For Rascal Flatts, music runs in the family. The trio is made up of second cousins Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus, along with Joe Don Rooney, whom DeMarcus met when the two were in Chely Wright's band together in the late 1990s. DeMarcus had earlier found success -- including a record deal -- in Nashville with a Christian music band, East to West, and convinced his cousin LeVox to move from his native Ohio to pursue a career as well. And so, on one fortuitous night, the three men performed together ... and quickly realized their potential as a trio. They signed a record deal with Lyric Street in 1999, released their self-titled debut album in 2000 and earned instant success: The disc's four singles all hit the Billboard Top 10, and a string of No. 1 records and hit singles, including some crossover successes, followed. Rascal Flatts are tied with Dave Matthews Band as the group with the most Billboard 200 No. 1 albums in the 2000s. After Lyric Street closed in 2010, the Flatts signed to Big Machine, continuing to produce hit after hit. The trio tours consistently, even holding a residency in Las Vegas in 2015.
- Founding Date: 1999
- Did You Know …: DeMarcus has also done work as a producer, for everyone from Kix Brooks to Chicago.
- Required Reading: Top 10 Rascal Flatts Songs, Top 5 Rascal Flatts Music Videos, You Think You Know Rascal Flatts?