Looking Back: Rascal Flatts 2011 Recap

As the new year begins, Rascal Flatts fans eagerly anticipate new music, events and milestones from their favorite group in 2012.  While waiting to see what the future holds, it is the perfect time for us  to reflect on Rascal Flatts previous year's accomplishments.  In 2011 Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney had what has become the norm for the trio since beginning their journal together in 1999, this has been another fast paced, jam packed year.  Rascal Flatts started the year with the winter leg of their Nothing Like This Tour kicking off in January and ended with Gary, Jay and Joe Don as the host to the America’s Opry Weekend Year-End Special.  In between some of the MANY events included...

A huge milestone for Rascal Flatts and one that I am sure must top their list ... Induction into the Grand Ole Opry. 

I Won't Let Go became their 25th Top 10 Hit and their 13th Number 1 Hit

An amazing 29 city Flatts Fest Tour (many of which were sold out!) along with several other appearances such as several Grand Ole Opry appearances, CMA Festival, Stagecoach Country Music Festival and the Houston Rodeo.

Rascal Flatts teamed up with Best Buy and the Grammy Foundation donating $5,000 to Centennial High School in Franklin, TN and surprising the students with an appearance 

They were also the receipants of the Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award for their philanthropic efforts to help raise awareness and funds for innovative cancer research.

There were various TV performances including 

• Nothing Like This Special 

• The Today Show
• CMA Awards
• CMA Country Christmas
• The Oprah Winfrey Show's "Farewell"
• CMT Awards Show
• Girls Night Out
• Good Morning America
• GAC Back Story

Also various nominations including...

• People's Choice Award Favorite Country Artist and Favorite Touring Group
• CMTs Top 30 Videos of 2011
• GAC's Top 50 Videos of 2011 (I Won't Let Go & Easy)
• CMA Group of the Year
• Eventful's Fans' Choice Award at The Billboard Touring Awards
• 3 ACA for Artist of the Year: Duo or Group, Single of the Year: Duo or Group, & Touring Headline Package of the Year
• CMTs 20 Greatest Men 20 Year Special
• Teen Choice Award for Favorite Country Group

• 3 CMT Awards for Video of the Year ("Why Wait"), Group Video of the Year ("Why Wait"), and Collaborative Video of the Year ("That Should Be Me" with Justin Bieber)

Various Charitable activites including the annual visit to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital & Fund Raiser, Suicide Awareness campaign with the Jason Foundation and participating in the UNICEF Month of Giving.

There were various performances included among them singing the National Anthem at The Brickyard 400 and Rascal Flatts also performed at and participated in the Bush Center Warrior Open golf tournament held by former President George W. Bush for soldiers who had been severely wounded during their tours in Iraq and Afghanistan

I Won't Let Go and Easy were both certified as Gold for 500,000 digital downloads in 2011.

Rascal Flatts was featured as cartooned participants in the Facebook game CMT Platinum Life: Country

Some other TV appearances included CMT Insider, GAC Headline Country, E! News, Fox News, Inside the PGA and an episode of West Coast Customs revolving around the design and build of their Rascal Flatts Red Camaro. 

There were tons of radio specials and interviews!!

And there were the individual appearances during their down time such as Jay performing at year end with his dad, Gary taking part in a Christmas event for church and Joe performing at a pro-am golf event.   

Of course Gary, Jay and Joe Don made some well deserved and I am sure precious time for relaxation and fun ... golfing, hunting, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

These three do so much, I am positive there are many things omitted from my list however I am sure you get the idea, they were busy! 

So here's to you guys!  Thank you for all you have given to us, it's been a wonderful year... we love you!  

Happy New Year!!