History of Rascal Flatts in Timeline

Rascal Flatts was a country music trio from Nashville, Tennessee, active from 1999. The band members were Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney. DeMarcus and LeVox are from Columbus, Ohio, and are related by marriage. DeMarcus was also in the Christian music duo East to West and is related by marriage to singer James Otto.

1992: Jay DeMarcus Moves to Nashville

Jay DeMarcus made the move to Nashville in 1992 and secured his first record deal as part of the Christian group East to West.

1997: LeVox Joins DeMarcus in Nashville

In 1997, Jay DeMarcus reached out to Gary LeVox, his second cousin, and convinced him to relocate to Nashville. LeVox provided harmonies for Michael English's album "Gospel", which DeMarcus was producing.

1998: Melodie Crittenden Charts with "Bless the Broken Road"

Melodie Crittenden released her version of "Bless the Broken Road", which made it to the country charts in 1998. Rascal Flatts would later release their own rendition of the song.

1999: Rascal Flatts Founded

In 1999, the country music group Rascal Flatts was formed in Nashville, Tennessee. The founding members were Gary LeVox (lead vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, background vocals), and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, background vocals).

1999: Signing with Lyric Street Records

Rascal Flatts was signed to Lyric Street Records in late 1999 after impressing label A&R Doug Howard with a demo and live performance.

2000: Debut Single and Album Release

Rascal Flatts released their debut single, "Prayin' for Daylight," in early 2000, followed by their self-titled debut album on Lyric Street Records.

2000: Debut Album and Label Signing

Rascal Flatts signed with Disney Music Group's Lyric Street Records and released their self-titled debut album in 2000.

2002: First Headlining Tour

In Fall 2002, Rascal Flatts began their first headlining tour, marking a significant milestone in their career.

2002: Production of Chely Wright's Album

Jay DeMarcus co-produced Chely Wright's album "Never Love You Enough" in 2002.

2002: "These Days" Hits Number One

Rascal Flatts released their second album "Melt" in 2002. The album's lead single, "These Days," became their first number-one hit on the U.S. country charts.

2002: "Melt" Released, "I Melt" Video Controversy

Rascal Flatts released their second album, "Melt," in 2002, featuring their first number-one hit, "These Days". The music video for their song "I Melt" faced controversy and was banned by the Great American Country network due to partial nudity.

2002: "I'm Movin' On" Earns ACM Award

The song "I'm Movin' On" from Rascal Flatts' debut album won Song of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2002.

2003: Mark Wills Releases "What Hurts the Most"

Country singer Mark Wills released "What Hurts the Most" in 2003. Rascal Flatts later recorded their own version of the song.

2003: Vocal Group of the Year Awards

Rascal Flatts began their streak of Vocal Group of the Year awards in 2003, winning from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

2004: High Ticket Sales Milestone

Between 2004 and 2012, Rascal Flatts sold over 7 million tickets, making them one of the top-selling music acts during that period.

2004: "Feels Like Today" and "Bless the Broken Road" Released

Rascal Flatts released their third album, "Feels Like Today", in late 2004. The album included the title track and "Bless the Broken Road".

2004: "Feels Like Today" Released

Rascal Flatts released their third studio album, "Feels Like Today", in 2004.

December 2005: Rascal Flatts Releases "What Hurts the Most"

In December 2005, Rascal Flatts released "What Hurts the Most" as the lead single from their upcoming album.

2005: "Bless the Broken Road" Tops Charts

In 2005, Rascal Flatts' rendition of "Bless the Broken Road" became their third number-one hit on the U.S. country charts, holding the top spot for five weeks.

2005: Top 25 Tour of the Year

In 2005, Rascal Flatts' tour was among the top 25 tours of the year, grossing $26.3 million from 777,384 tickets sold.

2005: "Bless the Broken Road" Hits Number One, "Skin" Gains Popularity

Rascal Flatts' version of "Bless the Broken Road" reached number one on the U.S. country charts in early 2005. Additionally, the hidden track on "Feels Like Today", "Skin", gained significant radio airplay and was later released as a single.

2006: Collaboration with Chicago

In 2006, Rascal Flatts provided backing vocals for Chicago's song "Love Will Come Back" from the album "Chicago XXX", produced by Jay DeMarcus.

2006: "Life Is a Highway" and Me and My Gang Success

In 2006, Rascal Flatts released a cover of Tom Cochrane's "Life Is a Highway" for the Pixar film Cars. The song became a crossover hit, charting well on both country and pop charts. Their album "Me and My Gang" debuted at number one and became the second best-selling album of the year.

