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Rascal Flatts Say Goodbye, Announce Farewell Tour

By Jon Freeman

Jon Freeman

Twenty years after they launched their country-music career together, Rascal Flatts are hitting the road for one final tour. The trio of Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney, and Jay DeMarcus made an appearance on CBS This Morning on Tuesday, where they announced dates for the upcoming Farewell: Life Is a Highway Tour.

“When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter,” the group tweeted earlier today. “[T]here is no sadness. Just new chapters, new journeys, and new beginnings.”

When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter. As we head out on the Rascal Flatts Farewell – Life is A Highway Tour, there is no sadness. Just new chapters, new journeys, and new beginnings. pic.twitter.com/IL7Rnw1pv1 — Rascal Flatts (@rascalflatts) January 7, 2020

Launching June 11th in Indianapolis, the Farewell: Life Is a Highway Tour currently has 25 dates scheduled across North America, including stops in Boston, San Diego, Toronto, and Dallas. Notably, there is not a Nashville date in the present itinerary, but the trek does begin the week following CMA Fest 2020, so there’s a possibility Rascal Flatts will get to go out in style onstage at Nissan Stadium.

The members of Rascal Flatts mentioned the yearly grind of trying to top oneself in a hyper-competitive and changing radio environment as part of the reason to exit on their own terms. Still, they didn’t rule out the possibility of reuniting to make music at some point.

“We’re not going to sign some pact that says we’re never going to tour again… and Joe Don is going to need a job — he can’t even afford fingers,” said DeMarcus on CBS This Morning , poking fun at his bandmate’s fingerless gloves.

Since announcing their arrival in 2000 with their self-titled debut album and the single “Prayin’ for Daylight,” Rascal Flatts have notched country airplay Number Ones in the double digits, including “Bless the Broken Road,” “What Hurts the Most,” and “Here Comes Goodbye.” They’ve also sold more than 20 million albums, including the back-to-back multi-platinum blockbusters Feels Like Today and Me and My Gang . They also took their fair share of criticism for their polished, pop-and-rock-friendly sound, which nonetheless proved to be hugely influential for Taylor Swift, Dan + Shay, and numerous others who followed. Their most recent album was 2017’s  Back to Us.

Rascal Flatts – Farewell: Life Is a Highway Tour dates:

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June 11 – Indianapolis, IN @ Ruoff Music Center June 12 – Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre June 13 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center June 25 – Chicago, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre June 27 – Pittsburgh, PA @ S&T Bank Music Park July 18 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion July 23 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre September 3 – Toronto, Ontario @ Budweiser Stage September 4 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center September 5 – Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater September 10 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek September 11 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach September 12 – Washington, DC @ Jiffy Lube Live September 17 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater September 18 – Boston, MA @ Xfinity Center September 19 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center October 1 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre October 2 – San Diego, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre October 3 – Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheatre October 7 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre October 9 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater October 10 – Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion October 15 – Atlanta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre October 16 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre October 17 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre

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Watch CBS News

Country music stars Rascal Flatts announce farewell tour after 20 years together

Updated on: January 7, 2020 / 9:08 AM EST / CBS News

Rascal Flatts announced their final tour dates on "CBS This Morning" Tuesday. Marking the band's 20th anniversary, the Rascal Flatts Farewell: Life Is A Highway Tour will kick off in June in Indianapolis.

"When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter," lead vocalist Gary LeVox said. "The greatest feeling ever, is being told that our music has been the soundtrack to their lives. ... That's why we create music and the reason we can't wait to celebrate this incredible 20 year journey all year, with our fans who we love dearly."   Rascal Flatts are the most awarded country group of the past decade with more than 40 wins, including at the American Music Awards, People's Choice Awards and American Country Awards.   Tickets for the farewell tour will be available first as part of the Live Nation Country Megaticket. More information will become available at rascalflatts.com in the coming weeks.    Here are the tour dates:

• June 11: Indianapolis - Ruoff Music Center
• June 12: Detroit - DTE Energy Music Theatre
• June 13: Cincinnati - Riverbend Music Center
• June 25: Chicago - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
• June 27: Pittsburgh - S&T Bank Music Park
• July 18: Dallas - Dos Equis Pavilion
• July 23: St. Louis - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
• September 3: Toronto, Canada - Budweiser Stage
• September 4: Cleveland - Blossom Music Center
• September 5: Buffalo, New York - Darien Lake Amphitheater
• September 10: Raleigh, North Carolina - Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
• September 11: Virginia Beach, Virginia - Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
• September 12: Washington, D.C. - Jiffy Lube Live
• September 17: Wantagh, New York - Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
• September 18: Boston - Xfinity Center
• September 19: Holmdel, New Jersey - PNC Bank Arts Center
• October 1: Mountain View, California - Shoreline Amphitheatre
• October 2: San Diego - North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
• October 3: Irvine, California - FivePoint Amphitheatre
• October 7: Denver - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
• October 9: Albuquerque, New Mexico - Isleta Amphitheater
• October 10: Phoenix - Ak-Chin Pavilion
• October 15: Atlanta - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
• October 16: Tampa, Florida - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
• October 17: West Palm Beach, Florida - Coral Sky Amphitheatre

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Rascal Flatts 

Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Rascal Flatts Say Goodbye, Announce Farewell Tour Dates

"There is no sadness here, just new chapters, new journeys, and new beginnings," Jay DeMarcus said

Four-time GRAMMY-nominated country group Rascal Flatts  have announced their disbandment after 20 years of bringing some of the most popular and loved country music to the '00s and beyond. The trio broke the news on "CBS This Morning" on Jan. 7 and released a list of tour dates that will serve as a celebration of their 20th anniversary and a goodbye to fans. 

"We’re really looking forward to getting to spend this entire year loving on our fans, and thanking them for allowing us to have the most amazing career over the last 20 years," Bassist Jay DeMarcus said in a  statement . “While it is of course bittersweet, it is so important to us to celebrate what our music has meant to their lives, as well as what the fans have meant to us. There is no sadness here, just new chapters, new journeys, and new beginnings. Rascal Flatts’ music will live on forever, because of our fans, and this year is all about them!”

The tour, called Rascal Flatts Farewell: Life Is A Highway Tour, will launch in Indianapolis on June 11, will head to Chicago, Buffalo, N.Y.,  Virginia, Beach, Va., Holmdel, N.J.,  Mountain View, Calif., and other cities before their last stop in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Oct. 17.

The band began in Columbus with Demarcus, vocalist Gary LeVox and guitarist Joe Don Rooney.

"When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter," LeVox said. "The greatest feeling ever is being told that our music has been the soundtrack to their lives. What greater gift can an artist receive than to be told ‘I got married to 'Bless The Broken Road' or 'We played 'My Wish' at my graduation.' That 'What Hurts The Most' is the song that made me love country music for the first time,' or 'I'm Movin' On' helped me get sober' or even that 'Changed' made me call my family again after not talking to them for years.' That’s why we create music and the reason we can’t wait to celebrate this incredible 20-year journey all year, with our fans who we love dearly. I don't know what God has in store for the future, but I am excited to see what he has planned!"

Rascal Flatts were nominated for Best Country Performance By Duo Or Group With Vocal at the 48th , 49th , 51st and 52nd GRAMMY Awards. They earned countless other awards and reached the top of several Billboard charts , including the Hot 100, Hot Country and more. 

No information on  ticket sales has been released yet. For a full list of dates, visit the Rascal Flatts  website .

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GRAMMY Rewind: Kendrick Lamar Honors Hip-Hop's Greats While Accepting Best Rap Album GRAMMY For 'To Pimp a Butterfly' In 2016

Upon winning the GRAMMY for Best Rap Album for 'To Pimp a Butterfly,' Kendrick Lamar thanked those that helped him get to the stage, and the artists that blazed the trail for him.

