Brooks & Dunn singer Ronnie Dunn surprised fans at a recent concert when he abruptly left the stage as the band was still playing an encore.
Dunn, 71, and bandmate Kix Brooks were performing “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday, April 3, when Dunn exited mid-song.
In a TikTok video shared by radio host Matt Malone, Dunn told the crowd to “sing it if you know it” before turning to one of his band members and making a “cut it off” motion with his hand while shaking his head. He then walked to the front of the stage and waved to the crowd before making his exit.
“Feel better, Ronnie!!!” Malone captioned the clip. “Thanks for giving us all you could!!”
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After the video made headlines, Brooks & Dunn fans weighed in with concerned comments about Dunn’s health. “We hope Ronnie gets well soon. Great show in Indy. B&D never disappoints!” one fan wrote via Instagram.
Another person claimed on Facebook that the singer-songwriter had confirmed earlier in the concert he didn’t feel well. “I was there in Indy on 4/3,” she wrote. “Ronnie admitted to be struggling to breathe during the concert. I must report he still sounded great. But it was obvious he was not feeling well. Still an awesome show. Prayers for Ronnie for sure.”
One Facebook user said she had attended a show in Texas last month where Dunn told the audience he’d recently battled COVID and strep throat.
A rep for Brooks & Dunn confirmed to Us Weekly on Monday, April 7, that Dunn was sick and noted the next tour date went on as planned. The band performed at the Allstate Arena outside Chicago on Saturday, April 5.
Brooks & Dunn formed in 1988 and later became one of the most popular country acts of the ’90s, releasing hits including “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” “Brand New Man,” “Neon Moon” and more. They announced their split in 2009 but reunited in 2015 for a series of concerts with frequent collaborator Reba McEntire.
In 2019, the pair announced a new album, Reboot, which featured rerecorded versions of their hits with guest vocals from other country stars including Kacey Musgraves, Luke Combs and Kane Brown. A sequel to the album, Reboot II, dropped in November 2024 and featured artists including Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and Megan Moroney.
