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Rascal Flatts Vow to 'Punch Some People' in 2010

Rascal FlattsRascal Flatts -- comprised of Jay Demarcus, Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney -- have over 20 major awards they've collected since they burst onto the music scene ten years ago with their top 5 hit, 'Prayin' for Daylight.' But more than all the trophies they've racked up through the years, it's the one they unexpectedly lost to newcomers Lady Antebellum -- the 2009 CMA Award for Vocal Group of the Year -- that's weighing heaviest on the trio's minds these days.

"You can't ever get to a place to where you're complacent and you expect things to happen," Jay told The Boot Wednesday, at a party celebrating all of the songwriters who've penned Rascal Flatts' hits throughout the years. "We don't just expect to win awards, but after six to seven years of winning the Vocal Group award consecutively, you get to a place where you're grateful for it, but quite honestly you're human, so you go, 'Oh well, we have a few hits this year. We're going to go win the Vocal Group award.' And then you see somebody like Lady A come along and some of these great bands coming up behind us -- Zac Brown Band and people like that ... Anybody would be disappointed to have logged the kind of numbers that we've logged and not be recognized. Doesn't matter if you're the Flatts. Doesn't matter if you're Kenny Chesney, who got snubbed all those years. You would be lying if you said you weren't human and weren't disappointed to not be recognized."

The group didn't hide their feelings last November when they walked away empty-handed. But, they insist it's because of their tireless work, and not because they are jealous of any other artist's success. "It does get a little frustrating when we've been headlining for five or six years, and in the middle of a recession, we performed in front of over a million people last year," Gary adds. "Well if numbers don't matter, I guess they do to us maybe more than they do to other people. But that's a pretty big number and for us, that would qualify as Entertainer [of the Year]."

Just because the Flatts, who weren't nominated for CMA Entertainer of the Year, feel they might be worthy of the award Taylor Swift took home, they are still big fans her music. "I'm so proud and thrilled to see the success that someone like Taylor is having, and proud to be a small part of her success as well, with her being on the road with us," Jay says, referring to their 2008 Bob That Head tour that featured Taylor as the opening act. And though they might take a bit of her credit, they also give her props for one of their recent awards -- the American Music Award for Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group.

"They made a country music category this year at the American Music Awards, and not a band category to where we were thrown in with Maroon 5 and the Black Eyed Peas," Jay acknowledges. "I think pop music is getting a little tired of having everybody show up at these awards shows and having Taylor kick all their asses!"

The group, who also lost the Grammy this year to Lady Antebellum, has ominous words for their fellow artists in 2010. "We don't expect anything, but we're coming out swinging this year," Jay warns. "We're gonna punch some people in the nose and were gonna try and take back what we feel is rightfully ours, because we believe in ourselves that much."

Celebrating ten years in the music business this year, Rascal Flatts kick off the 2010 leg of their American Living Unstoppable tour on January 15, with Darius Rucker continuing to serve as their opening act.

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steveoammann

Wow! I loved Rascal Flatts ever since "Praying for Daylight" but watching them has been a study on how fame can corrupt you. Naming their recent cd "Unstoppable". Come on! And now crying about not winning an award. If I remember correctly, Rascal Flatts did the same thing to a really popular group called The Dixie Chicks (you may have heard of them). Natalie Maines had stuck her foot in her mouth one too many times and the academy was looking to teach them a lesson- so they gave the award for best group to Rascal Flatts, who were just getting recognition for "I'm Movin' On". They hardly deserved it then, but it was a nice change! Eww, after reading this article I am disgusted by Rascal Flatts. This is like Faith Hill all over again when she got mad at Carrie Underwood for winning "her" award. Singers are people too and I am sure that they get upset over awards. But take it like a man and get over it. Lady A has worked their butt off and they deserve it more this year than Rascal Flatts. The award is not about who has been around the longest it's about chart success and exposure as a group. Wow, it's amazing how much Rascal Flatts thinks of themselves. Very disappointing.

February 10 2010 at 1:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lindsey

Rascal Flatts is hands down the best group. Every album they release is packed full of songs that could be hits on the radio. I love the message they send with their music along with Gary's amazing vocals. After seeing them in concert several times going all the way back to when they opened for Kenny, I agree they have been extremely under-appreciated by those in the business. Year after year I watch other people win Entertainer of the Year and watch them graciously say they were honored just to be nominated, but they realize, as well as I that they deserve more. I'm very glad they are finally going to do something about it. They need to do something to get more air time on the radios because their songs are truly amazing. Even if there are no awards, I will always love them!

February 08 2010 at 6:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
poodlehouse1

The Flatt boys are the bomb...I love these guys...they are why I even gave country music a listen, now I'm hooked. I could listen to these guys sing the phone book! Go get em next year..even thought i theink "Unstoppable" is your best cd to date..keep it up, you guys rock>>>>

February 05 2010 at 2:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
yokoach

Flatts ought to be damn grateful! they've had a good deal of success....what else do they want to be recognized for? Isn't the adoration of over a million fans enough??? How much more do they need? And are they so self centered that No one else in their mind should EVER win an award they're up for? or they should be nominated EVERY year, just because of who they are? They need a big dose of "get over yourself"

February 05 2010 at 12:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tracie Smith

Apparently a lot of people are tone deaf, if they think Taylor Swift can sing. Well, SHE CAN'T. Her 'performance' at the Grammy's was proof of that. Everytime one of her 'songs' come on the radio, I can't turn the channel fast enough. She is a spoiled little rich kid, whose mom and dad bought her record contract--that doesn't prove talent, it just proves, money talks.
If she, unknown to the public, tried out for American Idol, she would be shot down, she has NO talent for singing, songwriting maybe, but singing, NO.

February 05 2010 at 12:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tina

Rascal Flatts is my favorite music group, I just saw them kick of their tour in Connecticut last month. I love first the fantastic music, and second their humility, and third their exhaustive charity. I was surprised to hear this come from them. They are recognized constantly, and will continue to be as long as the put out quality music. But new groups, new sounds, new appeal will always follow. They must accept the recognition others receive with dignity and appreciation for their own success. Then they remain a class act, no matter if they lose.

February 05 2010 at 12:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
James

General rule of thumb. If you're listing to any song or artist on regular radio, it/they probably suck. Most of the real artists are stuck playing bars while the record companies shove this saccharine, cookie cutter crap down our throats. Half these hacks would sound like nails on a chalkboard if not for auto-tune.

February 05 2010 at 12:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tinamarie16057

First let me say I have been a huge Rascal Flatts fan and saw them when they were playing at colleges and when they were playing in a big stadium. However, the last 2 albums just were not great. One or two good songs but nothing fabulous. I think they got lazy with just picking whatever or maybe not writing so much from the heart.. I hope they do come out with a fabulous new album to knock my socks off.

February 05 2010 at 11:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nancy

Would you like some cheese with your whine!? Grow up boys! A star is born, and a star burns out.Time to step aside and let someone else shine. Taylor Swift sounds like a chipmunk, and Racal Flatts sounds like Porky pig. Get a new singer and you'll be allright!

February 05 2010 at 11:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sexyshanga

Oh my goodness get over yourselves. Just because you worked hard and had a couple hits doesn't mean you deserve the award every year. You said you are grateful, what hypocrites! You follow that statement with but then we think that we deserve this award every year. I used to like Rascal Flatts but I will no longer be buying their albums

February 05 2010 at 9:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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