Updated Friday Oct. 13, 2023 to include info about Kendrick Lamar's most recent GRAMMY wins, as of the 2023 GRAMMYs.

A GRAMMY veteran these days, Kendrick Lamar has won 17 GRAMMYs and has received 47 GRAMMY nominations overall. A sizable chunk of his trophies came from the 58th annual GRAMMY Awards in 2016, when he walked away with five — including his first-ever win in the Best Rap Album category.

This installment of GRAMMY Rewind turns back the clock to 2016, revisiting Lamar's acceptance speech upon winning Best Rap Album for To Pimp A Butterfly . Though Lamar was alone on stage, he made it clear that he wouldn't be at the top of his game without the help of a broad support system. 

"First off, all glory to God, that's for sure," he said, kicking off a speech that went on to thank his parents, who he described as his "those who gave me the responsibility of knowing, of accepting the good with the bad."

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He also extended his love and gratitude to his fiancée, Whitney Alford, and shouted out his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates. Lamar specifically praised Top Dawg's CEO, Anthony Tiffith, for finding and developing raw talent that might not otherwise get the chance to pursue their musical dreams.

"We'd never forget that: Taking these kids out of the projects, out of Compton, and putting them right here on this stage, to be the best that they can be," Lamar — a Compton native himself — continued, leading into an impassioned conclusion spotlighting some of the cornerstone rap albums that came before To Pimp a Butterfly .

"Hip-hop. Ice Cube . This is for hip-hop," he said. "This is for Snoop Dogg , Doggystyle . This is for Illmatic , this is for Nas . We will live forever. Believe that."

To Pimp a Butterfly singles "Alright" and "These Walls" earned Lamar three more GRAMMYs that night, the former winning Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song and the latter taking Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (the song features Bilal , Anna Wise and Thundercat ). He also won Best Music Video for the remix of Taylor Swift 's "Bad Blood." 

Lamar has since won Best Rap Album two more times, taking home the golden gramophone in 2018 for his blockbuster LP DAMN ., and in 2023 for his bold fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers .

Watch Lamar's full acceptance speech above, and check back at GRAMMY.com every Friday for more GRAMMY Rewind episodes. 

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A Guide To Modern Funk For The Dance Floor: L'Imperatrice, Shiro Schwarz, Franc Moody, Say She She & Moniquea

James Brown changed the sound of popular music when he found the power of the one and unleashed the funk with "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." Today, funk lives on in many forms, including these exciting bands from across the world.

It's rare that a genre can be traced back to a single artist or group, but for funk, that was James Brown . The Godfather of Soul coined the phrase and style of playing known as "on the one," where the first downbeat is emphasized, instead of the typical second and fourth beats in pop, soul and other styles. As David Cheal eloquently explains, playing on the one "left space for phrases and riffs, often syncopated around the beat, creating an intricate, interlocking grid which could go on and on." You know a funky bassline when you hear it; its fat chords beg your body to get up and groove.

Brown's 1965 classic, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," became one of the first funk hits, and has been endlessly sampled and covered over the years, along with his other groovy tracks. Of course, many other funk acts followed in the '60s, and the genre thrived in the '70s and '80s as the disco craze came and went, and the originators of hip-hop and house music created new music from funk and disco's strong, flexible bones built for dancing.

Legendary funk bassist Bootsy Collins learned the power of the one from playing in Brown's band, and brought it to George Clinton , who created P-funk, an expansive, Afrofuturistic , psychedelic exploration of funk with his various bands and projects, including Parliament-Funkadelic . Both Collins and Clinton remain active and funkin', and have offered their timeless grooves to collabs with younger artists, including Kali Uchis , Silk Sonic , and Omar Apollo; and Kendrick Lamar , Flying Lotus , and Thundercat , respectively.

In the 1980s, electro-funk was born when artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Man Parrish, and Egyptian Lover began making futuristic beats with the Roland TR-808 drum machine — often with robotic vocals distorted through a talk box. A key distinguishing factor of electro-funk is a de-emphasis on vocals, with more phrases than choruses and verses. The sound influenced contemporaneous hip-hop, funk and electronica, along with acts around the globe, while current acts like Chromeo, DJ Stingray, and even Egyptian Lover himself keep electro-funk alive and well.

Today, funk lives in many places, with its heavy bass and syncopated grooves finding way into many nooks and crannies of music. There's nu-disco and boogie funk, nodding back to disco bands with soaring vocals and dance floor-designed instrumentation. G-funk continues to influence Los Angeles hip-hop, with innovative artists like Dam-Funk and Channel Tres bringing the funk and G-funk, into electro territory. Funk and disco-centered '70s revival is definitely having a moment, with acts like Ghost Funk Orchestra and Parcels , while its sparkly sprinklings can be heard in pop from Dua Lipa , Doja Cat , and, in full "Soul Train" character, Silk Sonic . There are also acts making dreamy, atmospheric music with a solid dose of funk, such as Khruangbin ’s global sonic collage.

There are many bands that play heavily with funk, creating lush grooves designed to get you moving. Read on for a taste of five current modern funk and nu-disco artists making band-led uptempo funk built for the dance floor. Be sure to press play on the Spotify playlist above, and check out GRAMMY.com's playlist on Apple Music , Amazon Music and Pandora .

Say She She

Aptly self-described as "discodelic soul," Brooklyn-based seven-piece Say She She make dreamy, operatic funk, led by singer-songwriters Nya Gazelle Brown, Piya Malik and Sabrina Mileo Cunningham. Their '70s girl group-inspired vocal harmonies echo, sooth and enchant as they cover poignant topics with feminist flair.

While they’ve been active in the New York scene for a few years, they’ve gained wider acclaim for the irresistible music they began releasing this year, including their debut album, Prism . Their 2022 debut single "Forget Me Not" is an ode to ground-breaking New York art collective Guerilla Girls, and " Norma " is their protest anthem in response to the news that Roe vs. Wade could be (and was) overturned. The band name is a nod to funk legend Nile Rodgers , from the "Le freak, c'est chi" exclamation in Chic's legendary tune "Le Freak."

Moniquea 's unique voice oozes confidence, yet invites you in to dance with her to the super funky boogie rhythms. The Pasadena, California artist was raised on funk music; her mom was in a cover band that would play classics like Aretha Franklin’ s "Get It Right" and Gladys Knight ’s "Love Overboard." Moniquea released her first boogie funk track at 20 and, in 2011, met local producer XL Middelton — a bonafide purveyor of funk. She's been a star artist on his MoFunk Records ever since, and they've collabed on countless tracks, channeling West Coast energy with a heavy dose of G-funk, sunny lyrics and upbeat, roller disco-ready rhythms.

Her latest release is an upbeat nod to classic West Coast funk, produced by Middleton, and follows her February 2022 groovy, collab-filled album, On Repeat .

Shiro Schwarz

Shiro Schwarz is a Mexico City-based duo, consisting of Pammela Rojas and Rafael Marfil, who helped establish a modern funk scene in the richly creative Mexican metropolis. On "Electrify" — originally released in 2016 on Fat Beats Records and reissued in 2021 by MoFunk — Shiro Schwarz's vocals playfully contrast each other, floating over an insistent, upbeat bassline and an '80s throwback electro-funk rhythm with synth flourishes.

Their music manages to be both nostalgic and futuristic — and impossible to sit still to. 2021 single "Be Kind" is sweet, mellow and groovy, perfect chic lounge funk. Shiro Schwarz’s latest track, the joyfully nostalgic "Hey DJ," is a collab with funkstress Saucy Lady and U-Key.

L'Impératrice

L'Impératrice (the empress in French) are a six-piece Parisian group serving an infectiously joyful blend of French pop, nu-disco, funk and psychedelia. Flore Benguigui's vocals are light and dreamy, yet commanding of your attention, while lyrics have a feminist touch.

