LOOK – Brooks & Dunn rock a Cheyenne Frontier Days belt buckle onstage at the ACM Awards — again
May 19, 2026, 4:59 PM
Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn has closets full of awards. But when it came time to accept yet another trophy at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday (May 17), it was the hardware on his belt that caught the eyes of fans in Colorado and Wyoming.
For the second time in seven months, Dunn wore his Cheyenne Frontier Days belt buckle onstage at a major country music awards show as Brooks & Dunn collected Duo of the Year — their 18th win in the category, extending their own record as the most-awarded duo in ACM history. The award was presented at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and streamed on Prime Video.
“I don’t know why y’all aren’t getting sick of us,” Kix Brooks joked during the acceptance speech. “But we love y’all.”
If the buckle looks familiar to Front Range country fans, it should. Dunn sported the same Cheyenne Frontier Days belt buckle when the duo won Vocal Duo of the Year at the CMA Awards in November. Every artist who performs at Cheyenne Frontier Days receives one of the iconic buckles, and Brooks & Dunn have played the Daddy of ’em All multiple times through the years.
It’s a small detail, but it speaks volumes about the connection between one of country music’s biggest acts and the region that claims them. Cheyenne Frontier Days — the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration, now in its 130th year — sits just 100 miles north of Denver, making it a summertime pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands of Front Range residents every July. KYGO has served as a longtime media partner for the event, covering the Frontier Nights concert lineup, running ticket giveaways and broadcasting live from the grounds.
This year’s Frontier Nights lineup features Riley Green with Trace Adkins, Blake Shelton, Hardy, Zach Top with Jo Dee Messina, and The Red Clay Strays with Wyatt Flores, among others. The 2026 edition runs July 17-26.
Brooks & Dunn, meanwhile, are currently on the road with Morgan Wallen’s “I’m Still The Problem” Tour. Whether the buckle comes along for the ride remains to be seen — but at this point, it might be their lucky charm.
