The members of Rascal Flatts reunited on The Bobby Bones Show for the first time in five years!

Back in 2020, Rascal Flatts announced their farewell tour after being on the road extensively for 20 years. But, due to the pandemic, it never happened. Next year will be the 25th anniversary of Rascal Flatts, and they felt like it was the perfect time to get back in front of the fans who have given them so much. Their 25th anniversary Life Is a Highway Tour will kick off in February of 2025 and make its way through 22 cities with openers Lauren Alaina and Chris Lane.

Since they announced their farewell back in 2020, the three members, Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, have not all been together in the same room since today (October 3) on The Bobby Bones Show. DeMarcus and Rooney got together last week for band member auditions, but LeVox could not make the audition. They admitted they were nervous to see each other, but that it was really special for them to all be together again. They were honest that things have not always been great between them, but they share so many memories that they are thrilled to be back. The call to get back together happened a few months ago. They leaned on their management to help them make the decision because they know the landscape of everything has changed so much in the last five years they haven’t been touring. They all admitted they missed making music and performing together. DeMarcus called LeVox one of the best singers he’s ever heard, and shared that it sucked not standing next to him while he performed solo. Their Life is A Highway Tour makes no mention of it being a farewell tour, so they aren’t sure what the future holds for them. There’s a chance this isn’t the end depending on how these 22 shows go and if there’s a demand for more. They will begin rehearsing for the tour in January and aren’t working on any new music for the shows. They want to focus on all their big hits as a thank you to their fans and a reminder of who they are as a band and the songs that helped get them to where they are today. DeMarcus’ favorite song to play is “Bless The Broken Road,” LeVox’s and Rooney’s is “Life Is a Highway.”

Over the span of their 25-year career, Rascal Flatts has achieved a lot, but the one award they never won that they wish they did was CMA and ACM Entertainer of The Year. They don’t consider it a sore spot because they have been so blessed, but it is the one thing they all wish they did achieve. DeMarcus recalled one of his favorite memories from when he was sitting next to LeVox at the 2006 Grammy Awards. Their 2006 album, Me and My Gang, had sold more copies than any other album in every genre of music that year, but they did not win Album of The Year. LeVox leaned over and pointed out some of the biggest stars in the building to DeMarcus and noted how they had outsold all of them that year. It gave DeMarcus chills because he never thought that would be possible for two boys from Columbus, Ohio. Over the years, Rascal Flatts has appeared on all of the late-night talk shows. They recalled when they went on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno right after Rooney had showed his naked butt in their music video for “I Melt.” They got a plaque from him that said, “Hey Rascal Flatts, more butts, more showers!” DeMarcus has it hanging in his living room still because it’s one of a kind.

DeMarcus’ advice for other groups that breakup and think about getting back together is to nurture your relationship and take care of it a lot because a lot of crap from the outside can get in and damage it. If you don’t stay honest and close with each other, you run the danger of letting the business tear you apart. For DeMarcus and LeVox, it was a little different because they’re family, so they have always found a way to stay connected, and they found in Rooney someone who feels like family. They admitted it hasn’t always been great between the three of them, which is only natural when you’ve been together for so long and everyone has different personalities. But they did the best they could while they were together to put their personal pursuits to the side and focus on Rascal Flatts as a whole, which is why he thinks they’ve had such longevity. They do with they had someone in their lives who cared about them enough to tell them to take a break for a year and then get back to the studio and go back on tour, but for 20 years they were just part of a machine and constantly going.

September 13th, Rooney’s birthday is also his sober date as well. He announced he has been sober for three years and he’s grateful to be present in his life and for the support many of his friends and family have shown him. He never thought it could be possible for him and he credits their five-year break with helping him be able to achieve that goal.

Tickets for the Life Is A Highway Tour are on sale now!

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