A couple years after officially breaking up following a 20+ year career, Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus is opening up about details behind the band’s abrupt split.
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The bassist recently joined Savannah Chrisley for an episode of her Unlocked podcast and shared his insights as to why they called their retirement early, where they currently stand and the likelihood of a reunion. Additionally, court documents with depositions from DeMarcus and LeVox surrounding Rooney's divorce have been made public, which also gave insight into the band’s internal struggles at the time.
The beloved trio was originally scheduled to retire after embarking on a final Farewell Tour in 2020, however, due to the global pandemic, the tour was called off. Instead of rescheduling, fans soon found out Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney would be calling it quits without a tour.
In tandem with the band’s split, lead singer, LeVox made a statement saying Rooney “quitting the band” was the agitator for the abrupt goodbye, but DeMarcus says he disagrees that Rooney is the sole reason.
“I knew that all of us were frustrated, so what [LeVox] said in an article I don't think is a real reflection of how it really came down," DeMarcus shared in court. Admitting that at one point or another every member of the band “quit” over the last 20 years when tempers flared, DeMarcus shared Rooney expressing his frustration at the time was likely not the only element.
"I think Joe Don was the first one to be brave enough to put it out there that he was tired of the way things had been the last few years," DeMarcus continued. "So he shared with us that he wasn't sure he had the energy or the emotional energy to deal with some of the things we had been dealing with on an ongoing basis."
On top of the Rascal Flatts split, Joe Don also made headlines for a complicated divorce from wife, Tiffany Fallon, in January 2021 and a DUI in September of the same year. Now, two years later, Despite provided an update on Rooney’s status sharing he’s currently 19 months sober and “learning how to live again.”
"Of course, Joe Don went through his very public debacle a couple of years ago," DeMarcus says, referring to Rooney’s arrest. “He's better than I've heard him in 10 years. I mean, he's 19 months sober, and he's enjoying having some peace... and learning how to live again without his addiction.
He continued, “[I’m] really, really, really proud of him and where he's at right now," the singer and bassist continues.
As things look up for Rooney, they are also going well for LeVox and DeMarcus, who have both embarked on solo ventures since the Flatts retirement. LeVox has been working on solo music, while DeMarcus has been maintained active in the music industry as well with his Red Street Records.
As things appear to be looking up, personally for each member of the former-trio, DeMarcus says that doesn’t necessarily translate to any type of reunion for the former bandmates.
"There are just so many steps that would have to take place in order for us to get back to even talking about it," he stated. “I think the further we get away from it, the harder it is to put it back together."
Not exactly what long-time fans of the group wanted to hear as DeMarcus adds the guys, “don't really communicate on a consistent basis.” Turns out fans aren’t the only ones mourning as DeMarcus says he still struggles to find closure with how things ended.
“In a lot of ways, I feel like I’m still mourning the loss of the Flatts, even though there wasn’t an official breakup,” he said. “Most of my adult life, it’s all that I’ve known. Getting on that bus, and going out and singing to people, and seeing what your music does, and how it’s touched people is a wonderful, wonderful thing. It’s better than any drug you could ever be on.
He added, “And to have that stripped away from you, not on your own terms, was a very painful thing. And to not have known March 7th, of 2020 when we were in New Jersey doing our last show that that was the last time the three of us would be on stage together, makes me really sad to think about.”
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