NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 08: Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus and wife Allison DeMarcus attends the 59th Annual BMI Country Awards on November 8, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BMI)

Congratulations to Rascal Flatts bassist and vocalist Jay DeMarcus and his wife Allison, who are anticipating the birth of their second child this summer.  The baby will become a younger brother or sister to their daughter Madeline Leigh, born December 17, 2010.

“This was definitely a huge surprise, but we’re so thankful and excited that Maddie is going to have a brother or sister,” says Jay. “We’re really gonna have our hands full!“

“Jay and I are thrilled about completing our family,” adds Allison. “Madeline is going to love having a sibling and we are bracing ourselves for the many sleepless nights ahead.” Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! This week, Rascal Flatts hangs with the quarterback of the moment, David Nail reflects on his first No. 1 single, John Rich shares the aftermath of his birthday bash, Jo Dee Messina tweets from labor and delivery and Jake Owen posts a hilarious video after his wisdom teeth extraction! Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/JayDeMarcus.

Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts – JayDemarcus: With our buddy Tebow yesterday… Great game!!

Taylor Swift – TaylorSwift13: Thank you so much for my People’s Choice Award! Favorite Country Artist! PARTY!!! Seriously- thank you for voting.

David Nail – DavidNail: Wife is in Vegas, so it’s me and the dogs tonight! Finally some time to myself to reflect just how amazing this week has been! Thank u!!!

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/DierksBentley.

Dierks Bentley – DierksBentley: somehow the #redsolocup disco ball from the video wound up on my table at the studio I work out of. suggestions??! Continue Reading

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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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Country music stars sure love Twitter! In this week’s edition of Top 10 Tweets, Brad Paisley extends a peace offering, Laura Bell Bundy pays off some travel karma debt, Scotty McCreery reveals his role in a Brad Paisley prank and Miranda Lambert is embarassed by her parents while watching them on Tom’s Wild Life. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/DierksBentley.

Dierks Bentley – DierksBentley: just got some funny pics from tonight in Minnesota. first up…girl overboard!

Brad Paisley – BradPaisley: Gave @edensedge a new Razorback floormat tonight. So there.

Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts – JayDeMarcus: I am beside myself. We were asked to be members of the Grand Ole Opry tonight!!! The greatest honor ever!!! Can’t believe it, am I dreaming?

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/whitneyduncan.

Whitney Duncan – WhitneyDuncan: It’s crazy to think that I lived here for awhile…I miss it… 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.

Rascal Flatts‘ latest single, “Easy,” a duet with pop star Natasha Bedingfield, is about a couple who have broken up but each secretly wish they were back together. Jay DeMarcus and his wife Allison have been married seven years and while Jay doesn’t claim to be an expert at making a relationship work, he has picked up some tips to share along the way.

“You’ve gotta bend without breaking and you’ve gotta be patient and you’ve gotta love each other through the times when both of you can be unlovable,” he said. “And that’s the thing that I think makes marriage last. Two people make a commitment to each other and they don’t fall out of love at the same time.” Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, Chris Young tries a new look, Blake Shelton congratulates the winner of The Voice and Brett Eldredge falls victim of autocorrect. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Chris Young photo courtesy of Twitter.com/ChrisYoungMusic.

Chris Young – @ChrisYoungMusic: Me as Justin Bieber’s older brother… Haha

Blake Shelton – @BlakeShelton: Congrats @Javstwtr… Well done my friend. As for YOU Adam… I’ll get you next time!!! Buah ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Brett Eldredge – @BrettEldredge: @FrankieBallard dude your name autocorrects to “Grannies” on my phone haha Continue Reading

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