During their energetic live sets, L'Impératrice members Charles de Boisseguin and Hagni Gwon (keys), David Gaugué (bass), Achille Trocellier (guitar), and Tom Daveau (drums) deliver extended instrumental jam sessions to expand and connect their music. Gaugué emphasizes the thick funky bass, and Benguigui jumps around the stage while sounding like an angel. L’Impératrice’s latest album, 2021’s Tako Tsubo , is a sunny, playful French disco journey.

Franc Moody

Franc Moody 's bio fittingly describes their music as "a soul funk and cosmic disco sound." The London outfit was birthed by friends Ned Franc and Jon Moody in the early 2010s, when they were living together and throwing parties in North London's warehouse scene. In 2017, the group grew to six members, including singer and multi-instrumentalist Amber-Simone.

Their music feels at home with other electro-pop bands like fellow Londoners Jungle and Aussie act Parcels. While much of it is upbeat and euphoric, Franc Moody also dips into the more chilled, dreamy realm, such as the vibey, sultry title track from their recently released Into the Ether .

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Living Legends: Billy Idol On Survival, Revival & Breaking Out Of The Cage

"One foot in the past and one foot into the future," Billy Idol says, describing his decade-spanning career in rock. "We’ve got the best of all possible worlds because that has been the modus operandi of Billy Idol."

Living Legends is a series that spotlights icons in music still going strong today. This week, GRAMMY.com spoke with Billy Idol about his latest EP,   Cage , and continuing to rock through decades of changing tastes.

Billy Idol is a true rock 'n' roll survivor who has persevered through cultural shifts and personal struggles. While some may think of Idol solely for "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding," the singer's musical influences span genres and many of his tunes are less turbo-charged than his '80s hits would belie.  

Idol first made a splash in the latter half of the '70s with the British punk band Generation X. In the '80s, he went on to a solo career combining rock, pop, and punk into a distinct sound that transformed him and his musical partner, guitarist Steve Stevens, into icons. They have racked up multiple GRAMMY nominations, in addition to one gold, one double platinum, and four platinum albums thanks to hits like "Cradle Of Love," "Flesh For Fantasy," and "Eyes Without A Face." 

But, unlike many legacy artists, Idol is anything but a relic. Billy continues to produce vital Idol music by collaborating with producers and songwriters — including Miley Cyrus — who share his forward-thinking vision. He will play a five-show Vegas residency in November, and filmmaker Jonas Akerlund is working on a documentary about Idol’s life. 

His latest release is Cage , the second in a trilogy of annual four-song EPs. The title track is a classic Billy Idol banger expressing the desire to free himself from personal constraints and live a better life. Other tracks on Cage incorporate metallic riffing and funky R&B grooves. 

Idol continues to reckon with his demons — they both grappled with addiction during the '80s — and the singer is open about those struggles on the record and the page. (Idol's 2014 memoir Dancing With Myself , details a 1990 motorcycle accident that nearly claimed a leg, and how becoming a father steered him to reject hard drugs. "Bitter Taste," from his last EP, The Roadside , reflects on surviving the accident.)

Although Idol and Stevens split in the late '80s — the skilled guitarist fronted Steve Stevens & The Atomic Playboys, and collaborated with Michael Jackson, Rick Ocasek, Vince Neil, and Harold Faltermeyer (on the GRAMMY-winning "Top Gun Anthem") —  their common history and shared musical bond has been undeniable. The duo reunited in 2001 for an episode of " VH1 Storytellers " and have been back in the saddle for two decades. Their union remains one of the strongest collaborations in rock 'n roll history.

While there is recognizable personnel and a distinguishable sound throughout a lot of his work, Billy Idol has always pushed himself to try different things. Idol discusses his musical journey, his desire to constantly move forward, and the strong connection that he shares with Stevens. 

Steve has said that you like to mix up a variety of styles, yet everyone assumes you're the "Rebel Yell"/"White Wedding" guy. But if they really listen to your catalog, it's vastly different.

Yeah, that's right. With someone like Steve Stevens, and then back in the day Keith Forsey producing... [Before that] Generation X actually did move around inside punk rock. We didn't stay doing just the Ramones two-minute music. We actually did a seven-minute song. [ Laughs ]. We did always mix things up. 

Then when I got into my solo career, that was the fun of it. With someone like Steve, I knew what he could do. I could see whatever we needed to do, we could nail it. The world was my oyster musically. 

"Cage" is a classic-sounding Billy Idol rocker, then "Running From The Ghost" is almost metal, like what the Devil's Playground album was like back in the mid-2000s. "Miss Nobody" comes out of nowhere with this pop/R&B flavor. What inspired that?

We really hadn't done anything like that since something like "Flesh For Fantasy" [which] had a bit of an R&B thing about it. Back in the early days of Billy Idol, "Hot In The City" and "Mony Mony" had girls [singing] on the backgrounds. 

We always had a bit of R&B really, so it was actually fun to revisit that. We just hadn't done anything really quite like that for a long time. That was one of the reasons to work with someone like Sam Hollander [for the song "Rita Hayworth"] on The Roadside . We knew we could go [with him] into an R&B world, and he's a great songwriter and producer. That's the fun of music really, trying out these things and seeing if you can make them stick. 

I listen to new music by veteran artists and debate that with some people. I'm sure you have those fans that want their nostalgia, and then there are some people who will embrace the newer stuff. Do you find it’s a challenge to reach people with new songs?

Obviously, what we're looking for is, how do we somehow have one foot in the past and one foot into the future? We’ve got the best of all possible worlds because that has been the modus operandi of Billy Idol. 

You want to do things that are true to you, and you don't just want to try and do things that you're seeing there in the charts today. I think that we're achieving it with things like "Running From The Ghost" and "Cage" on this new EP. I think we’re managing to do both in a way. 

** Obviously, "Running From The Ghost" is about addiction, all the stuff that you went through, and in "Cage" you’re talking about  freeing yourself from a lot of personal shackles. Was there any one moment in your life that made you really thought I have to not let this weigh me down anymore ? **

I mean, things like the motorcycle accident I had, that was a bit of a wake up call way back. It was 32 years ago. But there were things like that, years ago, that gradually made me think about what I was doing with my life. I didn't want to ruin it, really. I didn't want to throw it away, and it made [me] be less cavalier. 

I had to say to myself, about the drugs and stuff, that I've been there and I've done it. There’s no point in carrying on doing it. You couldn't get any higher. You didn't want to throw your life away casually, and I was close to doing that. It took me a bit of time, but then gradually I was able to get control of myself to a certain extent [with] drugs and everything. And I think Steve's done the same thing. We're on a similar path really, which has been great because we're in the same boat in terms of lyrics and stuff. 

So a lot of things like that were wake up calls. Even having grandchildren and just watching my daughter enlarging her family and everything; it just makes you really positive about things and want to show a positive side to how you're feeling, about where you're going. We've lived with the demons so long, we've found a way to live with them. We found a way to be at peace with our demons, in a way. Maybe not completely, but certainly to where we’re enjoying what we do and excited about it.

[When writing] "Running From The Ghost" it was easy to go, what was the ghost for us? At one point, we were very drug addicted in the '80s. And Steve in particular is super sober [now]. I mean, I still vape pot and stuff. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but it’s incredible. All I want to be able to do is have a couple of glasses of wine at a restaurant or something. I can do that now.

I think working with people that are super talented, you just feel confident. That is a big reason why you open up and express yourself more because you feel comfortable with what's around you.

Did you watch Danny Boyle's recent Sex Pistols mini-series?

I did, yes.

You had a couple of cameos; well, an actor who portrayed you did. How did you react to it? How accurate do you think it was in portraying that particular time period?

