On This Day in 1992, Brooks & Dunn Were at No. 1 with a Song They Were Afraid to Release

On this day (August 4) in 1992, Brooks & Dunn were at the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” It was the fourth single and fourth consecutive No. 1 from their debut album, Brand New Man. Ronnie Dunn penned the song, but the duo wasn’t the first to record it. Legendary Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel cut it two years earlier for their album Keepin’ Me Up Nights.

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Brooks & Dunn saw unprecedented success with their debut album. It’s–and their–first four singles went to No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. When their debut single and the album’s title track, “Brand New Man,” topped the chart, they became the second country group to send their debut single to No. 1. Diamond Rio did it three months earlier with “Meet in the Middle.”

[RELATED: On This Day in 1991, Brooks & Dunn Introduced Themselves to Country Fans with a No. 1 Single]

The duo’s first three releases were multi-week No. 1 singles, each spending two weeks atop the country chart. “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” was the most successful single from the album, topping the chart for four consecutive weeks. It was also their final chart-topper from the album. They wouldn’t top the chart again until 1993 with “That Ain’t No Way to Go.”

Brooks & Dunn haven’t achieved the same level of success since the release of their initial singles. However, they spent most of the 1990s in the top 10. They missed the upper region of the chart four times, three of which came in 1999.

Brooks & Dunn Were Afraid of “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”

“Boot Scootin’ Boogie” was a massive hit for Brooks & Dunn. It spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Additionally, it sparked an international dance craze that started in Canada and dominated bars and clubs across the United States. Today, it’s one of the duo’s signature songs. However, they originally didn’t want to release it.

“We were afraid of ‘Boot Scoot,’ and the label was, to release it,” Ronnie Dunn said. “That’s why it was the fourth single on the first record. They were afraid it was too, I don’t know. Progressive isn’t the word, but just kind of pushing the limits. Too much. Isn’t that crazy?” he added.

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