Ronnie Dunn Laments the ‘Cost of Livin” on TV

Ronnie Dunn is making the television rounds promoting his current single, 'Cost of Livin',' with appearances scheduled on 'The Doctors' today (Dec. 5) and 'Dr. Phil' on Dec. 13. Although he was persuaded by execs to not record the song due to his hugely successful 20-year music career, the singer felt it necessary to become a voice of the people during the current economic crisis.

"The feedback on the song is overwhelming," Ronnie comments. "I've never had a song that's seemingly as relevant to the times and spot on to what's going on in America and the world right now."

Ronnie admits his own past lends to the credibility of the his current Top 20 single. "I grew up in trailer houses in New Mexico, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma," Ronnie tells CMIL. "We can all relate to it. I even look today at the cost to run a bus, it's insane."

"There is a very unique story about ['Cost Of Living']," Ronnie continues. "That song came to me in 2008. Phillip Coleman had written almost the entire song, all the verses and stuff. It didn't have a title. It didn't have a hook line [or] a chorus. I asked when I first heard it if I could have a shot at it, [saying], 'Could you just give me two days? I won't hold it up or anything.'"

That's when Ronnie came up with the lines, "two dollars and change at the pump, cost of living's high and going up," and the song quickly finished itself. While the country was reeling from financial losses all across America three years ago, some of the label chiefs felt the song wouldn't be relatable in the future. Ironically, Ronnie revised the lyrics to "three dollars and change at the pump" to better fit the rising cost of oil.

Ronnie scored his first Top 10 single as a solo artist with 'Bleed Red,' which fueled his self-titled album's debut at No. 1 on the country charts. 'Cost of Livin'' serves as the album's second radio single, currently sitting at No.