I love Jonesy’s book, I thought his book was incredible. It's probably one of the best bio books really. It was incredible and so open. I was looking forward to that a lot.

It was as if [the show] kind of stayed with Steve [Jones’ memoir] about halfway through, and then departed from it. [John] Lydon, for instance, was never someone I ever saw acting out; he's more like that today. I never saw him do something like jump up in the room and run around going crazy. The only time I saw him ever do that was when they signed the recording deal with Virgin in front of Buckingham Palace. Whereas Sid Vicious was always acting out; he was always doing something in a horrible way or shouting at someone. I don't remember John being like that. I remember him being much more introverted.

But then I watched interviews with some of the actors about coming to grips with the parts they were playing. And they were saying, we knew punk rock happened but just didn't know any of the details. So I thought well, there you go . If ["Pistol" is]  informing a lot of people who wouldn't know anything about punk rock, maybe that's what's good about it.

Maybe down the road John Lydon will get the chance to do John's version of the Pistols story. Maybe someone will go a lot deeper into it and it won't be so surface. But maybe you needed this just to get people back in the flow.

We had punk and metal over here in the States, but it feels like England it was legitimately more dangerous. British society was much more rigid.

It never went [as] mega in America. It went big in England. It exploded when the Pistols did that interview with [TV host Bill] Grundy, that lorry truck driver put his boot through his own TV, and all the national papers had "the filth and the fury" [headlines].

We went from being unknown to being known overnight. We waited a year, Generation X. We even told them [record labels] no for nine months to a year. Every record company wanted their own punk rock group. So it went really mega in England, and it affected the whole country – the style, the fashions, everything. I mean, the Ramones were massive in England. Devo had a No. 1 song [in England] with "Satisfaction" in '77. Actually, Devo was as big as or bigger than the Pistols.

You were ahead of the pop-punk thing that happened in the late '90s, and a lot of it became tongue-in-cheek by then. It didn't have the same sense of rebelliousness as the original movement. It was more pop.

It had become a style. There was a famous book in England called Revolt Into Style — and that's what had happened, a revolt that turned into style which then they were able to duplicate in their own way. Even recently, Billie Joe [Armstrong] did his own version of "Gimme Some Truth," the Lennon song we covered way back in 1977.

When we initially were making [punk] music, it hadn't become accepted yet. It was still dangerous and turned into a style that people were used to. We were still breaking barriers.

You have a band called Generation Sex with Steve Jones and Paul Cook. I assume you all have an easier time playing Pistols and Gen X songs together now and not worrying about getting spit on like back in the '70s?

Yeah, definitely. When I got to America I told the group I was putting it together, "No one spits at the audience."

We had five years of being spat on [in the UK], and it was revolting. And they spat at you if they liked you. If they didn't like it they smashed your gear up. One night, I remember I saw blood on my T-shirt, and I think Joe Strummer got meningitis when spit went in his mouth.

You had to go through a lot to become successful, it wasn't like you just kind of got up there and did a couple of gigs. I don't think some young rock bands really get that today.

With punk going so mega in England, we definitely got a leg up. We still had a lot of work to get where we got to, and rightly so because you find out that you need to do that. A lot of groups in the old days would be together three to five years before they ever made a record, and that time is really important. In a way, what was great about punk rock for me was it was very much a learning period. I really learned a lot [about] recording music and being in a group and even writing songs.

Then when I came to America, it was a flow, really. I also really started to know what I wanted Billy Idol to be. It took me a little bit, but I kind of knew what I wanted Billy Idol to be. And even that took a while to let it marinate.

You and Miley Cyrus have developed a good working relationship in the last several years. How do you think her fans have responded to you, and your fans have responded to her?

I think they're into it. It's more the record company that she had didn't really get "Night Crawling"— it was one of the best songs on Plastic Hearts , and I don't think they understood that. They wanted to go with Dua Lipa, they wanted to go with the modern, young acts, and I don't think they realized that that song was resonating with her fans. Which is a shame really because, with Andrew Watt producing, it's a hit song.

But at the same time, I enjoyed doing it. It came out really good and it's very Billy Idol. In fact, I think it’s more Billy Idol than Miley Cyrus. I think it shows you where Andrew Watt was. He was excited about doing a Billy Idol track. She's fun to work with. She’s a really great person and she works at her singing — I watched her rehearsing for the Super Bowl performance she gave. She rehearsed all Saturday morning, all Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning and it was that afternoon. I have to admire her fortitude. She really cares.

I remember when you went on " Viva La Bam "  back in 2005 and decided to give Bam Margera’s Lamborghini a new sunroof by taking a power saw to it. Did he own that car? Was that a rental?

I think it was his car.

Did he get over it later on?

He loved it. [ Laughs ] He’s got a wacky sense of humor. He’s fantastic, actually. I’m really sorry to see what he's been going through just lately. He's going through a lot, and I wish him the best. He's a fantastic person, and it's a shame that he's struggling so much with his addictions. I know what it's like. It's not easy.

Musically, what is the synergy like with you guys during the past 10 years, doing Kings and Queens of the Underground and this new stuff? What is your working relationship like now in this more sober, older, mature version of you two as opposed to what it was like back in the '80s?

In lots of ways it’s not so different because we always wrote the songs together, we always talked about what we're going to do together. It was just that we were getting high at the same time.We're just not getting [that way now] but we're doing all the same things.

We're still talking about things, still [planning] things:What are we going to do next? How are we going to find new people to work with? We want to find new producers. Let's be a little bit more timely about putting stuff out.That part of our relationship is the same, you know what I mean? That never got affected. We just happened to be overloading in the '80s.

The relationship’s… matured and it's carrying on being fruitful, and I think that's pretty amazing. Really, most people don't get to this place. Usually, they hate each other by now. [ Laughs ] We also give each other space. We're not stopping each other doing things outside of what we’re working on together. All of that enables us to carry on working together. I love and admire him. I respect him. He's been fantastic. I mean, just standing there on stage with him is always a treat. And he’s got an immensely great sense of humor. I think that's another reason why we can hang together after all this time because we've got the sense of humor to enable us to go forward.

There's a lot of fan reaction videos online, and I noticed a lot of younger women like "Rebel Yell" because, unlike a lot of other '80s alpha male rock tunes, you're talking about satisfying your lover.

It was about my girlfriend at the time, Perri Lister. It was about how great I thought she was, how much I was in love with her, and how great women are, how powerful they are.

It was a bit of a feminist anthem in a weird way. It was all about how relationships can free you and add a lot to your life. It was a cry of love, nothing to do with the Civil War or anything like that. Perri was a big part of my life, a big part of being Billy Idol. I wanted to write about it. I'm glad that's the effect.

Is there something you hope people get out of the songs you've been doing over the last 10 years? Do you find yourself putting out a message that keeps repeating?

Well, I suppose, if anything, is that you can come to terms with your life, you can keep a hold of it. You can work your dreams into reality in a way and, look, a million years later, still be enjoying it.

The only reason I'm singing about getting out of the cage is because I kicked out of the cage years ago. I joined Generation X when I said to my parents, "I'm leaving university, and I'm joining a punk rock group." And they didn't even know what a punk rock group was. Years ago, I’d write things for myself that put me on this path, so that maybe in 2022 I could sing something like "Cage" and be owning this territory and really having a good time. This is the life I wanted.

The original UK punk movement challenged societal norms. Despite all the craziness going on throughout the world, it seems like a lot of modern rock bands are afraid to do what you guys were doing. Do you think we'll see a shift in that?

Yeah.  Art usually reacts to things, so I would think eventually there will be a massive reaction to the pop music that’s taken over — the middle of the road music, and then this kind of right wing politics. There will be a massive reaction if there's not already one. I don’t know where it will come from exactly. You never know who's gonna do [it].