2006: Top Selling Artist

In 2006, Rascal Flatts was reported by Nielsen to be the top-selling artist with nearly 5 million physical album sales and nearly 4 million digital track sales.

2006: American Music Award Win

Rascal Flatts won Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards in 2006.

2006: "Me and My Gang" Released

Rascal Flatts' fourth studio album, "Me and My Gang," was released in 2006. The album was produced by Dann Huff, marking a shift towards a more band-oriented sound.

September 2007: Popularity Among Youth

In September 2007, a Weekly Reader Research poll ranked Rascal Flatts as the sixth-most-popular act among children aged 10-12.

2007: High Grossing Tour

In 2007, Rascal Flatts had the third-highest grossing US country tour, earning $34 million from 588,009 tickets sold.

2007: "Revolution" Cover and Still Feels Good

In 2007, Rascal Flatts recorded a cover of The Beatles' "Revolution" for the film Evan Almighty. They also released their single "Take Me There", which was co-written by Kenny Chesney and became a number-one country hit. This song marked the start of their work on their next album, "Still Feels Good".

2007: "What Hurts the Most" Crosses Over

Rascal Flatts achieved a crossover hit in 2007 with "What Hurts the Most", reaching number one on both the country and adult contemporary charts and entering the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

2007: Grammy Performance and New Singles

Rascal Flatts performed with Carrie Underwood at the 2007 Grammy Awards ceremony. Later that year, they released two more singles from their album "Still Feels Good": "Winner at a Losing Game", their first self-written single, and "Every Day", both of which peaked at Number 2 on the country charts.

2007: "Still Feels Good" Released

Rascal Flatts released their fifth studio album, "Still Feels Good", in 2007.

August 2008: Release of "Here"

In August 2008, Rascal Flatts released "Here", the fifth and final single from their album "Still Feels Good". It would go on to become their ninth Number One hit.

October 28, 2008: Release of Greatest Hits Volume 1

On October 28, 2008, Rascal Flatts released their first compilation album, "Greatest Hits Volume 1", featuring their biggest hits up to that point. A limited edition included a bonus disc with three Christmas songs.

2008: Songwriting for Phil Stacey

Gary LeVox co-wrote Phil Stacey's debut single "If You Didn't Love Me" in 2008 along with Jason Sellers and Wendell Mobley.

2008: Production of James Otto's Album

In 2008, DeMarcus produced James Otto's album "Sunset Man" alongside John Rich of Big & Rich.

2008: Final CMA Vocal Group of the Year Win

In 2008, Rascal Flatts received their final Vocal Group of the Year award from the Country Music Association.

January 3, 2009: "Here" Reaches Number One

On January 3, 2009, Rascal Flatts celebrated their ninth Number One hit with the song "Here", the fifth and final single from their album "Still Feels Good".

January 2009: Release of "Here Comes Goodbye"

Rascal Flatts kicked off 2009 by releasing "Here Comes Goodbye", the first single from their upcoming album "Unstoppable". The song, co-written by Chris Sligh, became their tenth number one hit.

May 2009: Release of "Summer Nights" and Performances

In May 2009, Rascal Flatts released "Summer Nights", the second single from their album "Unstoppable". The song, co-written by Gary LeVox, reached number 2 on the country charts and was performed on various platforms, including the CMT Music Awards, Oprah's Kickoff Party, and the finale of America's Got Talent.

July 16, 2009: Historic Performance at Wrigley Field

On July 16, 2009, as part of the JCPenney American Living Tour, Rascal Flatts made history as the first country music group to play at Chicago's Wrigley Field. They were joined by Vince Gill and Darius Rucker for the near-sellout performance.

October 2009: Release of Second Greatest Hits Edition

In October 2009, Rascal Flatts released a second edition of their greatest hits collection, featuring a bonus disc of live performances.

2009: Final ACM Vocal Group of the Year Win

Rascal Flatts received their last Vocal Group of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music in 2009.

2009: "Unstoppable" Released

The band's sixth studio album, "Unstoppable", hit the shelves in 2009.

January 2010: Release of "Unstoppable"

In January 2010, Rascal Flatts released the title track from their album "Unstoppable" as the fourth single.

April 2010: Lyric Street Closure

Rascal Flatts's label, Lyric Street, closed in April 2010.

