October 7, 2024 • 11 mins
FAN, like BIG fan of Rascal Flatts and when we got an email letting us know the boys were back? I was so excited. We go tto catch up with the guys, talk big hits, what brought them back togerher and what fans can expct from the "celebration!"
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Went on.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Yeah, I've been lucky enough, so I was in Vegas
for five years. I worked at the country station there,
so I was lucky enough to see the residencies.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
You guys ran through.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
What got me into country music is I saw you
guys at the Target Center of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where I'm from,
and you were opening on Toby Keith's tour, and that
was listen. It doesn't matter who I went with because
she ain't around no more, but anyway, and that was
my first like full live country experience, and I fell
in love with the format. So now that y'all are
(00:35):
back together creating the magic that you've created for so
long for so many fans, that story is mine, But
i'd imagine.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
You've heard many stories like that.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
You are why you know so many people love country music,
love live country music. How important is that to you
to know as you guys get into what we know
what we're getting now, right, but whatever's next.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I think it's very important. I mean, I think for me,
one of the great things about what we were able
to do was bring a more pop sensibility to country music.
And there were a lot of people that had these
misconceptions about country music. I think that we were able
to go you know, it's not as it's not as
backward and cornpone as you might think. They're really great,
gifted songwriters and musicians here, and we wanted to bring
(01:23):
our own brand of country music in and I think
we were able to do that in a lot of ways.
And I think it opened up some opportunities for people
that would have not likely been country music fans to
start seeing that there were other parts about the format
that they could love and buy into.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
As you guys started working on all your solo projects
and doing your own things, you know, starting record label
and all that, at what point in the conversation would
be like, hey, we got a big anniversary coming up.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
What do y'all think?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
You know, probably, I mean like serious talk about it,
probably a few months ago really, you know, like it
was like, you don't want to miss twenty five years.
I mean that's when you hit milestones like that, you know.
So it's just, uh, it's you know, it's been incredible
and you know our fans deserve it. We deserve it,
and you know twenty was canceled because of COVID, so
we just didn't want to let the moment go go by.
(02:16):
So we're gonna knock these shows out. See what happens
after that. But uh, there's a lot to celebrate.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Man.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
We've had an unbelievable journey in life and uh, you know, musically,
and so we're just looking at we're pomped to get
back out there and do these shows and uh just
see the fans and just thank the people that got us,
gave us the lives that they've given us.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So like this, this interview is going to air on
a national show we do. You don't have yet a
show locally here in Middle Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
What is it going to mean to you?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Because because as you guys, as you guys stepped away,
Uh you'r the music still lived on right. Uh, it's
still getting played on country radio all over the place.
What did that mean to you that weather this day
came where we're talking about you guys back together and
on the road. Whether this day came or not, what
did it mean to you to know that the music
is still there and people are still enjoying it.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
It's it's humbling, man. It's when we made this announcement yesterday,
just reading the comments from fans. It's like they I
think they've been busting at the seams to say what
all they said to is yesterday, And it's so cool
and it's humbling, it's sweet, and you know, this time
off has been different for all three of us and
(03:31):
for myself, just a lot of things are putting perspective,
seeing it in a whole different way than I used
to see it. I'm actually seeing.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It now.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
In a lot of ways, and it's refreshing being back
in the same and this is our first time being
in the same room together, all three of us five years,
you know. So yeah, lots happened, a lot of times passed,
but it we've just locked right back in like we
always used to.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I am lucky enough to be a part of country
music through the radio portion of what y'all do. And
I got to tell you the fact the email that
I saw in the phone calls and they can tell you.
I immediately it was like, how can we do this?
Can we get in to talk to them, can we
see them what.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
They got going on?
Speaker 2 (04:10):
So so let me tell you as a fan, I'm
sure you see all the comments. This is exciting you guys.