Living Legends: Nancy Sinatra Reflects On Creating "Power And Magic" In Studio, Developing A Legacy Beyond "Boots" & The Pop Stars She Wants To Work With

Graphic: The Recording Academy

Hear All Of The Best Country Solo Performance Nominees For The 2023 GRAMMY Awards

The 2023 GRAMMY Award nominees for Best Country Solo Performance highlight country music's newcomers and veterans, featuring hits from Kelsea Ballerini, Zach Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Willie Nelson.

Country music's evolution is well represented in the 2023 GRAMMY nominees for Best Country Solo Performance. From crossover pop hooks to red-dirt outlaw roots, the genre's most celebrated elements are on full display — thanks to rising stars, leading ladies and country icons.

Longtime hitmaker Miranda Lambert delivered a soulful performance on the rootsy ballad "In His Arms," an arrangement as sparing as the windswept west Texas highlands where she co-wrote the song. Viral newcomer Zach Bryan dug into similar organic territory on the Oklahoma side of the Red River for "Something in the Orange," his voice accompanied with little more than an acoustic guitar.

Two of country's 2010s breakout stars are clearly still shining, too, as Maren Morris and Kelsea Ballerini both received Best Country Solo Performance GRAMMY nods. Morris channeled the determination that drove her leap-of-faith move from Texas to Nashville for the playful clap-along "Circles Around This Town," while Ballerini brought poppy hooks with a country edge on the infectiously upbeat "HEARTFIRST."

Rounding out the category is the one and only Willie Nelson, who paid tribute to his late friend Billy Joe Shaver with a cover of "Live Forever" — a fitting sentiment for the 89-year-old legend, who is approaching his eighth decade in the business. 

As the excitement builds for the 2023 GRAMMYs on Feb. 5, 2023, let's take a closer look at this year's nominees for Best Country Solo Performance.

Kelsea Ballerini — "HEARTFIRST"

In the tradition of Shania Twain , Faith Hill and Carrie Underwood , Kelsea Ballerini represents Nashville's sunnier side — and her single "HEARTFIRST" is a slice of bright, uptempo, confectionary country-pop for the ages.

Ballerini sings about leaning into a carefree crush with her heart on her sleeve, pushing aside her reservations and taking a risk on love at first sight. The scene plays out in a bar room and a back seat, as she sweeps nimbly through the verses and into a shimmering chorus, when the narrator decides she's ready to "wake up in your T-shirt." 

There are enough steel guitar licks to let you know you're listening to a country song, but the story and melody are universal. "HEARTFIRST" is Ballerini's third GRAMMY nod, but first in the Best Country Solo Performance category.

Zach Bryan — "Something In The Orange"

Zach Bryan blew into Music City seemingly from nowhere in 2017, when his original song "Heading South" — recorded on an iPhone — went viral. Then an active officer in the U.S. Navy, the Oklahoma native chased his muse through music during his downtime, striking a chord with country music fans on stark songs led by his acoustic guitar and affecting vocals.

After his honorable discharge in 2021, Bryan began his music career in earnest, and in 2022 released "Something in the Orange," a haunting ballad that stakes a convincing claim to the territory between Tyler Childers and Jason Isbell in both sonics and songwriting. Slashing slide guitar drives home the song's heartbreak, as Bryan pines for a lover whose tail lights have long since vanished over the horizon. 

"Something In The Orange" marks Bryan's first-ever GRAMMY nomination.

Miranda Lambert — "In His Arms"

Miranda Lambert is the rare, chart-topping contemporary country artist who does more than pay lip service to the genre's rural American roots. "In His Arms" originally surfaced on 2021's The Marfa Tapes , a casual recording Lambert made with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall in Marfa, Texas — a tiny arts enclave in the middle of the west Texas high desert.

In this proper studio version — recorded for her 2022 album, Palomino — Lambert retains the structure and organic feel of the mostly acoustic song; light percussion and soothing atmospherics keep her emotive vocals front and center. A native Texan herself, Lambert sounds fully at home on "In His Arms."

Lambert is the only Best Country Solo Performance nominee who is nominated in all four Country Field categories in 2023. To date, Miranda Lambert has won 3 GRAMMYs and received 27 nominations overall. 

Maren Morris — "Circles Around This Town"

When Maren Morris found herself uninspired and dealing with writer's block, she went back to what inspired her to move to Nashville nearly a decade ago — and out came "Circles Around This Town," the lead single from her 2022 album Humble Quest .

Written in one of her first in-person songwriting sessions since the pandemic, Morris has called "Circles Around This Town" her "most autobiographical song" to date; she even recreated her own teenage bedroom for the song's video. As she looks back to her Texas beginnings and the life she left for Nashville, Morris' voice soars over anthemic, yet easygoing production. 

Morris last won a GRAMMY for Best Country Solo Performance in 2017, when her song "My Church" earned the singer her first GRAMMY. To date, Maren Morris has won one GRAMMY and received 17 nominations overall.

Willie Nelson — "Live Forever"

Country music icon Willie Nelson is no stranger to the GRAMMYs, and this year he aims to add to his collection of 10 gramophones. He earned another three nominations for 2023 — bringing his career total to 56 — including a Best Country Solo Performance nod for "Live Forever."

Nelson's performance of "Live Forever," the lead track of the 2022 tribute album Live Forever: A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver , is a faithful rendition of Shaver's signature song. Still, Nelson puts his own twist on the tune, recruiting Lucinda Williams for backing vocals and echoing the melody with the inimitable tone of his nylon-string Martin guitar. 

Shaver, an outlaw country pioneer who passed in 2020 at 81 years old, never had any hits of his own during his lifetime. But plenty of his songs were still heard, thanks to stars like Elvis Presley , Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings . Nelson was a longtime friend and frequent collaborator of Shaver's — and now has a GRAMMY nom to show for it.

2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List

• 1 Rascal Flatts Say Goodbye, Announce Farewell Tour Dates
• 2 GRAMMY Rewind: Kendrick Lamar Honors Hip-Hop's Greats While Accepting Best Rap Album GRAMMY For 'To Pimp a Butterfly' In 2016
• 3 A Guide To Modern Funk For The Dance Floor: L'Imperatrice, Shiro Schwarz, Franc Moody, Say She She & Moniquea
• 4 Living Legends: Billy Idol On Survival, Revival & Breaking Out Of The Cage
• 5 Hear All Of The Best Country Solo Performance Nominees For The 2023 GRAMMY Awards

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Gary LeVox Opens Up About the End of Rascal Flatts: ‘I Wasn’t Happy That Joe Don Quit’

"I can't stand the fact that it just feels there's no closure," LeVox recently told People Magazine

By Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson

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Last year, Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus appeared on CBS This Morning  and announced that their 20th-anniversary tour would also be the official farewell tour for Rascal Flatts , as each wanted to pursue other creative endeavors. However, the COVID-19 pandemic halted the tour plans, and those Flatts dates were never rescheduled.

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Now, in an interview with People , LeVox says there is more to the story and that the band’s breakup was initiated by Rooney.

“I’ve never been okay with the way that it ended,” LeVox told the outlet, adding, “I wasn’t happy that Joe Don quit.”

Gary LeVox Talks Life Post-Rascal Flatts and His New Christian Song, 'The Distance'

“It kind of came out of nowhere,” LeVox said. “It was like, ‘Let me try to wrap my head around this.’ And then I certainly wasn’t okay with the pandemic, which canceled everything. I hate the way that it ended. I hate that we didn’t get to do this farewell tour. I can’t stand the fact that it just feels there’s no closure with something that we’ve been so blessed with. That will always be in my heart.”

As the group’s 2020 tour dates were already on hold due to the pandemic, the group disbanded quietly, with LeVox pursuing a solo career and releasing the recent Christian album One on One. Meanwhile, DeMarcus released a tribute to his late father with “Music Man,” and also runs the CCM label Red Street Records.

