PROVO — For Kix Brooks, the Fourth of July normally means a sunshine-filled day with family at the lake: He and the other half of the sizzling country duo, Brooks & Dunn, rarely perform on the holiday.
"A while back we made a pact to take the day off," Brooks said. "We've toured year-round for 16 years, and you learn as you get older you just gotta pick some spots here and there to put an 'x' on the calendar."
But this year, the country singers — who have sold more than 30 million albums, had more than 23 No. 1 hit songs and earned more than 80 industry awards — are making an exception. As the headline act for the Stadium of Fire, Brooks & Dunn are performing in Provo today.
It's the first Fourth of July concert for the duo in "years and years," Brooks said. But the request was made with "such passion," he and Dunn could hardly refuse, he said. Persistent event planners tried for five years to get the country singers to play the concert before they finally agreed.
"I've been hearing about this festival for years," Brooks said, chuckling. "It's a big fest. It's a great play."
Brooks & Dunn will be the first headline act to perform a full 14-song concert at the Stadium of Fire. The pair put together a custom lineup of songs for the festival, including the 2001 hit, "Only in America," which became an iconic symbol of hope after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Corbin Bleu, one of the stars of Disney's "High School Musical," will join the duo on stage during the show, and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will perform a few numbers with his band, Politically Incorrect. During several large choir and dance numbers, local community members will share the spotlight.
"We'll have fun music — very celebratory — and some intimate moments when we'll remember the sacrifices that have been made," said Brad Pelo, senior executive producer of the Stadium of Fire.
In addition to celebrating what Pelo refers to as the "fun things about being an American," performers will reflect on the melting-pot nature of the country and the pursuit of the "American dream." Highlights will include a stadium-size American flag and the lighting of a life-size replica of the Statue of Liberty's torch, he said.
Paul Warner, executive director for America's Freedom Foundation, the nonprofit organization which funds the Stadium of Fire, said all the performers, including Brooks & Dunn, were chosen because of the dedication they have shown to the values the celebration promotes — freedom, family, God and country.
Brooks said he admires Utah residents for the very same values.
"I'm not trying to play to the crowd or anything, but I find more than any place in America, family values are stronger in Utah than anywhere I've been," he said. "It's important to have special times with kids and family — if you've lost sight of that, you're not in the right place."
The Stadium of Fire will be broadcast live to U.S. troops across the world on the Armed Forces Network. Brooks & Dunn, who rarely perform live shows, are making another exception.
Brooks, whose radio program "American Country Countdown" is also broadcast on the network, is looking forward to cheering up the nation's soldiers.
"With the sacrifices these people are making, you just can't do enough to honor them," he said.
Although this won't be Brooks' first visit to Utah he's been to Salt Lake City a few times and checked out the slopes in Park City — it will be his first time in Utah County.
"We haven't been to Provo," he said. "We're so fired up."
E-mail: estuart@desnews.com