Rascal Flatts is currently working on the follow-up to their Rewind album, and while they have some songwriters who have provided them with a lot of great songs over the years, when it comes to choosing songs to record for new projects they don’t play favorites or discriminate. Jay DeMarcus says, “I don’t enjoy listening with a particular bias in mind, I like to listen to the song and then find out later who wrote it, because I quite honestly don’t care who writes it as long as a hit song, and that’s what moves me first. So, whoever Joe Blow on the street brings in a song that blows us away, we’re gonna cut it, and that’s been our philosophy from day one, and we’ve stuck by it.”

Jay says the group’s “best song wins” policy even applies to their own music. If they write a song they think they’re going to record but then a better song from an outside writer comes in, their song gets bumped. Jay laughs and says, “Lord knows I’ve had many a songs get kicked off the projects because we’ve picked other songs and I’m quite bitter about that still, but no…I’m just kiddin’ you.”

Rascal Flatts is out on their Riot! Tour, which will run through mid-October.

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Rascal Flatts – look for familiar writers :31
Jay DeMarcus – “I don’t enjoy listening with a particular bias in mind, I like to listen to the song and then find out later who wrote it, because I quite honestly don’t care who writes it as long as a hit song, and that’s what moves me first. So, whoever Joe Blow on the street brings in a song that blows us away, we’re gonna cut it, and that’s been our philosophy from day one, and we’ve stuck by it. Lord knows I’ve had many a songs get kicked off the projects because we’ve picked other songs and I’m quite bitter about that still, but no…I’m just kiddin’ you.”

WHAT THEY’RE DOING THIS WEEK – JULY 20, 2015 – MONDAY 

Rascal Flatts is in the middle of the summer portion of their 2015 “Riot!” tour and have dates this weekend in Pittsburgh (7/24), Charlotte, North Carolina (7/25) and Raleigh, North Carolina (7/26).

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 retweeted
J•D•R• ‏@JoeDonRooney July 15
Happy cow ice cream truck was sweet tonight at the @acchampionship pairings party w my even sweeter… https://instagram.com/p/5L59ymIcId/

Rascal Flatts ‏@rascalflatts July 15
Mark your calendar: Tune in to see the guys perform on @CountryMusic: Country’s Night to Rock airing Tuesday, August 4th on ABC at 8pm ET!

Rascal Flatts ‏@rascalflatts July 14
He’s already committed to Ohio State!! O H!!!! #nationalchamps @OhioStAthletics https://instagram.com/p/5IGWNTIVTq/

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)