Brooks & Dunn Bring 35 Years of Hits to Evansville Tour Opener
The country duo revisited the songs that built their career at the Ford Center, with opening sets from Tucker Wetmore and Caylee Hammack.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Date Published: September 11, 2026
Before Brooks & Dunn had 20 No. 1 hits and shelves full of awards, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn were two songwriters who barely knew each other. Arista Nashville label head Tim DuBois asked them to sit down together and see what they could create. That first writing session produced “Brand New Man,” the debut single that introduced Brooks & Dunn to country music - and the song they chose to open their new tour 35 years later at the Ford Center in Evansville.
After “Brand New Man,” the duo brought fresh musical arrangements to several early hits. Ronnie led “My Next Broken Heart,” their second consecutive No. 1, and “She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind” before Kix took the lead on “Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up for Nothing.”
Following “We’ll Burn That Bridge,” Ronnie paused to recognize the 35th anniversary of Brand New Man and announced that the album will be released on vinyl for the first time on October 23. The anniversary was not the only career milestone surrounding the tour opener. Earlier that day, Brooks & Dunn received their 26th CMA Vocal Duo of the Year nomination. They have won the award for the past two years and a record 16 times overall, making them the most decorated act in the category.
Next came the ’90s favorite “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone.” The set continued with “Ain’t Nothing ’Bout You,” a six-week No. 1 and country radio’s most-played song of 2001.
“Red Dirt Road” became a full-arena sing-along and one of the night’s highlights. Kix returned to lead vocals for “Lost and Found.” He noted that it was the fifth single from Brand New Man, released after the album’s first four singles had all reached No. 1. The album ultimately sold seven million copies.
Evansville fans have welcomed Brooks & Dunn for more than three decades, most recently at the Ford Center for the 2022 opening of their Reboot tour. Before that came a 2004 Roberts Stadium show and three appearances there with Reba McEntire in 1992, 1997, and 1998. Brooks & Dunn first came to Evansville for the Vanderburgh County Fair in 1992, just months before “Hard Workin’ Man” was released to country radio. The song, which earned the duo their first Grammy, came next in Thursday night’s set.
“Play Something Country,” their 20th No. 1 hit, kept the momentum going before the show turned more reflective with “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.” “Hillbilly Deluxe” picked the pace back up, its hard-driving guitar work putting Brooks & Dunn’s band at the center of the performance.
As the opening groove of “Neon Moon” filled the Ford Center, a giant blue moon descended from the rafters. Ronnie traded choruses with the crowd before reaching the song’s defining, show-stopping final note. “Rock My World (Little Country Girl)” followed before Ronnie reaffirmed his standing as one of music’s premier vocalists with “My Maria.” The duo then briefly exited the stage before returning for an encore.
Roaring applause welcomed Brooks & Dunn back as the band snapped into the opening guitar riff of “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” On the eve of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, “Only in America” became a moment of shared pride. Local law enforcement officers joined the duo onstage as red, white, and blue confetti and streamers cascaded over the Ford Center crowd - a fitting finale to a tour-opening night that brought 35 years of Brooks & Dunn’s music and generations of fans together in Evansville.
Brooks & Dunn Evansville Setlist: Ford Center, September 10, 2026
The Brooks & Dunn setlist for their September 10, 2026, concert at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, included 18 songs spanning more than three decades.
“Brand New Man”
“My Next Broken Heart”
“She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind”
“Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up for Nothing”
“We’ll Burn That Bridge”
“You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone”
“Ain’t Nothing ’Bout You”
“Red Dirt Road”
“Lost and Found”
“Hard Workin’ Man”
“Play Something Country”
“Cowgirls Don’t Cry”
“Hillbilly Deluxe”
“Neon Moon”
“Rock My World (Little Country Girl)”
“My Maria”
Encore
“Boot Scootin’ Boogie”
“Only in America”
Tucker Wetmore Setlist: Brooks & Dunn’s 2026 Tour Opener in Evansville
Tucker Wetmore’s setlist for Brooks & Dunn’s 2026 tour opener at Evansville’s Ford Center included “Wind Up Missin’ You,” “Wine Into Whiskey,” and “Brunette.”
“Proving Me Right”
“Break First”
“Wine Into Whiskey”
“Crazy to Yourself”
“Sunburn”
Pop medley:
“I Don’t Want to Be” — Gavin DeGraw cover
“This Love” — Maroon 5 cover
“Drops of Jupiter” — Train cover
“Bohemian Rhapsody” — Queen cover
“3,2,1”
“What Would You Do?”
“Who Told You That”
Medley:
“Keep Your Hands to Yourself” — The Georgia Satellites cover
“All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” — Hank Williams Jr. cover
“I Like It, I Love It” — Tim McGraw cover
“Wind Up Missin’ You”
“Brunette”
Caylee Hammack Setlist: Brooks & Dunn’s 2026 Tour Opener in Evansville
Caylee Hammack’s setlist for Brooks & Dunn’s 2026 tour opener at Evansville’s Ford Center included “Redhead,” “Small Town Hypocrite,” “Family Tree,” and a cover of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.”
“All or Nothing”
“Redhead”
“Must Be Nice”
“9 to 5” — Dolly Parton cover
“Small Town Hypocrite”
“Family Tree”
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