November 16, 2010: Release of Nothing Like This

On November 16, 2010, Rascal Flatts released their album "Nothing Like This" under their new label, Big Machine Records. This marked their first album release after signing with the label in July 2010.

December 2010: "Why Wait" Hits Number One

In December 2010, "Why Wait", the lead single from Rascal Flatts's album "Nothing Like This", became their eleventh number-one hit on the U.S. country charts.

2010: Label Change to Big Machine Records

After their previous label, Lyric Street, closed in 2010, Rascal Flatts moved to Big Machine Records.

March 2011: Collaboration with Justin Bieber

In March 2011, Rascal Flatts appeared on a remix of Justin Bieber's song "That Should Be Me".

November 8, 2011: Release of The Best of Rascal Flatts Live

On November 8, 2011, Hollywood Records released "The Best of Rascal Flatts Live".

2011: Remix Collaboration with Justin Bieber

Rascal Flatts collaborated with Justin Bieber in 2011, remixing his song "That Should Be Me" for his album "Never Say Never – The Remixes".

2011: Grand Ole Opry Induction

Rascal Flatts was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2011.

2011: Collaboration with Michael Bolton

The band collaborated with Michael Bolton on the song "Love Is Everything" for his album "Gems" in 2011.

April 3, 2012: Release of Changed

On April 3, 2012, Rascal Flatts released their eighth studio album, "Changed", produced by Dann Huff and the band themselves. The lead single, "Banjo", became their twelfth number one on the country charts.

April 5, 2012: Appearance on "Changed: One Night Exclusive Theater Event"

On April 5, 2012, Rascal Flatts appeared in the television special "Changed: One Night Exclusive Theater Event". The one-night-only concert film featured live performances, Q&A sessions, and messages from the band, promoting their upcoming studio album.

June 2012: CMT Music Awards Performance with Journey

In June 2012, Rascal Flatts closed the CMT Music Awards with a performance of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'", inviting the band to join them on stage.

September 17, 2012: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

On September 17, 2012, Rascal Flatts received the 2,480th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of recording. The star is located at 6664 Hollywood Boulevard, in front of the Sergeant Supply Store.

December 2012: CMT Artists of the Year and A Home for the Holidays

Rascal Flatts, along with actress Hayden Panettiere, hosted the third annual CMT Artists of the Year. They also hosted the 14th Annual A Home for the Holidays special, which drew in a 4.91 million person viewership rating.

2012: Continued High Ticket Sales

Between 2004 and 2012, Rascal Flatts sold over 7 million tickets, cementing their status as a top-selling music act.

2012: Thaw Out 2012 and Changed Tour

In 2012, Rascal Flatts extended their 'Thaw Out 2012' tour and added 47 dates to their 'Changed Tour', performing over 60 concerts to more than 1 million fans.

2012: "Changed" Released

Rascal Flatts released "Changed", their eighth studio album, in 2012.

2012: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Rascal Flatts was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.

2012: Feature on Lionel Richie's Album

Rascal Flatts was featured on Lionel Richie's 2012 duet album "Tuskegee", singing on the song "Dancing on the Ceiling".

February 2, 2013: Super Bowl XLVII CMT Crossroads Concert

Rascal Flatts and Journey co-headlined the Super Bowl XLVII CMT Crossroads concert at the New Orleans Sugar Mill on February 2, 2013. This marked their second collaboration, following a performance of "Don't Stop Believin'" at the CMT Music Awards in June 2012.

April 8, 2013: Rascal Flatts New Album Announcement

On April 8, 2013, Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts tweeted that the band was working on a new album, marking the beginning of their next musical project.

April 9, 2013: Co-Headline Show Announcement

On April 9, 2013, Rascal Flatts announced they would co-headline a show with Journey on August 1 at Hersheypark Stadium, with The Band Perry and Cassadee Pope as openers.

2013: First Headline in Australia

In 2013, Rascal Flatts headlined the CMC Rocks The Hunter festival in Australia for the first time, closing the three-day event from March 15 to 17.

January 2014: Release of 'Rewind' Lead Single

In January 2014, Rascal Flatts released 'Rewind' as the lead single from their upcoming album. The song became a Top 5 hit on the Country Airplay chart later that year.

April 6, 2014: Lip-Sync Controversy at ACM Awards

During the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards on April 6, 2014, Rascal Flatts admitted to lip-syncing their performance of 'Rewind' due to lead singer Gary LeVox losing his voice.

May 13, 2014: Release of 'Rewind' Album

Rascal Flatts released their album 'Rewind' on May 13, 2014. The album featured the lead single of the same name and included other notable tracks.

