In a career that spans 20 years, and after 17 No. 1 songs, more than 23 million albums sold, 35 million digital song downloads and more than 2.5 billion streams of their catalog, country music superstars Rascal Flatts are calling it quits.
The band — frontman/lead vocalist Gary LeVox, bassist/vocalist Jay DeMarcus and guitarist/vocalist Joe Don Rooney — announced its “Farewell: Life is a Highway Tour” this summer, which includes a Chicago-area stop at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on June 25.
“When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter,” said Gary LeVox in a statement. “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!”
Joe Don Rooney, in a separate statement, echoed LeVox’s sentiments. “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.”
In a 2017 interview with the Sun-Times, DeMarcus shared this about the band’s affection for Chicago: “What’s not to love about Chicago? The people are fantastic. The city’s fantastic. It’s been one of our favorite place to play from the beginning. We were the first country band to play Wrigley [in 2009]. And then there’s the food! Chicago just got into our hearts and never left.”
The band was named the top country group of the year seven times at the ACM Awards. On “CBS This Morning,” the band says they have new music planned for release later this year.
Tickets will be available first as part of the Live Nation Country Megaticket. More information will be posted at rascalflatts.com as it becomes available in the coming weeks.
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
The official tour dates announced Tuesday:
6/11 Indianapolis, IN - Ruoff Music Center
6/12 Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
6/13 Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
6/25 Tinley Park, 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
