Rascal Flatts Join Ron White’s Salute to the Troops

Comedian Ron White is best known for his raunchy humor and off-color jokes, but even the brazen funny guy is inspired to spread a little goodwill, especially when it comes supporting and paying tribute to U.S. servicemen and women stationed overseas.

Ron will tape his annual 'Celebrity Salute to the Troops' TV special on February 15 at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House, and has invited multi-platinum-selling trio Rascal Flatts to join the celebration. "This is my fourth year doing this benefit, and every year it gets better," Ron says (quote via CMT). "I am thrilled CMT is going to be airing it so everyone can join in the fun. I've gathered some of my close musical and comedian friends, and we're going to see if we can't bring a few laughs to these soldiers, raise some money and hopefully lift their spirits. I consider it an honor and a privilege to give back however I can for the many sacrifices of these incredibly brave men and women."

This is not the first time the Rascal Flatts members -- lead singer Gary LeVox, bassist Jay DeMarcus and guitarist Joe Don Rooney -- are lending their talents to support the troops. Earlier this year, they joined fellow superstars Reba McEntire, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Blake Shelton, among others, in a special compilation CD, with the proceeds benefiting the Fisher House Foundation, which provides free housing for servicemen and women (and their families) receiving treatment at a military medical center.

The Flatts guys will be in the middle of the 2011 leg of their Nothing Like This tour when the all-star show tapes in February, and the set list for the upcoming trek will undoubtedly include the trio's current No.1 hit, 'Why Wait.' The chart-topping song marks a first for the group.

"I kept going back to ['Why Wait], because it's such a unique melody and such a unique feel for us," bassist Jay Demarcus tells The Boot. "It's actually a shuffle, and we've never recorded a shuffle before. I remember I had a phone conversation with Gary and I said, 'Man, the second song on this comp, 'Why Wait,' is really, really different for us and really catchy, and I think it could really showcase our harmonies.' So when we went into the studio, we knew instantly that it was something special for us, and it was going to be a showcase piece on the album. Didn't know it was going to be the first single by any means, but as we listened back through to some of the songs as we started to get the vocals on them, it just rose above the rest, and it became a no-brainer."

Rascal Flatts will hit the road on January 14 to continue their Nothing Like This tour, with opening acts Chris Young and Luke Bryan. See their tour dates here.

Tickets for Ron White's Celebrity Salute to the Troops will go on sale on Friday, December 17.