I think that every artist dreams of the day they finally make it, and earn those big bucks doing something they love. For Brooks & Dunn, that day finally came, and they've looked back on the moment they realized they had made it, and a ton of money to boot.
Videos by Wide Open Country
As a musician, most of the time you're going to be broke. For almost every artist, the reality is being on the breadline. But, every so often, there is one that manages to break out. Nobody ever expects to make their millions, but art is love, and so they persevere.
But Brooks & Dunn did make it, and when their first royalty checks for their music arrived, they couldn't believe it. They had become millionaires overnight, which was beyond belief. Speaking on The Bobby Bones Show, they looked back on the fateful day.
"Nothing more fun than literally being broke on your ass your whole life and walking back with a check with two commas on it," they said. "We were on the bus, we had gotten royalty checks, like the same day. I open it first, I didn't know what it was. I turn it and I say, 'Whoa, Kix, I just became a millionaire!' And he's like, 'Okay as--ole." He could hardly believe the amount.
"Then he [Brooks] tears his open and he goes, 'Yeah, me too." The two of them laughed straight to the bank with it. They had plans for the money, and their plans paid off.
Turning Millions Into Multimillions for Brooks & Dunn
They certainly didn't rest on their laurels, though. With those first huge royalty checks, Brooks & Dunn have gone on to earn many more, and become icons in the country music scene. One single massive check wasn't enough to make them comfortable.
The beauty of making music is that it isn't about the money. Even if Brooks & Dunn hadn't made a fat million, I am sure they would still be making music. But they did, and it made all the hard work worth it. They earned every penny of their money, and still continue pleasing crowds and producing great country music.