In August, Rooney joined DeMarcus at the the ACM Honors ceremony to accept the Cliffie Stone Icon Award for Rascal Flatts, though LeVox was not in attendance. Last month, Rooney was charged with a DUI near Nashville. LeVox told People he has not spoken with Rooney since the incident.

Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney Charged With DUI in Nashville

“I think God gets your attention in different ways,” LeVox told People . “I just wish him the best and I hope he gets everything that he needs to get well and take care of whatever issues he’s got going on. There’s power in prayer.”

According to LeVox’s official website, he has several solo shows slated through October and November.

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RASCAL FLATTS ANNOUNCE FAREWELL TOUR

An unforgettable chapter in country music history will be celebrated this year, as Rascal Flatts is hitting the road for the RASCAL FLATTS FAREWELL: LIFE IS A HIGHWAY TOUR.

With countless milestones behind them, the most awarded group of the genre’s last decade, announced today on CBS This Morning that they will mark their 20th anniversary this year with a triumphant farewell tour.

“When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter,” said Gary LeVox. “The greatest feeling ever, is being told that our music has been the soundtrack to their lives. What greater gift can an artist receive than to be told ‘I got married to “Bless The Broken Road,”’ or ‘We played “My Wish” at my graduation.’ That ‘“What Hurts The Most” is the song that made me love country music for the first time,’ or ‘“I’m Movin’ On” helped me get sober’ or even that ‘“Changed” made me call my family again after not talking to them for years.’ That’s why we create music and the reason we can’t wait to celebrate this incredible 20 year journey all year, with our fans who we love dearly. I don’t know what God has in store for the future, but I am excited to see what he has planned!”

“We’re really looking forward to getting to spend this entire year loving on our fans, and thanking them for allowing us to have the most amazing career over the last 20 years,” shared Jay DeMarcus. “While it is of course bittersweet, it is so important to us to celebrate what our music has meant to their lives, as well as what the fans have meant to us. There is no sadness here, just new chapters, new journeys, and new beginnings. Rascal Flatts’ music will live on forever, because of our fans, and this year is all about them!”

“Dreams do come true…and we are three walking examples of this truth,” said Joe Don Rooney. “I’m most proud of the fact that we’ve pursued our dreams together and with courage, hard-work and dedication we’ve been able to cultivate our dreams into reality, it’s simply incredible! There’s no doubt we have been blessed way beyond belief and we can’t wait to spend the rest of 2020 expressing our love and appreciation to all of our devoted fans, music industry friends and our families for believing in us and playing a major role in our path to here. And, I personally can’t wait to shine a light on my brothers Jay and Gary this year, and make another mountain of new memories with them.”

Kicking off on June 11 in Indianapolis, the tour will take Rascal Flatts from coast to coast, culminating in a bittersweet send off. Tickets will be available first as part of the Live Nation Country Megaticket. Check back for more information in the coming weeks.

• May 25, 2023 Memorial Day Sale In The Rascal Flatts Online Store
• August 25, 2022 GARY LEVOX RELEASES NEW SONG “GET DOWN LIKE THAT”
• July 11, 2022 RASCAL FLATTS FEATURED ON POSITIVE VIBRATIONS’ NEW ALBUM “COUNTRY GOES REGGAE”
• May 26, 2022 NEW EP “HOT IN HERE SUMMER SONGS 2010-2019” AVAILABLE NOW
• February 10, 2022 NEW EP “LOVE SONGS 2010-2019” AVAILABLE NOW
• January 28, 2022 JAY DEMARCUS ANNOUNCES NEW LABEL, RED STREET COUNTRY, AND FIRST SIGNED ARTIST, RYAN GRIFFIN
• June 15, 2021 RASCAL FLATTS TO BE HONORED WITH CLIFFIE STONE ICON AWARD AT ACM HONORS
• May 21, 2021 GARY LEVOX’S DEBUT EP “ONE ON ONE” OUT NOW
• May 1, 2021 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ALL ACCESS MAY FAN OF THE MONTH
• April 30, 2021 GARY LEVOX ANNOUNCES DEBUT SOLO EP “ONE ON ONE”

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Rascal Flatts Announce Final Tour After Two Decades Together: 'We Can't Wait to Celebrate' 

"I don't know what God has in store for the future, but I am excited to see what He has planned!" Rascal Flatts member Gary LeVox said

PEOPLE, Music Writer and Reporter

Life is a highway, but Rascal Flatts won’t be on the road for much longer.

During their Tuesday appearance on CBS This Morning , the band — comprised of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney — announced that their 2020 tour will be their last.

“When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter,” LeVox began. “The greatest feeling ever is being told that our music has been the soundtrack to their lives.”

“What greater gift can an artist receive than to be told, ‘I got married to “ Bless the Broken Road ,” or, ‘We played “ My Wish at my graduation,'” he continued. “‘That “ What Hurts the Most is the song that made me love country music for the first time,’ or. ‘”I'm Movin On helped me get sober’ or even that ‘”Changed' made me call my family again after not talking to them for years.'”

“That’s why we create music and the reason we can’t wait to celebrate this incredible 20-year journey all year, with our fans who we love dearly,” LeVox added. “I don’t know what God has in store for the future, but I am excited to see what He has planned!”

The Rascal Flatts Farewell: Life Is a Highway Tour, beginning on June 11, kicks off in Indianapolis, Indiana this summer and will wrap on Oct. 17 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The trio have an incredible decades-long music legacy. They are now the most awarded country group of the past decade after racking more than 40 wins, including nods at the American Music Awards , People’s Choice Awards and American Country Awards .

The farewell tour dates are:

6/11 Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center 6/12 Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre 6/13 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center 6/25 Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre 6/27 Pittsburgh, PA – S&T Bank Music Park 7/18 Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion 7/23 St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre 9/3 Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage 9/4 Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center 9/5 Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater 9/10 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek 9/11 Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach 9/12 Washington, DC – Jiffy Lube Live 9/17 Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater 9/18 Boston, MA – Xfinity Center 9/19 Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center 10/1 Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre 10/2 San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre 10/3 Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre 10/7 Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre 10/9 Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater 10/10 Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion 10/15 Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre 10/16 Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre 10/17 West Palm Beach, FL – Coral Sky Amphitheatre

Tickets for the upcoming tour will first be available as part of the Live Nation Country Megaticket. Additional ticket information will soon become available at rascalflatts.com .

Related Articles

Rascal Flatts Announces Opening Acts, Adds Dates to Farewell Tour

We now know who will be joining Rascal Flatts on their farewell Life is a Highway Tour! The trio, [...]

By Gayle Thompson - February 18, 2020 10:39 am EST

We now know who will be joining Rascal Flatts on their farewell Life is a Highway Tour ! The trio, made up of Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus , will be joined on the road by a rotating list of opening acts, including Chris Lane , Chase Rice , Avenue Beat, Caylee Hammack , King Calaway, Matt Stell and Rachel Wammack . In addition, Rascal Flatts has added several more dates to their final tour, including two shows with a personal connection for the threesome.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rascal Flatts (@rascalflatts) on Feb 17, 2020 at 6:01am PST

"What makes a road trip even more fun? Bringing friends along!" Rascal Flatts shared on social media, along with a list of artists joining them on tour. "We've also added new shows, including hometown stops in Columbus and Nashville!"

Rascal Flatts announced last month that they were disbanding after their tour, a decision that wasn't easy for any of the band members to make.

"We haven't really had a break in 20 years," LeVox said on CBS This Morning when announcing their split. "We haven't had time to reflect. Our fans have given us so much. We've achieved so many milestones in our career."

"We're really saying thank you," Rooney added. "Thank you for all these years and all these memories we've stockpiled. It's our way of showing our appreciation and with a humble heart, just saying, 'Thank you, thank you, thank you."

