Rascal Flatts’ latest single, “Riot,” is a powerful song about the depth of a man’s love and what would happen if he ever lost the woman in his life. Jay DeMarcus heard the song late in the process of recording their latest album, Rewind, and he says, “It just absolutely blew me away.”

Jay knew he at least had to bring the song to the other guys to hear it, and when he played it for Gary LeVox, Gary asked, ‘Can we cut it tomorrow?’

Jay says, “It was just one of those things that was just a no-brainer and I knew with that chorus it was the kind of chorus Gary could really sink his teeth into and do what he does best.”

Rascal Flatts will kick off their Riot Tour on May 29th in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Rascal Flatts – finding Riot :46
Jay DeMarcus – “It came to us at the end of a very long day. I was havin’ a bunch of song meetings over at Big Machine and at the very end of the day, it was one of the last songs to be played and it was just Sara Haze singing with a piano, and it just absolutely blew me away. And after you have a long day like that your ears are sort of fatigued to begin with, and I knew that it was at least worthy of a play for these guys to hear it. So, I took it immediately, I think we were leavin’ that night, and the next day I called ‘em over to my bus and I said, ‘You gotta hear this song, I think this is a winner’ and Gary said, ‘Can we cut it tomorrow?’ So, it was just one of those things that was just a no-brainer and I knew with that chorus it was the kind of chorus Gary could really sink his teeth into and do what he does best.”

WHAT THEY’RE DOING THIS WEEK – MAY 18, 2015 – MONDAY 

Rascal Flatts kicked off their “Riot! Tour” over the weekend in Atlanta. The guys play a show this weekend (5/24) in at the Tree Town Music Festival in Forest City, Iowa.

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 44) Joe Don – September 13, 1975 (He’s 39)

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 two girls (one baby girl born September 2014) and a boy.

DEBUT SINGLE: “Prayin For Daylight” in 2000.

DEBUT ALBUM: Rascal Flatts released on 2000.

CURRENT ALBUM: Rewind  RELEASED: March 4, 2014

CURRENT SINGLE: “Riot” sits at number 23 on the country charts this week.

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

LATEST MUSIC VIDEO – 2015 – “Riot”

RECENT TWEETS:

Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts · 5h 5 hours ago
Darth Dylan. #awesome https://instagram.com/p/2w0gMToVYQ/

Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts · May 15
Who is comin out to see us on tour this summer?? Tix are on sale now here: http://www.rascalflatts.com/events

Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts · May 14
.@JayDeMarcus: Me & my buddy @lukehclemson at the #bmwproam today!! https://instagram.com/p/2qyJRHIVVP/

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)