Ronnie Dunn enjoyed more than 20 years of success as one-half of the award-winning duo Brooks & Dunn and, following his professional split from Kix Brooks, has gone on to launch a successful solo career. In other words, Dunn has found the type of success as an artist that most people only dream about -- and he has some words of wisdom for younger artists just beginning to make their mark in country music.

"You see young artists coming out, and they’re not prepared for what they’re going to face. Little things you do and say, ego, things like that -- they’ll stop you dead in your tracks," Dunn tells The Boot, noting that he and Brooks "have talked about this over the years" and concluded that "good management early on" was key.

"They were really, really good with sitting us down and keeping our heads straight and our feet on the ground," Dunn adds.

Dunn also believes that the fact that he was in his late 30s by the time Brooks & Dunn's debut album, Brand New Man, came out was part of the secret to his success.

"When we started, we were a little bit older, too," Dunn notes. "We had been humbled by the business just beating us back, beating us back. So we were very appreciative, maybe hyper-appreciative, of what we were going through."

Dunn's newest solo album, Tattooed Heart, is available for purchase at Amazon and iTunes.

See Ronnie Dunn + More Country Stars Then and Now

More From TheBoot