After being forced to cancel their farewell tour in 2020 due to the global pandemic, Rascal Flatts is making good on their promise to make it up to fans with their 2025 'Life Is A Highway Tour' and it all comes with a revamped perspective and appreciation for their career.
During a recent appearance on 'Superstar Power Hour' with Audacy’s Katie Neal, Rascal Flatts guitarist, Joe Don Rooney, opened up about the five year break they took as a band and how it led to a perspective shift.
“We all kind of went our separate ways and did our own things,” Rooney said before addressing his own struggles throughout that time, which included a DUI in September of 2021. “Obviously, I had to do a lot of things on myself and I’m really grateful for that time.”
He continued, “It was time well spent… to rejuvenate, spend time with my kids, refocus my energy as a father and I’m super thankful for that time. My connection with my kids has never been better.”
Sharing he’s been sober for more than three years, Rooney says he’s grateful to be headed back on tour and experience the music like never before. “For me, now being sober for a little over three years and refocusing my attention to my health and fatherhood and all that, a song like ‘My Wish,’ it hits me different,” he shared when asked which song he is most excited to play. “I’ve got a lot of other reasons I connect with the song now.”
Three of those reasons are his kids — Jagger, Raquel and Devon — who Rooney says are excited to watch dad in his element. “They’re pretty hyped up to see us now since they’re a little older,” he shared, noting his kids were very young the last time he took the stage. “As teenagers they’re like, ‘Let’s see what Dad does for a living now.’ They really want to see what he does on stage. It’s so cool to be able to give this to them.”
While a large part of his heart will be standing side stage, Rooney’s attention will be out to the crowd as he’s excited to reconnect with the fans who he says “don’t get enough appreciation.”
Thankful for their patience, love, and support through a rocky five years, Joe Don is grateful the fans are still excited to come see them and hopes to spread a lot of love to every one of them each night. “It’s incredible to have people that are almost magnetized to the music we’ve been able to create,” he shared. “I don’t think they get enough appreciation and we definitely have always tried to spread love all over as much as we can because they’re the reason that we’re where we’re at and been successful.”
He concluded, “I’m so thankful to be part of Rascal Flatts and so grateful we’re going on tour again — I can’t wait to see the fans. It’s definitely like a second chance.”
According to JD, the tour is just the beginning of an exciting year for the guys who are celebrating their 25th anniversary as a band. Just last week, they released a brand new single with the Jonas Brothers, “I Dare You,” and there also appears to be more collaborations to come.
“I’m not supposed to say much, but I can say this,” Joe Don said when asked about a forthcoming project still under wraps. “I can say there [is] an amazing roster of artists that we have coming in and singing with us. While I can’t tell you the song or songs or who is on it — let me tell you, it is a heavy-hitter project.”
You’ve got our attention!
Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Katie Neal
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