During a concert in Indianapolis, country music icon Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn unexpectedly walked off stage in the middle of the duo’s encore performance of their hit “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” His sudden exit left fans alarmed, especially since many had already noticed he appeared to be struggling earlier in the evening.
A representative later explained that Dunn’s departure was due to illness. The spokesperson revealed he “wasn’t feeling well from being sick” and was dealing with both strep throat and COVID-19—an uncomfortable combination Dunn lightheartedly dubbed “strovid.” He had previously spoken about these health issues at a show in Houston, remarking that “the flu and strep aren’t a singer’s friend.”
Clips from the Indianapolis performance quickly spread online, showing Dunn looking fatigued and occasionally sitting on the stage steps. During the encore, he encouraged the audience to “sing it if you know it,” then signaled to his bandmates that he could no longer continue. He tapped his chest, waved to the crowd, and left the stage. Some attendees reported that his voice had sounded strained and that he may have briefly stepped away earlier in the show due to breathing difficulties.
Despite the scare, the band’s representative assured fans that Dunn was on the mend and that the tour schedule remained intact. Remarkably, he was back performing just two days later. While concerning, the incident underscored Dunn’s commitment to his fans and his resilience in performing through significant illness.
