Rascal Flatts Reveals Biggest Disappointment Of Their Career

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One of the most successful country groups to come along in the last two decades admits that one aspect of their career has been a huge disappointment. 

In a new interview with The Boot, Rascal Flatts‘ Jay DeMarcus confesses that the group’s lack of award show wins is hard to deal with. With five certified multi-platinum albums and 30 Top 10 singles, Rascal Flatts hasn’t won an ACM Award since 2009 or a CMA Award since 2008.

“I love what Dale Earnhardt used to say: ‘I’m not greedy, I’m just stingy,’” DeMarcus says. “I’d like to win them all. When you’re up for them, you like to win them.

“It’s hard to watch so many people that you take out on the road with you, to open for you, go on and win Entertainer of the Year,” he continues. “I felt like there were some years in the mid-2000s where we were worthy of it. That’s not being braggadocious. The numbers proved it, and we never, for some reason, got to the point to where people voted for us to get that. That’s the toughest one for me to come to terms with.”

DeMarcus, along with Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney, formed the group in 1999 and rocketed to fame with their debut single “Prayin’ For Daylight.” Rascal Flatts hasn’t slowed down since, although in 2010 the guys considered disbanding the group. 

“We considered breaking up at the end of 2010, but not because we were fighting, but because we were in such a season of change,” DeMarcus admits. “We had some hard conversations in the basement of my house, trying to figure out what the future for us looked like and trying to figure out if we had more to say.

“The answer quickly became yes, after we considered all the options,” he recalls. “I think we’ll be one of those bands that will never officially do a farewell tour or break up. I figure we’ll be 60-year-old men, still playing dates at the Opry, but never officially say, ‘Hey, Rascal Flatts is no more.’”

Rascal Flatts wrapped their second Las Vegas Residency in March and hit the road for their 13th headlining tour in June. The Rascal Flatts: Rhythm & Roots Tour will conclude September 9th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.