You guys not on country radio with newer music. I mean,
that's that was an absence that was felt, and I
don't think a lot of artists can say that.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Absolutely appreciate And I.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Got to be honest too. I don't know about these guys,
but I'm tired of being asked every day when we're
gonna get back together. So I'm kind of glad we
got the answer. Question gets a little bit, well, it
let up five years of it is a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Be like I mean, and regardless of how it is,
be like how many times you walk them to your
friend and be like, hey, when are you ever going
to call her back? It's like you don't know, you
don't your own business, right. I don't want to put
the cart before the horse. This, this reunion is really
what it is right now. Would you call it reunion
versus the bands back together?
Speaker 4 (04:57):
I would call it celebration of twenty five years now,
you know, because it's that's really the focus. You know,
it's just to just to give it all back to
the fans. You know, we've had five years of this
stuff build up and COVID. You know, nobody wants to
end that way. So this is just we're gonna knock
these out and see what see what happens.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
You know, I gotta date these guys again before I
jump into marriage with them.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
You.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
I want to see if they I want to see
if they put out, see.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
What I can get to with these boys.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Listen, I feel like you all are second base for
the first day. Definitely got the second base.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Let me ask you, guys, anybody that looks up your
name in a streaming platformer on YouTube, there is a
long list of phenomenal songs. Obviously, the partnership with Disney
and the Cars franchise was massively successful, But everybody has misses, right,
And I love to ask, what's a song that Whether
it was something you wrote, you were you were in
(05:56):
on the right, or maybe just hit your inbox that
you passed on and ended up big for somebody else. Now,
let me preface this with the song has to work
for you, right. Just because it's a hit for somebody
else doesn't mean it just didn't feel.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Right for you. You have to live with it.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
George Straight told Kenny Chesney told us he passed on
check yes or No, And that's one of George Strait's
biggest songs, especially for more current country fans, right, So
what's a song like that for Rascal Flats.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
There there was a song by that we got pitched
first that we passed on called Chase and Airplanes that
Gary Allen wrote that was ended up being a really
big hit for him. And you know, it's now it
sounds like a Gary Allen song, but I feel like
it would have been a great Rascal Flats and.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
The opposite of that. Like Keith Urbin had These Days
on hold for a while and he let it go
and we we were able to record it, and so
that became a good hit for.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
H And I've told me that when he played These Days,
he was like, Keith, I feel like we need to
cut this man, it's gonna be big. And he gets no,
night doesn't sound like me noting on it.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
The music is way better than your impression, I'm gonna
be honest.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
The other one we passed on to that was a
big hit was the Ald and Kelly Clark's and oh
but we're already done with with Natasa so we couldn't
have to but that, you know, but that was giant
song too.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Yeah, Hey, keep pitching and stuff. We'll keep passing big hits.
For somebody else. Professionals, guys keep Niceville.
Speaker 5 (07:29):
It's some songs you record and all of a sudden
they've become a single. You're like, well, I didn't see
that coming.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
That's cool.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
What's the biggest surprise hit that's in your library?
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Surprise hit?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Yeah that maybe you didn't believe in and you're like, sure,
let's roll the dice.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
I would I know what I know, well, I know
what skin definitely, and it's just how it broke us down.
But it was kind of like, gosh, do we attack
it cancer? A song about cancer.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Out to a remember we put it as a Hitten
track on the CD too.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Yeah, Jay's like, if it's going to be on the album,
it's got to be hidding because I hate this song.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It was, yeah, I know what it did.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
The first time we heard it, you know, we were
just emotional wreck, but we were like, yeah, y, I
don't know.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
It wasn't that I hated the song and the subject
matter had touched our families in so many different ways
because we've dealt with cancer so much in my family
that I was just uncomfortable every time I heard the song,
and I didn't want to be the poster children for
you know, singing songs about cancer, and it was it
was hard for me. But when we started hearing the
(08:38):
stories and seeing people come to the shows where were
the couple came stood in front and the kid had
shaved his head and took his hat off. And when
you start seeing stuff like that and you start getting
those goosebumps, you realize that you know, there's somebody bigger
than us at work, and there's a reason that everything happens.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
And the stories were of how much it helped them,
you know what I mean. We're telling one side of
the story, but it was just what that song did
to people going through it are people, you know, just
it was crazy. The reaction was different than what we
thought when we heard it, you know.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
And that's one thing you can't have anymore, is hidden
tracks true.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
You know.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I used to once a month, we used to do
this thing where we'd sit Joe on in the middle
of the stage and shave his head while we were
singing it. And it was gosh, I missed those moments.
