Rascal Flatts Discuss Their Near Break-Up

Rascal Flatts has revealed that they almost called it quits almost two years ago.  I can just imagine the outcry that would have caused among their very dedicated fans!

The trio, Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, have enjoyed some absolutely incredible success but it hasn’t always been easy and they’ve had to make some adjustments to make it all work.

Joe Don explains: "A year-and-a-half ago, we all looked at each other and I think there was a part of us wondering if we could go on after 10 years.  We had just gone through a significant management change where we had to make a tough decision and move on, and we had a meeting at Jay's house. We had a talk to see if [performing as Rascal Flatts] was something we still wanted to do and we decided yes, so let's make the next 10 years another great run ... We all have something special together that no one else can really understand, just the three of us. I think it's a blessing."

Fortunately, they stuck it out and made some major changes including closing their record label, Lyric Street and leaving Turner Nichols, their former management company. 

Their most recent album, Changed, reflects their journey through the tough times and the theme of their music has taken on a specific tone – and they are comfortable with that.  As Joe Don goes on to say: "I don't think we've ever had any kind of worry or trouble about us cutting a song with a Christian style.  We've never had stones thrown at us. It's kind of a shame -- and I'm all about religious freedom and speaking your mind about what you believe -- but I feel like Christianity at times gets a bad rap in this country.  We try to do things for God because we're all Christians and that's the way we were raise. I think the core of our fans feel the same way we do and that's something we can hold onto and smile about."

Now, it seems, that they are in a better place than they have ever been. "We joke that it's taken us 12 years and eight albums to make this album," he continues. "We've been through a lot and I think the hard-core fan can hear it in this album. I think it's our strongest record to date. It's exactly what the three of us are about musically."

Rascal Flatts is currently on tour.