Rascal Flatts

Biography

Rascal Flatts was an American country music trio formed in Columbus, Ohio, in 1999. The group consisted of Gary LeVox as the lead vocalist, his second cousin Jay DeMarcus on bass guitar and vocals, and Joe Don Rooney on lead guitar and vocals. DeMarcus and LeVox, hailing from a musical family, moved to Nashville in the mid-1990s to pursue their music careers. DeMarcus first joined a Christian group called East to West before meeting Rooney while they were both part of Chely Wright's band. One night, when their regular guitarist couldn't make a gig at a Printer's Alley nightclub, DeMarcus invited Rooney to sit in with him and LeVox. The chemistry between the three was immediate, leading to the formation of Rascal Flatts.

Musical Career

The trio signed with Lyric Street Records in late 1999 and released their self-titled debut album in 2000. The album's lead single, "Prayin' for Daylight," became a Top 3 hit on the Billboard country chart. This was the first of many successful singles for the band. Their sophomore album, "Melt" (2002), featured their first number-one single, "These Days." Subsequent albums like "Feels Like Today" (2004), "Me and My Gang" (2006), "Still Feels Good" (2007), and "Unstoppable" (2009) all reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart.

After Lyric Street Records closed in 2010, Rascal Flatts signed with Big Machine Records. They continued their success with albums including "Nothing Like This" (2010), "Changed" (2012), and "Rewind" (2014). Throughout their career, the band sold over 23 million albums and had 17 number-one hits. They are known for their crossover appeal, with hits like "What Hurts the Most" and their cover of "Life Is a Highway" for the Disney/Pixar film "Cars."

Awards and Recognition

Rascal Flatts received numerous awards throughout their career. They were named Vocal Group of the Year by the Country Music Association (CMA) from 2003 to 2008 and Top Vocal Group by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) from 2003 to 2009. The group also won the CMA's Horizon Award (for new artists) in 2002. In 2011, they were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, and in 2012, they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Disbandment and Reunion

In January 2020, Rascal Flatts announced they would be embarking on a farewell tour to celebrate their 20th anniversary, after which they would disband. However, the tour was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the group's official disbandment was confirmed in October 2021. The reasons cited for the breakup included Joe Don Rooney's decision to quit the band and creative differences among the members. In October 2024, the trio announced a reunion tour for 2025 to commemorate their 25th anniversary.