I'm kidding.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
We didn't do it.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Listen, I say, you do it anyway. I could talk
to y'all forever, But I know my time is tight.
Last thing I want to ask is as you guys
decided to get together and celebrate is the word we're using.
You know what all you've done in all that country
music has been able to wrap its arms around. Who
made the first phone call, our first email, or the
(09:52):
first text.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Really my wife calt Gary and said, if you don't
get Jay out of the house and put him back
on the road, I'm gonna kill him.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Yeah. So I immediately Paul Jay like, hey man, look
if you want if you want to see tomorrow, tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Gary and I started texting with each other toward the
end of last year, after around around the holidays, just
checking in really and just saying, you know, Merry Christmas
or whatever. And then we started reminiscing about some memories,
and we started texting back and forth one night, laughing
about some things that had happened and kind of lamented
that we missed making memories together and making music together.
(10:28):
And that's how the conversation really took off. And then
we started talking more seriously about it. Like he said,
probably three or four months ago, we started going, well,
what if what if we went out and just did
a handful of shows to celebrate and love back on
some of our fans, and the ball got rolling from
there and here we are, and I'm really grateful to
(10:49):
be here today.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
I'm listen.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
I don't want to again KRT before the horse, and
I don't know if the tables would by my knock
on it.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
We're glad that we're able to celebrate Rascal Flats. We're
hoping that there's a reason to celebrate even more.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Thank you soon, Thanks bunks, welcome back guys, Thank you
Boom boom.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
You look at that and I was almost on time.
Could I get
Went on.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Yeah, I've been lucky enough, so I was in Vegas
for five years. I worked at the country station there,
so I was lucky enough to see the residencies.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
You guys ran through.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
What got me into country music is I saw you
guys at the Target Center of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where I'm from,
and you were opening on Toby Keith's tour, and that
was listen. It doesn't matter who I went with because
she ain't around no more, but anyway, and that was
my first like full live country experience, and I fell
in love with the format. So now that y'all are
(00:35):
back together creating the magic that you've created for so
long for so many fans, that story is mine, But
i'd imagine.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
You've heard many stories like that.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
You are why you know so many people love country music,
love live country music. How important is that to you
to know as you guys get into what we know
what we're getting now, right, but whatever's next.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I think it's very important. I mean, I think for me,
one of the great things about what we were able
to do was bring a more pop sensibility to country music.
And there were a lot of people that had these
misconceptions about country music. I think that we were able
to go you know, it's not as it's not as
backward and cornpone as you might think. They're really great,
gifted songwriters and musicians here, and we wanted to bring
(01:23):
our own brand of country music in and I think
we were able to do that in a lot of ways.
And I think it opened up some opportunities for people
that would have not likely been country music fans to
start seeing that there were other parts about the format
that they could love and buy into.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
As you guys started working on all your solo projects
and doing your own things, you know, starting record label
and all that, at what point in the conversation would
be like, hey, we got a big anniversary coming up.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
What do y'all think?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
You know, probably, I mean like serious talk about it,
probably a few months ago really, you know, like it
was like, you don't want to miss twenty five years.
I mean that's when you hit milestones like that, you know.
So it's just, uh, it's you know, it's been incredible
and you know our fans deserve it. We deserve it,
and you know twenty was canceled because of COVID, so
we just didn't want to let the moment go go by.
