This week marks the release of New to This Town, the first solo album for Kix Brooks since Brooks & Dunn wrapped their run as the most successful duo in country music history — and with all those years of playing for packed stadiums, there were more than a few aspiring artists out watching their show, and one of those people was Chris Young. And now that Chris has a great music career of his own, it still blows his mind sometimes that he gets to know people like Kix. (AUDIO INFO BELOW)

• On November 15th, Chris will kick-off his Liquid Neon tour with his first-ever headlining appearance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium! Keep up with Chris’ upcoming appearances and info at ChrisYoungCountry.com!

  Chris Young says that he’s a big fan of Kix Brooks. (:51)
“I still think it’s funny that Kix Brooks knows who I am. I actually did a show when I was, like, 16, and I won this contest to open Country Thunder, which is up in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, every year, and Brooks & Dunn were playin’ on that show. And I remember, like, watching out from front of house — there’s all these, you know, thousands of country fans — it’s Brooks & Dunn! Kix Brooks is, like, losin’ his mind up on stage, and I met him more recently as an artist and have done a couple things where I was just kinda chattin’ with him backstage, and we did a show together not too long ago. We did one of the fairs and festivals that we were a part of, Kix was playin’ and we were playin’, and I ran into him — he was like, ‘Hey, Chris, how ya doin’?’ And it just blows my mind ’cause I’ve been such a fan for so long, it’s just kinda weird. (laughs) But he’s such a nice guy, man. I love Kix.”