Rascal Flatts Are Planning a Christmas Album … and Another Studio Record
Rascal Flatts are gearing up for a summer tour, but they're also getting in the holiday spirit. The trio, made up of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, has been spending time in the studio, working on their first-ever Christmas album.
"We’ve done some songs, but this is our first complete Christmas album, our first entire project," Rooney tells The Boot. "We’re thrilled. So we’re going to be really busy, knock that out, get that done, before the Rhythm & Roots Tour starts ... We’re blessed. We’re blessed to be working."
As if a tour and a Christmas project weren't enough, the Flatts also have their thoughts on their next studio album, which follows their 2014 No. 1 record, Rewind.
"We’re getting songs together, and it’s really coming together awesome," Rooney reveals. "We’ve really got some amazing songs already in the can, and we can’t wait to start cutting the new record."
Adds LeVox, "Since "I Like the Sound of That" has done so well, it will be probably be sooner rather than later that we’ll go in and pick a few that we think are first singles."
The country trio has more than 10 years of headlining tours under their belts, but they think that their Rhythm & Roots Tour, which kicks off on June 17 in Charlotte, N.C., might be their best one yet -- thanks, in part, to one of their opening acts.
"I think it’s going to be awesome that Kelsea [Ballerini]'s going to be out there," Rooney boasts. "She’s on fire right now."
Rascal Flatts have booked themselves a long line of opening acts who have gone on to have successful careers, including Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Justin Moore and Little Big Town. Because they served as an opening act themselves for several years, for artists such as Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and Alan Jackson, they carefully choose which artists they want to join them on the road.
"Being able to do that now, for somebody new in the business, who’s on fire right now," Rooney notes, "it’s exciting."
A list of all of Rascal Flatts' upcoming shows is available on their website.
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