2014: "Rewind" Released

In 2014, Rascal Flatts released their ninth studio album, "Rewind".

September 14, 2015: Release of 'I Like the Sound of That'

Rascal Flatts released their single 'I Like the Sound of That' to country radio on September 14, 2015. The song later reached number 1 on the Country Airplay chart in April 2016.

April 2016: Number 1 Hit with 'I Like the Sound of That'

In April 2016, Rascal Flatts' single 'I Like the Sound of That' reached number 1 on the Country Airplay chart, adding another hit to their discography.

October 2016: Release of Christmas Album

In October 2016, Rascal Flatts released a Christmas album titled 'The Greatest Gift of All', expanding their musical repertoire to holiday music.

2016: 10 Million Tickets Sold

In 2016, Rascal Flatts celebrated a significant career milestone by selling 10 million tickets.

2016: "The Greatest Gift of All" Released

Rascal Flatts released their first Christmas album, "The Greatest Gift of All", in 2016.

August 2017: Number 1 Hit with 'Yours If You Want It'

In August 2017, Rascal Flatts' single 'Yours If You Want It' topped the Country Airplay charts, marking the band's fourteenth number one hit.

2017: "Back to Us" Released

Rascal Flatts' tenth studio album and final studio album, "Back to Us", was released in 2017.

September 28, 2018: Release of 'Back to Life'

On September 28, 2018, Rascal Flatts released a new single titled 'Back to Life'.

2019: Summer Playlist Tour

In the summer of 2019, Rascal Flatts embarked on their Summer Playlist tour, performing across various venues.

January 7, 2020: Disbandment Announcement

On January 7, 2020, Rascal Flatts revealed their decision to disband after a farewell tour, concluding their twenty-year journey as a band.

August 2020: Discussion About Farewell Tour

In August 2020, Jay DeMarcus discussed the uncertain future of Rascal Flatts' farewell tour in an interview with Access Hollywood.

November 13, 2020: LeVox's First Solo Release

On November 13, 2020, Gary LeVox released his first solo material, a Christmas song titled 'Christmas Will Be Different This Year'.

November 2020: Cancellation of CMA Awards Performance

In November 2020, Rascal Flatts was forced to cancel their performance at the 54th Annual CMA Awards after an unspecified member tested positive for COVID-19.

2020: Concert Ticket Sales Milestone

By 2020, Rascal Flatts had sold over 11 million concert tickets, marking a significant achievement in their career.

2020: Formation of Generation Radio

In 2020, Jay DeMarcus formed a new band called Generation Radio with ex-Chicago vocalist Jason Scheff, Journey drummer Deen Castronovo, Scott Rodriguez, and former Rascal Flatts live instrumentalist Tom Yankton.

January 29, 2021: DeMarcus's Tribute Song Release

On January 29, 2021, Jay DeMarcus released a song titled 'Music Man' as a tribute to his late father.

March 19, 2021: LeVox's Christian Single Release

On March 19, 2021, Gary LeVox released a Christian single titled 'The Distance'.

April 27, 2021: DeMarcus's Interview on Farewell Tour

On April 27, 2021, Jay DeMarcus discussed the impact of the pandemic on Rascal Flatts' farewell tour plans and the possibility of performing 10-15 concerts annually.

July 2021: Attendance at American Century Championship

In July 2021, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney attended the American Century Championship together, where they discussed the band's future and potential return to performing.

October 2021: Disbandment Confirmed

After a planned farewell tour was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rascal Flatts' disbandment was officially confirmed in October 2021.

2021: Cliffie Stone Icon Award and Band Breakup

In 2021, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney accepted the Cliffie Stone Icon Award at the Academy of Country Music Honors show. Later, Gary LeVox revealed that the band had decided to break up, citing Rooney's departure and lack of communication.

August 12, 2022: DeMarcus's New Band Album Release

On August 12, 2022, Jay DeMarcus's new band, Generation Radio, released their eponymous debut album, which included a new rendition of Rascal Flatts' song 'All Night to Get There'.

August 19, 2022: LeVox's New Single Release

On August 19, 2022, Gary LeVox released a new single titled 'Get Down Like That'.

June 2023: DeMarcus's Podcast Appearance

In June 2023, Jay DeMarcus appeared on Savannah Chrisley's podcast 'Unlocked with Savannah' to discuss Rascal Flatts' breakup and the possibility of a reunion.