Rascal Flatts

Rascal Flatts, the best-selling country trio, was formed by three men with shared roots and a fateful meeting in Nashville. Gary LeVox (lead vocals) and Jay DeMarcus (multi-instrumentalist/vocalist) are second cousins from Columbus, Ohio. DeMarcus, having moved to Nashville first, convinced LeVox to join him in 1997 to work on music, initially performing as a duo. The lineup was completed when they met Joe Don Rooney (guitarist/vocalist), a native of Oklahoma. DeMarcus and Rooney met while playing in Chely Wright’s band. The trio officially formed in 1999 when their regular guitarist missed a gig at a Nashville club, and DeMarcus invited Rooney to fill in. Their immediate chemistry and tight harmonies convinced them to form a permanent group, which they named Rascal Flatts and signed with Lyric Street Records later that year. Beyond their musical success, the trio is celebrated for extensive charity work. Their most significant commitment is to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, to which they have donated millions of dollars over the years. In 2010, the hospital honored their generosity by renaming its pediatric surgery center the "Rascal Flatts Surgery Center." They are also dedicated supporters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the American Red Cross, and ACM Lifting Lives, consistently leveraging their fame to support medical research and children’s well-being.

Rascal Flatts, the trio of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney, defined country music’s mainstream pop sound for two decades. They achieved immediate success following their 2000 debut, which included the breakout hit "Prayin' for Daylight." Their career was marked by consistent chart dominance, racking up sixteen number-one hits and becoming one of the most awarded groups in country music history. They famously swept the CMA Vocal Group of the Year award every year from 2003 to 2008. Their signature sound—blending country roots with pop production and R&B-influenced vocals—propelled multi-platinum albums like Feels Like Today and Me and My Gang. Iconic singles include the tearjerker "What Hurts The Most," the uplifting anthem "Bless The Broken Road," and their massive crossover cover of "Life Is a Highway." The band’s true financial and cultural power lay in their extensive touring. Beginning their headlining tours in 2004, Rascal Flatts became one of the top-selling live acts globally, selling over 11 million concert tickets in their career. Their tours, such as the Rewind Tour and Rhythm and Roots Tour, were consistently among the highest-grossing in country music. The band originally announced a Farewell: Life Is a Highway Tour for 2020 to mark their 20th anniversary, but the trek was canceled due to the pandemic. They later returned to the road for the Life Is A Highway Tour in 2025/2026, celebrating their 25th anniversary and confirming their status as enduring live legends.