These days there’s a lot of pop influence in the sounds of country music, including collaborations with pop artists on country songs. Early on in their career, Rascal Flatts was often accused of being too pop sounding, but now Gary LeVox says, “I think we definitely opened the doors. I mean, we brought a lotta people from the pop world in and we were doin’ duets with Jamie Fox and everything else back in the day. So, I think we definitely opened the doors for a different brand.”

Joe Don Rooney clarifies that at the time, they weren’t trying to be trendsetters or pop country pioneers. “I think in 2000 when we first put out our first album, when we recorded the album, we set out to just be ourselves. We weren’t tryin’ to be manufactured or be something different on purpose, it was just natural, and I think Gary’s voice had the blend of that. Again, it’s not manufactured, it’s just who he is and the album we made is who we are.”

Rascal Flatts is currently out on their Rewind Tour, which will wrap up next weekend in Atlantic City, and they’re promoting their current single, “Payback.”

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Rascal Flatts – opened door pop sounds :31
Gary LeVox – “I think we definitely opened the doors. I mean, we brought a lotta people from the pop world in and we were doin’ duets with Jamie Fox and everything else back in the day. So, I think we definitely opened the doors for a different brand.”
Joe Don Rooney – “You know, I think in 2000 when we first put out our first album, when we recorded the album, we set out to just be ourselves. We weren’t tryin’ to be manufactured or be something different on purpose, it was just natural, and I think Gary’s voice had the blend of that. Again, it’s not manufactured, it’s just who he is and the album we made is who we are.”

WHAT THEY’RE DOING THIS WEEK – OCTOBER 6, 2014 – MONDAY 

Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney and his wife Tiffany welcomed their third child last week – Devon Olivia – on Monday, September 29th! The couple told People, “We are so thrilled to finally become a party of five. Jagger and Raquel are so happy to be her big brother & big sister.”

The trio has also announced that they are joining The Grand Ole Opry and Women Rock For The Cure in the fight against breast cancer on Tuesday, October 28th with the sixth annual “Opry Goes Pink” show. The guys will flip the switch on the Opry’s signature barn backdrop, turning it pink for the night as artists perform in support of breast cancer awareness.

The guys play shows this weekend on Friday (10/10) in Newark, New Jersey at the Prudential Center and then on Saturday (10/11) in Atlantic City at the Trump Taj Mahal.

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 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 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 22 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 – “Payback”

RECENT TWEETS:

Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts  ·  October 3
The guys are up for the Eventful 2014 Fans’ Choice Award for “Best Tour of the Year” Demand your favorite now here: http://eventful.com/campaigns/fanschoice2014

Rascal Flatts @rascalflatts  ·  October 2
Check out our brand new “Payback” music video: http://youtu.be/ppo4CaOWFpI

Rascal Flatts retweeted
PEOPLE Babies @CBBVips  ·  October 1
The littlest rascal has arrived! @RascalFlatts’ @joedonrooney and @tiffallon have welcomed daughter Devon Olivia: http://bit.ly/YOKV7Y

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)