In 2019, when Brooks & Dunn collaborated with such hot new artists as Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde and Brothers Osborne for Restarta collection of duets featuring some of the superstar duo’s most popular songs, they never imagined that within five years a whole host of new rising stars would revisit the concept.

Restart proved to be such a huge success – it gave the Country Hall of Fame pair their first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in a decade – that it seemed natural to, well, reboot Restartbut with a few twists.

Restart IIout November 15th on Sony Music Nashville, features a legion of new country artists, many of whom were just finding their first success or weren’t even signed five years ago, including Megan Moroney, Hailey Whitters, Lainey Wilson, Ernest and Warren Zeiders, but the new set also expands the concept to include rockers Halestorm and bluesmen Marcus King and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Other artists on the album include Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, HARDY and Corey Kent.

“It was even more impressive to sit down with this group and give them the freedom to make the songs the way they wanted to do it,” says Ronnie Dunn Billboard. “The funny thing was that we weren’t chasing the original recordings, arrangements or our versions. We gave them the freedom to do what they wanted, and I’m biased, but it was really refreshing.”

When I heard some of their songs, still recognizable but turned upside down and reimagined with new arrangements, tempos or even in other genres, “I realized how good we are,” Dunn says with a laugh, before adding seriously, “I think we’re lucky to have these songs where you can push the chameleon button and they change color and just keep ticking.”

Unlike the first edition, where Kacey Musgraves and a few other artists turned their interpretations on their head, but the remakes mostly stayed true to the originals, half the fun is listening Restart II are the unexpected paths some of the songs take – like the slowed-down, sensual duet between Moroney and Dunn on “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You,” the Earls of Leicester’s spirited bluegrass version of “How Long Gone,” and Marcus King’s fast-paced version of “Rock My World (Little Country Girl),” which screams right out of the gate.

It turns out that Brooks & Dunn, one of the most successful country duos with 20 number one hits on the Country Airplay charts, would have happily embraced more reinvention on their first attempt. “I think artistically, Kix and I wanted to let the horse run like we did the first time – but the brief was, ‘Hey, this is an experiment. We’ve never done this before, so let’s try to get the hang of it.’ And we were very happy with that. But this is a whole different caliber.” Then he adds with a laugh that can only be described as mischievous, “I mean, this is going to offend some people!”

Considering how Halestorm takes Brooks & Dunn’s classic “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” to the extreme with screaming guitars and how Dunn goes head to head with lead singer Lizzy Hale, this is more of a surprise than an insult.

“(Halestorm) did not disappoint,” says Kix Brooks, adding that after more than 30 years of partnership, it’s good for Brooks & Dunn to shake things up a bit. “At this point in our career, we can’t really worry about that, especially with a record like this and especially when we’re bringing in some of the artists we’ve brought in, like Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Halestorm. Halestorm is a really badass, really great rock band and no matter what song they come in with their heads, they’re going to bang.”

In addition, Brooks says some of the artists elevated Brooks & Dunn’s performance in ways that excited them. “It was fun to see Ronnie go toe-to-toe with Lizzy,” he says. “I just thought, ‘Good luck, buddy’ – but he did. I feel like a lot of the stuff really challenged us in ways that maybe we hadn’t before. Kingfish came in on ‘Hard Workin’ Man’ with that funky blues thing, because that’s what he does with his band… and then I thought, ‘Holy shit. How are we going to fit in?’ That was a whole new level of fun.”

Like the first RestartBrooks & Dunn were in the studio with the acts – no artist added their parts individually, as is the case with many such collaborative albums.

“I felt like it would be rude not to be there,” Dunn says. The duo largely left it up to their guests to come up with new interpretations, but were on hand to help if the artist “got stuck, and it became a team sport to figure things out.”

While Dann Huff produced Restartthis time he still has the majority Restart IIs tracks – but the artists were also encouraged to use producers and musicians they regularly work with, bringing Joey Moi, Kristian Bush and Jerry Douglas into the mix (along with some unintentional levity). “Kristian, who produced Megan, has a very cosmic approach to production,” says Brooks. “He was doing this thing with his hands, like, ‘We just need to weave this and that into this,’ and I thought, ‘You’ve got that, haven’t you, Ronnie?'”

“We almost threw him out the window,” Dunn says, laughing. Restart II “was the most fun we’ve ever had,” also because there was no pressure.

The album contains 18 tracks, including six songs that were released on Restart, reissued with various artists for Restart II. “You think, ‘How can I do this differently? How can I avoid repeating myself? And everyone has found a new way to put a new spin on it,'” says Dunn. Brooks cites Luke Combs’ straightforward interpretation of “Brand New Man” for Restartwhile Warren Zeiders slows down the melody significantly on Restart II and give it a “Nirvana-like groove”.

When asked whether there is a Restart III In five years, Dunn says, “we’ll probably have to write a lot more new songs,” then adds, “We’re both writing all the time.”

The new versions also seem to be leading to new fans discovering the duo. “We asked our audience on tour this summer, ‘How many of you are at your first Brooks & Dunn show?'” and probably 70% of the audience are raising their hands in the air right now,” says Brooks. “They’re discovering these songs. We’re experiencing a kind of rebirth on stage that’s hard to describe.”

Although Brooks & Dunn took a break from touring from 2010 to 2015, they don’t want to see their tour end. The first leg of their 2025 Neon Moon Tour, produced by Live Nation, kicks off March 13 in Lubbock, Texas and runs through April 26 in Louisville.

“We’re finally at a point where we don’t have to worry about anything anymore and we can just go out and enjoy it,” Brooks says.

“We still attract as many people as we did in our heyday, so let’s rock it,” says Dunn, adding with a laugh, “And we’re still pretty.”

Brooks & Dunn – Restart 2 Tracklist