Rascal Flatts got their start playing in small bars and clubs, and although they’ve since graduated to arenas and amphitheaters, they still remember and appreciate those early gigs. “There’s somethin’ to be said for havin’ a little intimate crowd and bein’ able to connect with each and every person in the room,” says Jay DeMarcus. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t pay the bills. So we have to go to larger arenas in order to do what we do. But, we do love goin’ back. Every once in a while we’ll go back to a club and sit down and do a couple sets just to remind ourselves how much we love the old days.”

Rascal Flatts is currently out on their Rewind Tour playing their arena-size hits like “Fast Cars and Freedom,” “Me and My Gang” and their current single, “Payback.”

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Rascal Flatts – bars vs arenas :29
Jay DeMarcus – “There are great things to both, but we started out playin’ in little bars and clubs in Nashville, Tennessee, and there’s somethin’ to be said for havin’ a little intimate crowd and bein’ able to connect with each and every person in the room. Unfortunately, that doesn’t pay the bills. So we have to go to larger arenas in order to do what we do. But, we do love goin’ back. Every once in a while we’ll go back to a club and sit down and do a couple sets just to remind ourselves how much we love the old days.”

WHAT THEY’RE DOING THIS WEEK – SEPTEMBER 1, 2014 – MONDAY 

Rascal Flatts played a show in the Bahamas last night (8/31) at Atlantis. The guys also appeared on the MDA telethon that aired Sunday (8/31) through Monday (9/1). After some time in Paradise Island, the trio is back on the tour bus playing shows on their “Rewind Tour” with shows on Thursday (9/4) at Darien Lake in Darien Lake, New York, on Friday (9/5) in Cincinnati, Ohio and on Saturday (9/6) at the First Niagara Pavilion in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

RASCAL FLATTS – JUST THE FACTS

MEMBERS: Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney

BIRTH DATES: Gary – July 10, 1970 (He’s 44) Jay – April 26, 1971 (He’s 43)  Joe Don – September 13, 1975 (He’s 38)

HOMETOWN / ORIGIN: Columbus, Ohio (Gary and Jay) Picher, Oklahoma (Joe Don)

WIVES: Gary’s wife’s name is Tara. Jay’s wife’s name is Allison. Joe Don’s wife’s name is Tiffany.

CHILDREN: Gary has two daughters, Jay has a daughter and a son and Joe Don has a girl and a boy with a baby on the way.

DEBUT SINGLE: “Prayin For Daylight” in 2000.

DEBUT ALBUM: Rascal Flatts released on 2000.

CURRENT ALBUM: Rewind  RELEASED: March 4, 2014

CURRENT SINGLE: “Payback” sits in the top 30 on the Country Aircheck chart this week.

GRAND OLE OPRY DEBUT: In 2000. They were made members of the Grand Ole Opry on October 8, 2011.

LATEST MUSIC VIDEO – 2014 – “Rewind”

RECENT TWEETS:

Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts  ·  Sunday, August 31
Tune in now to see the guys on @MDAnews Telethon airing on ABC! #MDAtelethon

Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts  ·  August 29
Before summer ends, give blood to help end the summer shortage. Find a @RedCross drive near you here: http://bit.ly/1e2YQfL #ChooseYourDay

Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts  ·  August 28
Flattheads- Show us your best pranks on Instagram with #RFPAYBACK & you could win! Chk it out: http://bit.ly/1zMLYRu

RASCAL FLATTS – AWARD WINS

2000 – Academy of Country Music – Top New Vocal Duo Or Group (presented 2001)

2002 – Country Music Association – Horizon Award

2002 – Academy of Country Music – Song of the Year (“I’m Movin’ On”) (presented 2003)

2002 – Academy of Country Music – Top Vocal Group (presented 2003)

2003 – CMT Flameworthy – Video Music Award for Group/Duo of the Year (“These Days”)

2003 – Country Music Association – Vocal Group of the Year

2003 – Academy of Country Music – Top Vocal Group (presented 2004)

2004 – CMT Flameworthy – Music Video Award for Group/Duo of the Year (“I Melt”)

2004 – Country Music Association – Vocal Group

2004 – Academy of Country Music  – Top Vocal Group (presented 2005)

2005 – CMT Music Award – Group/Duo of the Year (“Feels Like Today”)

2005 – Country Music Association – Vocal Group of the Year

2005 – Academy of Country Music – Top Vocal Group (presented 2006)

2005 – Radio Music Award – Song of the Year/Country Radio (“Bless The Broken Road”)

2005 – Billboard – Roadworks ’05 Touring Awards for Breakthrough Act[56]

2006 – CMT Music Award – Group/Duo of the Year (“Skin (Sarabeth)”)[57]

2006 – Country Music Association – Vocal Group of the Year

2006 – American Music Award – Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group

2006 – American Music Award – T-Mobile Text-In Award

2006 – People’s Choice Award – Favorite Song from a Movie (“Life Is A Highway”)

2006 – People’s Choice Award – Favorite Song Remake (“Life Is A Highway”)

2006 – CMT Loaded Awards – Number One Digitally Active Group/Duo

2006 – CMT Loaded Awards – Number One Streamed Music Video (“What Hurts the Most”)

2006 – Grammy Award – Best Country Song (“Bless the Broken Road”); songwriter award

2007 – CMT Music Award – Group Video of the Year (“What Hurts the Most”)

2007 – Academy of Country Music – Top Vocal Group (presented 2008)

2007 – Country Music Association – Vocal Group of the Year

2007 – American Music Award – Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group

2007 – BMI – Song of The Year (“What Hurts The Most”)

2008 – People’s Choice Awards – Favorite Country Song (“Stand”)

2008 – CMT Music Award – Group Video of the Year (“Take Me There”)

2008 – Academy of Country Music – Top Vocal Group (presented 2009)

2008 – Academy of Country Music – Humanitarian Award

2008 – Country Music Association – Vocal Group of the Year

2008 – American Music Award – Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group

2009 – People’s Choice Award – Favorite Group

2009 – CMT Music Award – Group Video of the Year (“Every Day”)

2010 – Star on the Music City Walk of Fame

2010 – American Country Award – Decade Artist award

2011 – Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award

2011 – CMT Music Award – for Collaborative Video of the Year (“That Should Be Me”)

2011 – Member of the Grand Ole Opry

2012 – CRS 2012 – Artist Humanitarian Award

2012 – Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

2013 – Academy of Country Music – Jim Reeves International Award (presented 2014)