All three guys in Rascal Flatts are proud of their faith and are not afraid to share their relationship with God through their music, but Jay, who started his career in Christian music, says they are all very careful not to get preachy or self-righteous in their faith. He says, “I’ve always wanted us to be sensitive about the fact that we’re bold about our faith, but also we’re real people and weren’t pretending to be somebody we weren’t. That was always very important to me because that is a world that’s very brutal to live in.”
Jay cautions that when you get too bold or too arrogant about your faith, or when you try to put yourself on a pedestal, that’s when people will look for ways to tear you down.
Rascal Flatts’ latest single, “I Like the Sound of That,” is their latest top 20 hit and still climbing, as they head to Las Vegas this week to kick off Rascal Flatts Rhythm and Roots at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. You can learn more about the show, which runs through early March, at AXS.com.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/245189093?secret_token=s-O0pmB” params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Audio player not loading? Click here.
Rascal Flatts – not getting high and mighty :29
Jay DeMarcus – “I was apprehensive about…I started in Christian music, in the Christian music industry and it’s funny to be in that industry and see how judgmental those people can be, because you put yourself up on a pedestal and you make certain statements that are grandiose, they’ll look for a reason to tear you down. And I’ve always wanted us to be sensitive about the fact that we’re bold about our faith, but also we’re real people and weren’t pretending to be somebody we weren’t. That was always very important to me because that is a world that’s very brutal to live in.”
WHAT THEY’RE DOING THIS WEEK – FEBRUARY 8, 2016 – MONDAY
- Rascal Flatts has been rehearsing for their second nine-show residency at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas from February 17 to March 5 of this year.
- Their latest single “I Like The Sound of That” sits in the top 15 on the charts this week. Also they were nominated for an ACM for Group of the Year on Monday (2/1).
2016 ACM NOMINEE – RASCAL FLATTS
- Vocal Group of the Year – Rascal Flats
The 51st Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast live on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 8:00 PM.
RASCAL FLATTS – JUST THE FACTS
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.rascalflatts.com
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/rascalflatts
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/rascalflatts
RECENT TWEETS:
Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts Feb 5
We added two new band members. They work really cheap, and they’re adorable… Who’s comin to see us @TheJointLV? https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CafSHkcUUAAYDO7.png
Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts Feb 4
#TBT #FeelsLikeToday https://youtu.be/aiRSqhYZlWo
Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts Feb 2
Come visit us in Vegas with our second 9-show residency @thejointlv @hardrockhotellv! http://bit.ly/1QKnjbY
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/demarcusflatt/
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 40)
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.
- CURRENT SINGLE: “I Like The Sound of That” sits at number 14 this week on the Media Base country charts.
- DEBUT SINGLE: “Prayin For Daylight” in 2000.
NUMBER ONE SONGS – BILLBOARD’S HOT COUNTRY SONGS CHART
Here Comes Goodbye – Rascal Flatts – Unstoppable – April 2009
Here – Rascal Flatts – Still Feels Good – January 2009
Stand – Rascal Flatts – Me and My Gang – May 2007
My Wish – Rascal Flatts – Me and My Gang – December 2006
Fast Cars And Freedom – Rascal Flatts – Feels Like Today – July 2005
Bless The Broken Road – Rascal Flatts – Feels Like Today – February 2005
Mayberry – Rascal Flatts – Live DVD – May 2004
- DEBUT ALBUM: Rascal Flats
- CURRENT ALBUM: RewindRELEASED: March 4, 2014
THE STUDIO ALBUMS
Rewind – March 2014
Changed – April 2012
Nothing Like This – November 2010
Unstoppable – April 2009
Still Feels Good – September 2007
Me and My Gang – April 2006
Feels Like Today – September 2004
Melt – October 2002
Rascal Flatts – June 2000
- GRAND OLE OPRY DEBUT: In 2000. They were made members of the Grand Ole Opry on October 8, 2011.
- LATEST MUSIC VIDEO – 2015 – “I Like The Sound of That” You can see it here.
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)