Rascal Flatts Explain Why They Chose Craig Wayne Boyd as Their Las Vegas Opening Act

On Feb. 25, Rascal Flatts kicked off their Rascal Flatts Vegas Riot! residency, which runs through March 14 and also includes The Voice Season 7 winner Craig Wayne Boyd, who the Flatts guys say is the perfect fit.

"We were so blessed to start out on some great, amazing tours," band member Joe Don Rooney told The Boot and other reporters at a recent media event. "It's really, really cool when you take someone that has had that much exposure and put them on a big tour and to go out and just watch them."

Rascal Flatts started out opening for artists like Jo Dee Messina, Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson, and in the years since they became the big name, the trio has invited plenty of up-and-coming artists to join them on the road, giving rising stars a big boost in their careers.

"We've had a pretty good track record with opening acts that have gone on to do great things, like Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Luke [Bryan], Blake [Shelton]," Rooney notes. "So it's cool to be a part of other people's careers and to give back as we were given to. It definitely helps when they've got a big following and a hit. So it definitely plays a role."

For his part, Boyd admits that he struck gold in being given the coveted slot. When the news was announced, the "My Baby's Got a Smile on Her Face" singer tweeted the news with the hashtag #DreamsComeTrue.

"I am so honored and excited to join Rascal Flatts in what will be an epic group of shows," Boyd says of the opportunity. "It is yet another check mark on my bucket list of things that I previously only dreamed of."

Rascal Flatts, who are storming up the charts with their latest single, "Riot," say that these Vegas shows will be unlike any of their previous gigs.

“If you’ve seen us the last eight years, you won’t see us like you’ll see us in Vegas,” Rooney notes. “You’ve gotta evolve with your albums, and we felt like it was time to do that with our live show, and especially going into Vegas, it felt like the right time to make this change.”

The Rascal Flatts Vegas Riot! is being held at the Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. A list of remaining dates is available on the venue's website.

Watch Rascal Flatts Perform an Acoustic Version of "Riot"