight back to the early 2000s with a rendition of “Red Dirt Road” that felt as timeless as ever. Originally released in 2003, the nostalgic anthem topped country charts and remains a fan favorite — and with Cody Johnson’s modern grit in the mix, the song was reborn with fresh power and authenticity.
Their onstage chemistry was effortless — a blend of old-school swagger and modern cowboy conviction that reminded the crowd just how much country music’s roots still matter.
Not Their First Rodeo
This wasn’t the first time Brooks & Dunn and Cody Johnson teamed up. In 2019, they collaborated on “Red Dirt Road” for Brooks & Dunn’s Reboot album — a collection of reimagined classics featuring modern artists. That version quickly became one of the album’s standout tracks and was previously performed together during their CMT Crossroads appearance.
More recently, the trio reunited on “Long Live Country Music,” a standout cut from Johnson’s 2023 album Leather, continuing their creative partnership.
A Well-Earned Win for Johnson
Just before the performance, Cody Johnson finally took home his first ACM Award — winning Song of the Year for “Dirt Cheap” after 17 nominations. It was a long-awaited and well-deserved moment for the Texas native, who has built his career the hard way — with touring grit, strong songwriting, and deep fan loyalty.
A Performance That Bridged Generations
With Ronnie Dunn’s signature vocals, Kix Brooks’s energy, and Cody Johnson’s modern-day outlaw soul, “Red Dirt Road” wasn’t just a performance — it was a celebration of country’s past, present, and future.
.@codyjohnson and @BrooksAndDunn out here showing em how to put on a show!!!! Hell yeah! #ACMawards #ACM60
— ♪♫ Nick Walker ♪♫ (@_NicholasWalker) May 9, 2025
🎶 It was one of those moments that makes the ACM Awards more than a show — it makes it a homecoming.
We sang Red Dirt Road, Kerosene and Remember When, we got Ella and Zach Top. ACMs doing a 10/10 job of mixing the old with the new. #ACMawards
— Emily Wagner (@Emily_Wagner12) May 9, 2025