Rascal Flatts has been blessed with a lot of success throughout the years, but the thing they’re moist proud of is to be able to use the platform that success has created to give back in a big way. Jay DeMarcus explains, “We always believed from the earliest days of Rascal Flatts that if we were ever in a position to have a huge platform and be blessed, we would pay those blessings forward and give back as much as we could because it just felt like the right thing to do.”
When they had the opportunity to pick the primary charities they would want to support, Nashville’s own Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital seemed like a perfect choice. Jay says, “That was just such a wonderful place and right here in our own back yard. And it just seemed like a natural thing to do to be able to help those people continue to do what they do. And it’s such a special, magical place, and there are so many wonderful people over there. So for us, it just felt like a natural thing to do and something that we’re so proud to leave behind as part of our legacy.”
Part of their legacy will include the Rascal Flatts Surgical Wing, which they helped fund through years of fundraising concerts, that is now a permanent part of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.
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Rascal Flatts – Vanderbilt legacy :42
Jay DeMarcus – “We always believed from the earliest days of Rascal Flatts that if we were ever in a position to have a huge platform and be blessed, we would pay those blessings forward and give back as much as we could because it just felt like the right thing to do. And so when we picked the charities we wanted to be involved with, we had a very special place right here in Nashville, the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, that was just such a wonderful place and right here in our own back yard. And it just seemed like a natural thing to do to be able to help those people continue to do what they do. And it’s such a special, magical place, and there are so many wonderful people over there. So for us, it just felt like a natural thing to do and something that we’re so proud to leave behind as part of our legacy.”
WHAT THEY’RE DOING THIS WEEK – JULY 27, 2015 – MONDAY
Rascal Flatts are in the middle of the summer portion of their 2015 “Riot!” tour and have dates this weekend in New Jersey (7/31), Philly (8/1) and Boston (8/2).
RASCAL FLATTS – JUST THE FACTS
MEMBERS: Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney
BIRTH DATES: Gary – July 10, 1970 (He’s 45) 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”
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 Sunday, July 26
|LIVE NOW| Backstage in Raleigh #meerkat http://mrk.tv/1I3vcSA
Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts July 25
In 22 hours: Live in Raleigh #meerkat http://mrk.tv/1LHaYnN
Rascal Flatts retweeted J•D•R• @JoeDonRooney July 23
Hard to have to leave this lil angel tonight. #babydevon
#lightsupmyworld #blesseddaddy #musician… https://instagram.com/p/5gEcrBocA-/
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)