22. Rascal Flatts

Some people consider working with family to be a nightmare, but it worked out well for Rascal Flatts. Second cousins Jay DeMarcus and Gary LeVox were both working together around Nashville in the late 1990’s, doing background vocals and playing in various bands. The two of them were playing in a nightclub at one point and their part-time guitarist couldn’t make it for the gig. DeMarcus then called up a guy he knew in a backing band he was playing in named Joe Don Rooney. Rooney showed up, and when the three of them played together that night, they say they felt an instant bond. The trio then recorded some demos, which they took to Lyric Street Records who found them to be incredible and signed them in 1999. From that point, they were a success; country enough for the radio charts but pop enough for a youthful audience who we’re coming to see them. For 2 decades they became one of the biggest groups in country music, collecting CMAs, ACMs, People’s Choice Awards, Grammys and highly successful tours. In 2020, the band announced that they were breaking up and going to embark on a farewell tour to close out the group. Unfortunately, the tour was cancelled because of covid and the group just split up on their own.