Rascal Flatts photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

All three members of Rascal Flatts are fathers and all of them have at least one little girl at home. Jay DeMarcus, who became a first-time father to daughter Madeline 15 months ago, says being a dad to his little girl has completely transformed him.

Watch Rascal Flatts perform “I’ll Be Home For Christmas!” >>

“It’s been probably my most transformative year as far as a person goes and I’m thrilled, I’m overwhelmed and I’m very grateful for the gift of Madeline,” he said. “She has really caused me to grow up a lot in a very short amount of time. I am so proud that she’s mine and so grateful for her every day, and she gives me new purpose and gives everything that I do new purpose.”

Joe Don Rooney is enjoying watching his little girl, Raquel, who goes by the nickname Rocky, interact with her older brother Jagger, who is three. He is also getting a kick out of watching her personality – and preference for toys – develop. Continue Reading

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Opry General Manager Pete Fisher, Opry member Little Jimmy Dickens, Joe Don Rooney, Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts. Photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

Rascal Flatts is officially the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. With the help of Little Jimmy Dickens, the trio was inducted into the Opry family on October 8, the same night the Opry celebrated its 86th birthday. Vince Gill surprised the band with an invitation to join the Opry during their performance on September 27.

Watch the Video of Their Invitation >>

“The Opry has had such a special place in my heart for such a long time,” Gary LeVox said. “I mean even before we were artists and musicians we were children growing up, you know, our grandparents, our mothers and fathers were big fans of the Opry. We had no idea if this was ever going to happen. But when Vince came out a couple weeks ago when we were onstage it was really shocking, it was mind blowing, so humbling and we’re so honored and proud to be a part of this legacy. There is no bigger pinnacle than the Grand Ole Opry. It is country music.”

“We are humbled by this,” Joe Don Rooney said. “We are absolutely blown away by this and we can’t wait to see what the future has in store with us through the Opry. Tonight is a great platform from which to set sail.” Continue Reading

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Rascal Flatts is invited to join the Opry by member Vince Gill. Photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

The most awarded country group of the past decade, Rascal Flatts, was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry this evening by Opry member Vince Gill.  The vocal group– Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney– will be formally inducted into the Opry family during the Opry’s 86^th birthday weekend, Sat., Oct. 8. The show will air live at 8 p.m. Central on GAC: Great American Country. Watch footage of the invitation below: Continue Reading

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Rascal Flatts photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

Fans who have been to a Rascal Flatts show know lead singer Gary LeVox hits a lot of big notes throughout their set. On the band’s Flatts Fest tour, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney are taking over some of the vocals to give Gary a little bit of a break.

“You know Gary, God love him, he sings in the clouds all night long,” Jay said. “And we get into rehearsals and what looks good on paper sometimes he’ll look at us and go ‘Y’all gotta give me a break at some point. I mean, I’m screaming my guts out. You know it’s gonna be a hundred degrees.’”

Watch Rascal Flatts’ new video, “Easy,” now! >> Continue Reading

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Rascal Flatts photo courtesy of Big Machine Records. Photo credit Chapman Baehler.

Rascal Flatts has been through a lot of changes in the last year, including signing with Big Machine Records after their former label, Lyric Street, closed its doors. The group likes the new version of themselves and feel they are better and stronger than ever. “We’re not the same three people we were a year ago,” Jay DeMarcus said.

Following changes in their professional lives, the trio sat down together and asked some tough questions – ‘Do we still love this? Is this still something that we have passion for and we want to try to keep getting better at and being better than we were the day before?’ Fortunately for their fans, the answer was a resounding ‘yes.’ Continue Reading

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Rascal Flatts photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

The men of Rascal Flatts do a good job of balancing their superstar status with daddy duty. Gary LeVox is father to daughters Brittany and Brooklyn with wife Tara; Joe Don Rooney and wife Tiffany Fallon have son Jagger and daughter Raquel; and Jay DeMarcus and wife Allison became first-time parents in December to daughter Madeline. Jay might be new to the world of parenting, but he has already pinpointed his best quality as a father.

“I think my best quality as a dad is that I can be a really great friend to her as well, I think,” Jay said. “While I hope that she loves and respects me as her father, I hope that she sees me as a cool dad that plays music for a living and is somebody she wants to hang out with. And I think I can be that kind of a father to her.” Continue Reading

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Rascal Flatts photo courtesy of Big Machine Records. Photo credit Chapman Baehler.

When you’re as busy as Rascal Flatts, downtime becomes a precious commodity. Right now, the trio is enjoying some of that time off in between tours. They’re using it to spend time with family and catch up on hobbies – some of which are music-related, despite being away from the stage and studio. That downtime is necessary for them to stay on top of their game when their “day job” resumes.

“I love to play golf,” said Joe Don Rooney. “I love to write and create music in my own time away from Rascal Flatts, as does Jay. Gary’s got lots of hobbies – hunting’s one of his favorite things to do. But I mean, you’ve got to have those outlets, you just do, and we’re lucky enough to have those.” Continue Reading

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Anna Wilson's album, Countrypolitan Duets. Photo courtesy of Jim Havey PR.

Anna Wilson & Friends
Countrypolitan Duets

Drawing inspiration from “That Nashville Sound” of the late 1950s and 60s when country music began incorporating the sounds of mainstream pop, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Anna Wilson’s latest project blends classic country and jazz through duets with stars from both genres.

Ms. Wilson herself is uniquely positioned to take on such a genre-bending job. Though known from her own albums as a sultry jazz singer with a classic voice, she has written several hit contemporary country songs such as Chuck Wicks’ 2009 “All I Ever Wanted” and Lady Antebellum’s “If I Knew Then” from the trio’s 2010 album Need You Now. Countrypolitan, produced by Anna’s husband and current SESAC Songwriter of the Year, Monty Powell, features duets with some of country’s most recognizable names, including Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Ray Price and Kenny Rogers.

Set over mostly standard jazz arrangements and featuring clean electric guitars, smooth bass lines, horns, keyboards and percussion, Countrypolitan reinterprets classics like the album’s first single “You Don’t Know Me,” with American Idol finalist Matt Giraud. Anna also offers “Night Life” with jazz guitarist Larry Carlton and “For The Good Times” with Kenny Rogers. Anna’s voice is best on slow-burning songs, such as “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues” with Keith Urban. Here, her sad vocal melody truly conveys the blues as she sings “I’ve got my pills to ease the pain/ Can’t find a thing to ease the rain” before sweetly harmonizing with Keith to sing “Some gotta win/ Some gotta lose.” Continue Reading

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Rascal Flatts photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

April marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, and Rascal Flatts is one of several country acts that will remember that moment in American history by appearing in a mini-series.

“To Appomattox” is named after the site where the South eventually surrendered, and the project will employ the guys in a couple of ways. They’ve been enlisted to produce the soundtrack, according to a website devoted to the production. And they’ll also have roles as soldiers. That’s a little bit different than their last attempt at acting, when they appeared as themselves on the CBS drama “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”

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Jay DeMarcus holds his very own copy of Rascal Flatts' new CD, Nothing Like This. Photo courtesy of twitter.com/JayDeMarcus.

With the impending birth of a baby girl in January, bass player Jay DeMarcus will become the final member of Rascal Flatts to join the ranks of fatherhood.

Every member of the band is a bit of a clown — Jay jokes as much as any of the guys — but he’s quite serious about being a dad to Madeline Leigh DeMarcus. Jay and his wife, Allison, have been working on the nursery, and he’s been preparing to become the best father he can be.

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