After a prolonged period of social media silence, Joe Don Rooney shared a message with fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday, January 3, addressing rumors that have been circulating about him online as well as his past few years.
Speaks Out On Social Media For First Time In Years
Rooney began his message by apologizing for his absence, noting that it has been “a couple years” since he has engaged with fans online. “But I figured today, at the beginning of this brand new year 2024, would be a good day to send a message out to the world,” he wrote. “First off, I am alive! There have been so many rumors and opinions thrown around about me – but I’m finally healthy and ready for the world.”
The musician continued by denying an online rumor suggesting he was planning to transition to be a woman. “That thought has never entered my mind,” he wrote. “Nothing against the trans community whatsoever, but I needed to set the record straight.”
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Rooney Addresses 2021 DUI Charge
The next topic Rooney addressed was a September 2021 car accident, after which Rooney was charged with a DUI. He pled guilty in June 2022 and was ordered to serve two days in jail. His remaining sentence of 11 months, 27 days was suspended, and he lost his driver’s license but was eligible to apply for a restricted driver’s license with a built-in breathalyzer in his car.
The Kansas native wrote that his “life and career took a major detour at 4am in the early morning hours of Sep 9, 2021 when I ran square into a tree and about killed myself. I was drunk, and I was so far gone with my life – I was completely out of control and finished with trying to fight the fears, depression and anxieties that had spun me out in a way I’ve never experienced before.”
The Former Rascal Flatts’ Member Explains Struggles With Alcohol Addiction
Rooney explained that his drinking had been an issue for several years and explained that as he got older, his drinking got worse. He further detailed the ways he let down the people in his life, including his family and Rascal Flatts bandmates.
“The pressures of my career and the many mistakes I made in regards to my home life, coupled with a lot of pain and trauma from my childhood and early on in my adult life, had become too much to bear,” he wrote. “I was not a good father – I was not a good husband – and I was not a good bandmate to my business partners. I probably would’ve never taken responsibility for any of this if it hadn’t been for my car wreck.”
Rascal Flatts disbanded after their farewell tour was canceled due to the pandemic, and officially confirmed the news in October 2021. Rooney had filed for divorce from wife Tiffany Fallon, with whom he shares three children, in January 2021, and their split was finalized in December 2023.
Rooney Admits He Was “Ashamed” Of Himself
Rooney told fans that “Fortunately, (and I truly believe this), God lead me into that tree safely enough to not kill me – and luckily nobody else was involved, and I didn’t injure or kill anyone.” He shared that after the accident, he entered a four-month treatment for alcoholism in Utah, though he “didn’t want to stay” at first and “was ashamed of myself.”
“I was so full of fear and guilt, that it took me all of the those 4 months to really start understanding treatment and the AA way and how to best utilize these new tools that I downloaded from the amazing clinicians, counselors and other patients there,” he wrote.
Now, his “life has been changed forever,” something he is “grateful” for. Rooney revealed that he has been sober for almost 28 months, a milestone he will reach on January 13.
“I never believed I could actually live my life without drinking,” he shared. “It had become such a huge part of my daily and nightly routine. I had tried to stop on my own in the past, but the powerful nature of alcohol always found its way back into my life.”
Leaned On His Faith To Overcome Alcoholism
The 48-year-old shared that he relied on his faith to help him overcome his alcoholism, writing that “God intervened and helped me to get my life back,” as did his family, “so many other professional clinical advisors and now numerous new sober forever friends.”
“I have new healthy boundaries for the first time in my life. Only positive, loving, caring & understanding people may enter,” he wrote. “It’s an absolute blessing in ways I can barely put into proper words. But for now, I’ll just say – thank you God!! I wish there was a way I could give back to God what all God has given to me – but moving forward, I will do my best to reflect God’s light of love and grace onto others, like so many have done for me.”
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Rooney concluded his post with a message to fans for “an amazing 2024,” thanking them “for all the love, support and prayers. I promise you, I’ve felt them all and I’m super appreciative.”
“Here’s to making the best of 2024 and living our most healthiest, happiest and goal oriented lives ever!!”