With no plans to record more music, or tour, after the end of 2020, DeMarcus is still coming to terms with what their goodbye really means.

"It is bittersweet for sure," DeMarcus told PopCulture.com . "And I would be lying if I said it wasn't a decision that we reached without some considerable conversation and some sadness and some anxiety about it. But after 20 years, we figured it was a great time to celebrate everything we've been able to do and build together and to love back on our fans a little bit and tell them how much we love and appreciate them, and spend a year celebrating all that is and has been Rascal Flatts and the wonderful things we've been able to do, and take some time to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

"We all three have families and things that we want to do outside of the scope that Rascal Flatts is, and it just felt like the timing was right," he added. "We haven't signed any contract that says we'll never make any more music together, so everybody still loves each other."

Photo Credit: Getty / Frederick Breedon

The Racal Flatts Farewell Tour Is Canceled — But The Band Still Has New Songs

The band canceled the event in May and has no plans to reschedule "for the foreseeable future."

If it weren't for the pandemic, Rascal Flatts would currently be halfway through their Farewell: Life is a Highway Tour. It was supposed to close the band's 20-year run, as members Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney work their individual goals, but the coronavirus forced them to first delay, then cancel the event altogether.

Originally, the tour was scheduled to kick off on June 11. On March 20, the June shows were rescheduled to August , and by May, the tour's full cancellation was announced . "Flattheads, after a lot of difficult conversations that we never thought we'd be having, we have decided that in the interest of the safety of everyone involved we will not be moving forward with our Farewell Tour," the band announced on social media. Refunds were offered to all ticket holders via Live Nation.

As of right now, there are no plans to reschedule the tour "for the foreseeable future," the band told The Boot and other outlets at a virtual roundtable. At first, they were upset, but now understand that the outcome is out of their control. "We were angry about it," LeVox said. "It's been weird, it's frustrating, and every state is different ... all of it's just crazy." Still, he refused to let resentment linger. "It'll just sit there," he added. "So you've just kinda gotta wash your hands of it and move on."

In an interview with Billboard , DeMarcus personally apologized to fans for the disappointing news. "We're sorry we had to cancel. It was beyond our control. And there's definitely gonna be a time when you'll be able to see us," he said. "We don't know how or when right now. It's a moving target and it's hard to pinpoint when that will happen, and it's also hard to know when they open venues, what the social distancing measures will look like. So we're keeping our eye on it." He continued, "And believe me, as much and as badly as you want to see us play, we wanna be out there playing even more so. So rest assured that it's not something we've taken lightly, and it's not something we're not thinking about every single day."

On July 31, the band released a new seven-track EP, How They Remember You — a name that took on a whole new meaning given the tour's cancellation. "It was more, not about our career, but it was more about the general question to the entire world: 'How do you want to be remembered?'" LeVox told Billboard . "Because tomorrow's not promised."

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FORT WORTH, Texas – Following the announcement of the RASCAL FLATTS FAREWELL: LIFE IS A HIGHWAY TOUR just last month, the superstar trio has announced more dates due to overwhelming demand. The most awarded group of the past decade revealed two special hometown shows with the news today that they will play Columbus, OH’s Nationwide Arena on 9/25 and they will end the bittersweet nationwide run with a show at Nashville, TN’s Bridgestone Arena on 10/30. Nine additional cities across the country have also been added since the tour was announced, with a full list of dates available below. Tickets go on sale beginning this Friday, February 21 at 10am local time at  rascalflatts.com . Live Nation is the official tour promoter*.

Furthering anticipation for the upcoming celebration tour, Rascal Flatts also shared that they will be inviting special guests Chris Lane, Chase Rice, Avenue Beat, Caylee Hammack, King Calaway, Matt Stell and Rachel Wammack to join them on select dates across the run, with opening artists varying across the tour and more guests to be announced in the coming months. Together, the trio and their fans will reflect on a beloved catalogue of hits including “Bless The Broken Road,” “My Wish,” “What Hurts The Most” – always soulful, engaging and delivered with a positive, universal message – as well as a string of success that places Rascal Flatts among the modern musical elite.

RASCAL FLATTS FAREWELL: LIFE IS A HIGHWAY TOUR  Official Dates: 6/11                Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center 6/12                Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre (WYCD Hoedown) 6/13                Cincinnati, OH    – Riverbend Music Center 6/25                Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre 6/27                Burgettstown, PA – S&T Bank Music Park 7/17                Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP 7/18                Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena 7/23                St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre 7/24                Southaven, MS – BankPlus Amphitheater 7/25                Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center 7/31                Welch, MN – Treasure Island Casino Amphitheater 8/1                  Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center 8/2                  Dubuque, IA – Q Casino 8/20                New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center** 8/21                Brandon, MS – Brandon Amp 8/22                Birmingham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre 9/3                  Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage 9/4                  Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center 9/5                  Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater 9/10                Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek 9/11                Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach 9/12                Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live 9/17                Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater 9/18                Mansfield, MA   – Xfinity Center 9/19                Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center 9/25                Columbus, OH   – Nationwide Arena 10/1                Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre 10/2                San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre** 10/3                Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre 10/7                Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre 10/9                Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater 10/10              Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion 10/15              Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre 10/16              Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre** 10/17              West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre 10/30           Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena **On sale date to be announced

About Rascal Flatts Hailed as one of the most influential groups in modern country history, Rascal Flatts are a chart-topping trio created by vocalist Gary LeVox, multi-instrumentalist Jay DeMarcus and guitarist Joe Don Rooney. Since their founding in 2000 and subsequent breakout with the Top 5 hit, “Prayin’ for Daylight,” the band has gone on to infuse country’s traditional mainstream with smooth-pop textures, arena-rocking energy and faithful positivity, impacting countless fans and fellow artists along the way. They’ve racked up 17 Number One hits, over 23.4 million albums sold, 35 million digital downloads, 2.2 billion streams worldwide and 4.4 billion streams solely on Pandora, while also selling over 11 million concert tickets and earning more than 40 trophies from the ACA, ACM, AMA, CMA, People’s Choice and more, making them the most awarded country group of the past decade. The Grand Ole Opry members will bring an unforgettable chapter in country’s long story to a close in 2020, celebrating their 20th anniversary with Rascal Flatts Farewell: Life Is A Highway Tour – the nationwide farewell tour of their celebrated career. For more information visit  rascalflatts.com .

*Citi is the official presale credit card of the Rascal Flatts Farewell: Life Is A Highway Tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets for select cities beginning Tuesday February 18th at Noon local time until Thursday February 20th at 10pm local time through Citi Entertainment®. For complete details, please visit www.citientertainment.com .

About Live Nation Entertainment Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

Dickies Arena is a 14,000 seat, spectacular multipurpose venue located adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus in Fort Worth, Texas. The facility is the result of a pioneering public-private partnership between the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, the State of Texas and a group of private-sector participants, including foundations, individuals and organizations. The arena is owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by the not-for-profit operating entity, Trail Drive Management Corp. (TDMC). The state-of-the-art arena hosts concerts, sporting events and family entertainment, and is home to Fort Worth Stock Show rodeo performances. For more information, visit www.DickiesArena.com .

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"Life is a Highway" Might be Rascal Flatts's Last Ever Tour

PUBLISHED Jan. 7 2020, 5:01 p.m. ET

Rascal Flatts has just announced new details about their upcoming farewell tour, "Life is a Highway," and fans couldn't be more confused. 

The ever-popular country band will play concerts at locations ranging from Atlantic City's Ocean Casino Resort to the Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, FL. But what will happen after that? 

Why is Rascal Flatts really doing a farewell tour? Will they stay together, or does the farewell tour truly mark the end? 

So, why is Rascal Flatts doing a farewell tour? 

