Reba, Brooks & Dunn’s run at Caesars ending too soon

Courtesy of Caesars Palace

Kix Brooks, left, Reba McEntire, center, and Ronnie Dunn sit on stools at center stage during their “Reba, Brooks & Dunn: Together in Vegas” residency at Caesars Palace. The residency at the Colosseum, which dates to 2015, is ending its run with its last two shows this week.

By John Taylor (contact)

Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021 | 2 a.m.

If “Reba, Brooks & Dunn: Together in Vegas” residency indeed rides into the sunset after this week’s two shows, the artists should be able to look back on their Caesars Palace run knowing they’ve made country music history in Sin City.

The two acts first joined forces at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in June 2015, which has since become the longest-running country music residency in Las Vegas.

But for fans of Reba McEntire, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, as witnessed in their show Tuesday, the end might be too soon. Put simply, the chemistry they share when performing onstage together is something to be treasured, shared, seen and enjoyed.

Such was the case at their show Tuesday, jam-packed with songs, stories and one-liners that kept the full house entertained throughout the night.

Brooks early in the show remarked that he was sure most people were there to see McEntire. “We’re like the cole slaw on the barbecue plate,” he deadpanned. “You’re gonna get us too, whether you want us or not.”

If that was the case, Brooks and Dunn proved to be a pretty good side. The Grammy-winning duo filled the theater with energy with songs such as “Brand New Man,” “Neon Moon” and “Rock My World (Little Country Girl).” Later in the show, the audience was on its feet for a rollicking rendition of “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” followed by perhaps their biggest hit, their cover of “My Maria.”

For her part, the 66-year-old “Queen of Country” — spirited and sassy, graceful and God-fearing — is at home on the stage.

With the National Finals Rodeo in town, McEntire recounted how in 1974 her father had arranged for her to sing the national anthem to open a session of the NFR in Oklahoma City, and she was “discovered” by country singer Red Steagall. From there, she’s gone on to a nearly 50-year singing and acting career. After telling the story Tuesday, she launched into a touching tribute to her father, “Greatest Man I Ever Knew.”

Of course, the night also included her standards, including “Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” “I’m a Survivor,” the theme from her “Reba” television show, and “Fancy.”



The three headliners performing together, though, provided the full-course dinner plate. Among the highlights was a fast-paced medley of songs, “Little Miss Honky Tonk,” “Take It Back,” “Mama Don’t Get Dressed Up for Nothing,” “Little Rock,” “Put a Girl in It” and “Can’t Even Get the Blues.”

Toward the show’s end, the three sat on stools at the front of the stage to share stories and songs. Brooks offered that all songs can be placed in one of two categories: songs that matter and zippity do-dah songs. Lamenting that he usually sang the zippity do-dah variety, he joined Reba in a duet of a song that mattered, “You’re Gonna Miss Me When You’re Gone.”

With the final two shows of the residency on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, there’s a lot of truth in the title.