Rascal Flatts made their triumphant return to the stage after a more than five-year hiatus on Thursday evening (Feb. 13) at Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, kicking off their Life Is A Highway Tour. The trek celebrates both their long-awaited reunion and their 25th anniversary as a trio.
“The Boys Are Back In Town”
The excitement in the air was palpable as the crowd eagerly awaited the moment when the multi-platinum selling group — comprised of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney — would reunite on stage as a trio again after a brief break.
As “The Boys Are Back In Town” by Thin Lizzy blared through the venue’s speakers, Rascal Flatts arrived to the stage to kick off a show that will be remembered for years to come, raising a toast to their loyal fanbase with a performance of “Here’s To You.” The group also incorporated a cover of a snippet of “The Boys Are Back In Town,” which felt very fitting for their first official performance together since 2019.
“25 years of Rascal Flatts. I cannot believe it, man. A lot has changed in 25 years. How many of y’all came to see us when you were like a kid yourself and now you’re bringing folks with you and you can drive and all that stuff,” DeMarcus recalled.
He continued, “I mean, if you wanted to listen to our music when we first came out, you had to have a cassette player on a CD player, so y’all don’t even know what that is anymore. So much has changed in 25 years, but I’ll tell you one thing that has not changed is the Rascal Flat’s family are still the best fans on the, you have loved us and stood by us even when we weren’t on the road the last five years. And the love we feel here tonight is absolutely astounding. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for showing up.”
“It’s so good to be back… Are you ready take a trip back in time with us?” LeVox said, prefacing the night that celebrated the trio’s iconic country music career.
Tears And Timeless Hits
The energy in Ford Center was electric, with the entire audience singing along to every word, some with tears streaming down their cheeks, of every one of their timeless hits. Rascal Flatts’ setlist was a celebration of 25 years of hits, featuring fan favorites from across their entire catalog, including songs like ‘Fast Cars and Freedom,’ ‘Stand,’ ‘Mayberry,’ ‘My Wish,’ ‘Why Wait,’ ‘I Melt,’ ‘These Days,’ ‘Bless the Broken Road,’ ‘I Like the Sound of That,’ and more.
The nostalgic concert brought back so many memories, with every song by Rascal Flatts reminding the crowd of the years they’ve spent singing along to the anthemic tunes that were the soundtrack to many of the concertgoer’s childhoods and lives.
The country music trio also performed their latest release, “I Dare You,” a duet they recorded with the Jonas Brothers that is destined to become their next chart-topping hit.
Joe Don Rooney Offered A Poignant Moment During The Show
A poignant moment of the show came when Joe Don Rooney was given the spotlight for a solo performance. Rooney opened up about his sobriety journey and returning to the road with his bandmates before delivering an emotional performance of Rascal Flatts’ “I’m Movin’ On.”
“It feels pretty good doesn’t it? Wow, goodness sakes, it’s been a little bit for all of us, but it’s been a little bit for myself as well. My what a five year’s its been. It’s been a minute since I’ve been on stage….” Rooney told the crowd. ”Personally, some of you might’ve heard, but some of you might not know… on September 9th, 2021, I hit a tree and luckily I’m still alive and I’m really grateful that nobody else was involved and I didn’t hurt myself too badly. Praise God. I was able to get the help I needed and had needed for a long time. I’m telling you right now, if anybody, any of y’all, if you know somebody, speak up, talk, connect with somebody, because I promise you somebody loves you way more than what you’re going through.”
Seated on a stool under the spotlight, Rooney performed the track from the band’s self-titled debut album with only his acoustic guitar and a cello player. His solo rendition of “I’m Movin’ On” earned a thunderous ovation from the sold-out crowd, leaving him visibly overcome with emotion.
Massive Sing-Alongs Were A Highlight
There wasn’t just one highlight of the show; the entire concert was packed with memorable moments, especially when the group led the crowd in massive sing-alongs to hits like “My Wish,” “Summer Nights,” “I Like The Sound Of That,” “Bless The Broken Road,” “What Hurts The Most,” “Life Is A Highway,” and more.
Another notable mention would be Gary LeVox’s soaring vocal abilities that sound just as good as they did in the early days of the group’s legendary career. It’s also worth noting that LeVox, DeMarcus and Rooney’s harmonies are stronger than ever before as they effortlessly sang in perfect sync throughout the duration of the nearly 90-minute concert, further cementing their status as country music legends.
The band also made sure to acknowledge the fans and humbly thanked them for their unwavering support, taking moments to interact with the audience between and during songs. They even pointed out familiar faces in the crowd, recognizing shirts, signs, and longtime followers.
The show concluded with an all-star performance of the tour’s title track, “Life Is A Highway,” alongside Lauren Alaina and Chris Lane.
It was clear from the moment they took the stage to their final bow that the chemistry between the band members had not faded over the years, and they were ready to bring their signature sound back to the road for many more years to come.
Lauren Alaina Served As Direct Support
Lauren Alaina served as direct support on the bill and brought a mix of songs from her latest project, Unlocked, along with chart-topping hits like “Road Less Traveled” and “What Ifs.” She also debuted unreleased tracks such as “Boots On The Ground” and “House Hold,” as well as her current single, “Those Kind Of Women.” Additionally, Alaina teamed up with Chris Lane to perform their collaboration, “Dancin’ In The Moonlight.”
Alaina, proudly showcasing her baby bump for the first time in the arena, also shared a few lighthearted jokes about her pregnancy, especially noted during her performance of “One Beer,” a collaboration with HARDY and Devin Dawson.
Chris Lane Opened The Show
Chris Lane kicked off the show with a set that highlighted his new material, including songs like “What Am I Supposed To Tell The Dog,” “Find Another Bar,” and an unreleased track titled “If I Die Before You.” He also had the crowd singing along to his hits, such as “Fix,” “Take Back Home Girl” (minus Tori Kelly), and “Let Me Love You.”
Lane also showcased the songs he grew up on by performing a mix of ’90s country and pop covers, including George Strait’s “Check Yes or No,” Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee,” Tracy Byrd’s “Watermelon Crawl,” Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” Nelly’s “Ride Wit Me,” and more.
Rascal Flatts’ Life Is A Highway Tour marks the group’s first tour since 2019’s Summer Playlist Tour. The 21-date trek will continue through April 5, where the Life Is A Highway Tour will wrap up in Jacksonville, Florida, at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena.
Rascal Flatts Life Is A Highway Tour Set List
1. Here’s To You (w/ snippet of Thin Lizzy’s “Boys Are Back In Town”)
2. It’s Yours If You Want It
3. Fast Cars And Freedom
4. Stand
5. Mayberry
6. My Wish
7. Banjo
8. I’m Moving On (Joe Don Rooney Solo Performance)
9. Why Wait
10. I Dare You (sans Jonas Brothers)
11. Take Me There
12. I Melt
13. These Days
14. Sweet Caroline/Bless The Broken Road
15. I Like The Sound Of That
16. What Hurts The Most
17. Me And My Gang
18. Summer Nights
19. Life Is A Highway (w/ Lauren Alaina and Chris Lane)