The idea of a farewell tour came about organically, the band explained during a recent appearance on CBS This Morning . The trio spent the past twenty years constantly touring, recording, and developing new material, and they all agreed that it was time to take a much-needed break. 

"We haven't really had a break in 20 years," Gary Levox told This Morning host Gayle King. "We haven't had time to reflect."

"You know, road years are like dog years. You age seven times [faster]," Jay DeMarcus explained. 

Rascal Flatts are one of the best-selling live acts till this date. The country band launched 20 tours in the course of the past 20 years, including the record-breaking "Rhythm and Roots Tour" in 2016 and the unforgettable "Thaw Out 2012 Tour." 

Despite their frequent travels across the U.S., the band still had time to release a handful of albums, like the 2016 "The Greatest Gift of All" and the 2017 "Back to Us." Their songs have regularly reached the No. 1 place on Billboard country charts. 

The group has been working restlessly for the past two decades — and the members have agreed that it was time to take a whole year off. Unfortunately, they also hinted at the possibility that they could split up after that. 

Is Rascal Flatts breaking up? 

"We don't have any plans right now," Jay stated during their appearance on CBS This Morning .

"We make music and that’s what we do [...] We may do it again someday collectively. We’re not gonna sign some pact that says we’re never gonna tour again, or anything like that. We all still love each other. But we do make music, and we’ll probably make some music maybe individually. Collectively, who knows what the future [may hold]?" Jay added later on. 

Some band members already have ideas about what they will do with all of the free time on their hands. 

"I got a Chik-Fil-A I wanna open up," said Jay on the program. 

"I’m gonna open up a Popeyes," Joe Don echoed. 

It looks like the band is about to break up for good. However, as Variety's Chris Willman hypothesizes, there's still some hope for fans. As the journalist notes, the band has yet to confirm a tour date in Nashville, where their last-ever show is the most likely to be held.

Will Rascal Flatts really go out without bidding farewell to their biggest fans? Or could they have other surprises in store as well? Only time will tell. 

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Rascal Flatts calling it quits, going on one final farewell tour

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This article is more than 4 years old and some information may not be up to date.

This might come as a surprise to many diehard fans, but after two decades of making music and touring the world together, the much-beloved country trio Rascal Flatts is calling it quits.

On Tuesday morning, during an appearance on CBS This Morning , the band announced its farewell.

Before throwing in the towel, however, Rascal Flatts will embark on one final 12-month tour — the Life Is a Highway Tour — which will also celebrate their 20th anniversary together.

So far, the What Hurts the Most  rockers have announced only its North American leg of the farewell tour, which will include 24 dates across the U.S. and one in Canada.

Country music superstars @rascalflatts announced they are going on a farewell tour. Marking the band's 20th anniversary, the Rascal Flatts Farewell: Life Is A Highway Tour will kick off in June in Indianapolis. https://t.co/EXX5tXjGW2 pic.twitter.com/UWUSTE3w8p — CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) January 7, 2020

On Twitter, Rascal Flatts wrote: “When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter.”

“As we head out on the Life is A Highway tour, there is no sadness,” the group added. “Just new chapters, new journeys, and new beginnings.”

For those who may not know, the Columbus, Ohio-based band was formed in 1999 by frontman Gary LeVox , bassist  Jay DeMarcus and guitarist  Joe Don Rooney .

Throughout their career, they’ve released 10 studio albums and won countless country music awards, including the Grammy Award for ‘Best Country Song’ in 2006.

On what “farewell” means for Rascal Flatts, LeVox told the This Morning  hosts that it means members haven’t had time for a break or to “reflect.”

“Here comes goodbye,” said DeMarcus, 48, on the upcoming tour.

Rooney, 44, chimed in saying: “We’re saying thank you for all these years, these memories we’ve stockpiled. It’s our way of showing appreciation, and with a humble heart saying ‘Thank you.'”

Though DeMarcus claimed that the band has no plans for the future, LeVox, 49, revealed that Rascal Flatts may have one more album left in the bag.

“We have new music coming this year,” he said. “We’ve got surprises all through the year,” he added, hinting at potential special guest acts for the highly anticipated tour.

“We want to take the year and focus on a celebration of thanking our fans for 20 wonderful years,” added DeMarcus.

When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter. As we head out on the Rascal Flatts Farewell – Life is A Highway Tour, there is no sadness. Just new chapters, new journeys, and new beginnings. pic.twitter.com/IL7Rnw1pv1 — Rascal Flatts (@rascalflatts) January 7, 2020

On whether or not Rascal Flatts will reunite in the future, the bassist was vague.

He said, “We make music and that’s what we do, and we may do it again someday collectively.”

DeMarcus also clarified that there were no harsh feelings between the band members.

“We’re not going to sign some pact that says we’re never going to tour again,” he joked, in reference to the recent comeback of Mötley Crüe , the American heavy metal band.

“We all still love each other,” he concluded.

Fans of the trio can sign up to the Rascal Flatts free fan club, making them eligible for early access tickets. There, supporters are also granted access to the “fan wall,” where users can share photos and memories of the band with one another.

Ticket details and band updates are available through the official Rascal Flatts website .

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2020 North American ‘Life is a Highway’ tour dates:

June 11 — Indianapolis, Ind. @ Ruoff Music Center June 12 — Detroit, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Theatre June 13 — Cincinnati, Ohio @ Riverbend Music Center June 25 — Chicago, Ill. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre June 27 — Pittsburgh, Pa. @ S&T Bank Music Park July 18 — Dallas, Tex. @ Dos Equis Pavilion July 23 — St. Louis, Mo. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Sept. 3 — Toronto, Ont. @ Budweiser Stage Sept. 4 — Cleveland, Ohio @ Blossom Music Center Sept. 5 — Buffalo, N.Y. @ Darien Lake Amphitheate Sept. 10 — Raleigh, N.C. @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park Sept. 11 — Virginia Beach, Va. @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater Sept. 12 — Washington, D.C. @ Jiffy Lube Live Sept. 17 — Wantagh, N.Y. @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater Sept. 18 — Boston, Mass. @ Xfinity Center Sept. 19 — Holmdel, N.J. @ PNC Bank Arts Center Oct. 1 — Mountain View, Calif. @ Shoreline Amphitheatre Oct. 2 — San Diego, Calif. @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre Oct. 3 — Irvine, Calif. @ FivePoint Amphitheatre Oct. 7 — Denver, Col. @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre Oct. 9 — Albuquerque, N.M. @ Isleta Amphitheater Oct. 10 — Phoenix, Ari. @ Ak-Chin Pavilion Oct. 15 — Atlanta, Ga. @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre Oct. 16 — Tampa, Fla. @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre Oct. 17 — West Palm Beach, Fla. @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre

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Rascal Flatts announce their final tour

In a surprise announcement Tuesday morning, Rascal Flatts revealed they’re hitting the road in 2020 for their final tour.

The "Rascal Flatts Farewell: Life Is a Highway Tour" kicks off June 11 in Indianapolis, Indiana and wraps Oct. 17 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter,” Gary LeVox, the band's lead vocalist, said in a press release. "The greatest feeling ever, is being told that our music has been the soundtrack to [our fans’] lives… I don’t know what God has in store for the future, but I am excited to see what he has planned!”

Rascal Flatts bassist Jay DeMarcus added, “We’re really looking forward to getting to spend this entire year loving on our fans, and thanking them for allowing us to have the most amazing career over the last 20 years.”

MORE: 'Safety concern' blamed for abrupt end to Rascal Flatts performance

“Dreams do come true ... and we are three walking examples of this truth,” lead guitarist Joe Don Rooney said, summing up the trio’s feelings.

While this will be Rascal Flatts' final tour, the three haven’t clarified whether they’ll continue to record together or if new music is coming this year.

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