(02:16):
So we're gonna knock these shows out. See what happens
after that. But uh, there's a lot to celebrate.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Man.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
We've had an unbelievable journey in life and uh, you know, musically,
and so we're just looking at we're pomped to get
back out there and do these shows and uh just
see the fans and just thank the people that got us,
gave us the lives that they've given us.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So like this, this interview is going to air on
a national show we do. You don't have yet a
show locally here in Middle Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
What is it going to mean to you?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Because because as you guys, as you guys stepped away,
Uh you'r the music still lived on right. Uh, it's
still getting played on country radio all over the place.
What did that mean to you that weather this day
came where we're talking about you guys back together and
on the road. Whether this day came or not, what
did it mean to you to know that the music
is still there and people are still enjoying it.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
It's it's humbling, man. It's when we made this announcement yesterday,
just reading the comments from fans. It's like they I
think they've been busting at the seams to say what
all they said to is yesterday, And it's so cool
and it's humbling, it's sweet, and you know, this time
off has been different for all three of us and
(03:31):
for myself, just a lot of things are putting perspective,
seeing it in a whole different way than I used
to see it. I'm actually seeing.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It now.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
In a lot of ways, and it's refreshing being back
in the same and this is our first time being
in the same room together, all three of us five years,
you know. So yeah, lots happened, a lot of times passed,
but it we've just locked right back in like we
always used to.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I am lucky enough to be a part of country
music through the radio portion of what y'all do. And
I got to tell you the fact the email that
I saw in the phone calls and they can tell you.
I immediately it was like, how can we do this?
Can we get in to talk to them, can we
see them what.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
They got going on?
Speaker 2 (04:10):
So so let me tell you as a fan, I'm
sure you see all the comments. This is exciting you guys.
You guys not on country radio with newer music. I mean,
that's that was an absence that was felt, and I
don't think a lot of artists can say that.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Absolutely appreciate And I.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Got to be honest too. I don't know about these guys,
but I'm tired of being asked every day when we're
gonna get back together. So I'm kind of glad we
got the answer. Question gets a little bit, well, it
let up five years of it is a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Be like I mean, and regardless of how it is,
be like how many times you walk them to your
friend and be like, hey, when are you ever going
to call her back? It's like you don't know, you
don't your own business, right. I don't want to put
the cart before the horse. This, this reunion is really
what it is right now. Would you call it reunion
versus the bands back together?
Speaker 4 (04:57):
I would call it celebration of twenty five years now,
you know, because it's that's really the focus. You know,
it's just to just to give it all back to
the fans. You know, we've had five years of this
stuff build up and COVID. You know, nobody wants to
end that way. So this is just we're gonna knock
these out and see what see what happens.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
You know, I gotta date these guys again before I
jump into marriage with them.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
You.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
I want to see if they I want to see
if they put out, see.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
What I can get to with these boys.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Listen, I feel like you all are second base for
the first day. Definitely got the second base.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Let me ask you, guys, anybody that looks up your
name in a streaming platformer on YouTube, there is a
long list of phenomenal songs. Obviously, the partnership with Disney
and the Cars franchise was massively successful, But everybody has misses, right,
And I love to ask, what's a song that Whether
it was something you wrote, you were you were in
(05:56):
on the right, or maybe just hit your inbox that
you passed on and ended up big for somebody else. Now,
let me preface this with the song has to work
for you, right. Just because it's a hit for somebody
else doesn't mean it just didn't feel.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Right for you. You have to live with it.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
George Straight told Kenny Chesney told us he passed on
check yes or No, And that's one of George Strait's
biggest songs, especially for more current country fans, right, So
what's a song like that for Rascal Flats.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
There there was a song by that we got pitched
first that we passed on called Chase and Airplanes that
Gary Allen wrote that was ended up being a really
big hit for him. And you know, it's now it
sounds like a Gary Allen song, but I feel like
it would have been a great Rascal Flats and.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
The opposite of that. Like Keith Urbin had These Days
on hold for a while and he let it go
and we we were able to record it, and so
that became a good hit for.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
H And I've told me that when he played These Days,
he was like, Keith, I feel like we need to
cut this man, it's gonna be big. And he gets no,
night doesn't sound like me noting on it.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
The music is way better than your impression, I'm gonna
be honest.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
The other one we passed on to that was a
big hit was the Ald and Kelly Clark's and oh
but we're already done with with Natasa so we couldn't
have to but that, you know, but that was giant
song too.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Yeah, Hey, keep pitching and stuff. We'll keep passing big hits.
