The first CMA Award Rascal Flatts ever won was the Horizon Award, in 2002. 15 years later they are still on the ballot, an when Gary LeVox thinks about what has driven Rascal Flatts success and kept them relevant all these years, he says, “It all boils down to the songs,” like their current single, “Back To Us.” He says, We’ve written some really good ones and we’ve been blessed a million times over with the songwriters here in Nashville and all over the world, really, writing great stuff. So we’ve been just fortunate to be able to tell people’s stories and their life journeys through music. So it all starts and ends with a great song and without that you really don’t have anything, so that’s where it all starts and ends.”
Joe Don Rooney also points out that the other key factor to Rascal Flatts’ success and longevity has been their fans. “Our fans are incredible. They’re still with us every step of the way and it’s incredible to see some of the younger fans that’s grown up with us now, they’ve graduated college, moved on, have jobs, have families of their own, bringing out their kids now and it’s pretty incredible.”
Since 2003, Rascal Flatts has been named the CMA Vocal Group of the Year eight times and they are nominated again this year. You can watch the 51st Annual CMA Awards live from Nashville, this Wednesday, November 8th, on ABC.
Rascal Flatts – main element of longevity :36
Gary LeVox – “It all boils down to the songs, you know. We’ve written some really good ones and we’ve been blessed a million times over with the songwriters here in Nashville and all over the world, really, writing great stuff. So we’ve been just fortunate to be able to tell people’s stories and their life journeys through music. So it all starts and ends with a great song and without that you really don’t have anything, so that’s where it all starts and ends.”
Joe Don Rooney – “And our fans, you know, our fans are incredible (absolutely). They’re still with us every step of the way and it’s incredible to see some of the younger fans that’s grown up with us now, they’ve graduated college, moved on, have jobs, have families of their own, bringing out their kids now and it’s pretty incredible.”