For somebody else. Professionals, guys keep Niceville.
Speaker 5 (07:29):
It's some songs you record and all of a sudden
they've become a single. You're like, well, I didn't see
that coming.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
That's cool.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
What's the biggest surprise hit that's in your library?
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Surprise hit?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Yeah that maybe you didn't believe in and you're like, sure,
let's roll the dice.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
I would I know what I know, well, I know
what skin definitely, and it's just how it broke us down.
But it was kind of like, gosh, do we attack
it cancer? A song about cancer.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Out to a remember we put it as a Hitten
track on the CD too.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Yeah, Jay's like, if it's going to be on the album,
it's got to be hidding because I hate this song.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It was, yeah, I know what it did.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
The first time we heard it, you know, we were
just emotional wreck, but we were like, yeah, y, I
don't know.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
It wasn't that I hated the song and the subject
matter had touched our families in so many different ways
because we've dealt with cancer so much in my family
that I was just uncomfortable every time I heard the song,
and I didn't want to be the poster children for
you know, singing songs about cancer, and it was it
was hard for me. But when we started hearing the
(08:38):
stories and seeing people come to the shows where were
the couple came stood in front and the kid had
shaved his head and took his hat off. And when
you start seeing stuff like that and you start getting
those goosebumps, you realize that you know, there's somebody bigger
than us at work, and there's a reason that everything happens.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
And the stories were of how much it helped them,
you know what I mean. We're telling one side of
the story, but it was just what that song did
to people going through it are people, you know, just
it was crazy. The reaction was different than what we
thought when we heard it, you know.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
And that's one thing you can't have anymore, is hidden
tracks true.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
You know.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I used to once a month, we used to do
this thing where we'd sit Joe on in the middle
of the stage and shave his head while we were
singing it. And it was gosh, I missed those moments.
I'm kidding.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
We didn't do it.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Listen, I say, you do it anyway. I could talk
to y'all forever, But I know my time is tight.
Last thing I want to ask is as you guys
decided to get together and celebrate is the word we're using.
You know what all you've done in all that country
music has been able to wrap its arms around. Who
made the first phone call, our first email, or the
(09:52):
first text.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Really my wife calt Gary and said, if you don't
get Jay out of the house and put him back
on the road, I'm gonna kill him.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Yeah. So I immediately Paul Jay like, hey man, look
if you want if you want to see tomorrow, tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Gary and I started texting with each other toward the
end of last year, after around around the holidays, just
checking in really and just saying, you know, Merry Christmas
or whatever. And then we started reminiscing about some memories,
and we started texting back and forth one night, laughing
about some things that had happened and kind of lamented
that we missed making memories together and making music together.
(10:28):
And that's how the conversation really took off. And then
we started talking more seriously about it. Like he said,
probably three or four months ago, we started going, well,
what if what if we went out and just did
a handful of shows to celebrate and love back on
some of our fans, and the ball got rolling from
there and here we are, and I'm really grateful to
(10:49):
be here today.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
I'm listen.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
I don't want to again KRT before the horse, and
I don't know if the tables would by my knock
on it.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
We're glad that we're able to celebrate Rascal Flats. We're
hoping that there's a reason to celebrate even more.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Thank you soon, Thanks bunks, welcome back guys, Thank you
Boom boom.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
You look at that and I was almost on time.
Could I get
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.