Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus And Joe Don Rooney Reunite In Surprise Studio Appearance
Fans were excited to see these two pictured together!
Jay DeMarcus, Joe Don Rooney; Photo via Instagram
Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, best known for their time in country supergroup Rascal Flatts, reunited in the studio on Monday, November 13.
DeMarcus documented the surprise reunion on social media by sharing a selfie with Rooney.
“Hung out with this guy in the studio today,” DeMarcus wrote. “So good seeing @joedonrooney!!!”
Rooney Has Remained Out of the Spotlight In Recent Months
This rare appearance marks one of the very few sightings of the 48-year-old guitarist as Rooney has remained silent, largely out of the spotlight and off social media since the demise of Rascal Flatts, the award-winning trio best known for hits like “Bless The Broken Road,” “Life Is A Highway,” “My Wish” and more.
The social media post was flooded with comments from excited fans, who were thrilled to see the former Rascal Flatts band members together after a lengthy hiatus.
“This makes my heart so happy!!! Never been so happy to see someone’s face,” wrote one Instagram user, while another shared, “Good to see you boys!!! Y’all are lookin good!!”
Fans Plead For A Rascal Flatts Reunion
Others begged them to reunite with Gary LeVox to finally embark on the Rascal Flatts farewell tour, which was sidelined due to COVID. The tour was ultimately canceled as Rooney abruptly exited the band, according to LeVox.
“I’ve never been OK with the way that it ended. I was never OK with… I wasn’t happy that Joe Don quit. It kind of came out of nowhere,” LeVox previously told PEOPLE in October of 2021. “It was like, ‘Let me try to wrap my head around this.’”
What Happened To Rascal Flatts?
The demise of the trio was the start of a tumultuous couple of years for Rooney, who in 2021 faced legal troubles in Tennessee when he was arrested after a motor vehicle collision. Subsequently, he was detained at the Williamson County Jail on a $2,500 bail bond. A WKRN report indicates that he later admitted guilt to charges of driving under the influence (DUI).
According to The Tennessean, Rooney was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in prison, however, only had to serve two days behind bars as the remainder of the sentence was suspended. He was also required to complete a DUI training.
Rooney’s driver’s license was also revoked as part of his sentence. The Kansas native was then able to apply for a restricted driver’s license, which would require him to own a vehicle with a built-in breathalyzer installed.
Joe Don Rooney Divorce
In January of 2023, Joe Don Rooney filed for divorce from his wife, Tiffany Fallon, who was a former Playboy model and the mother of their three children: Jagger Donovan Rooney, Raquel Blue Rooney, and Devon Olivia Rooney.
TMZ obtained legal documents that claim both parties committed adultery and that Rooney is addicted to drugs and alcohol. The docs also claim that Fallon had an affair with her personal trainer. While she reportedly admitted to the affair, she claims that it began after Rooney “withdrew” from their marriage. He claims it began before he filed for divorce in January of 2021.
Fallon claims Rooney’s “habitual alcoholism and drug abuse” led to the demise of their marriage. TMZ reported that Rooney denied using narcotics, however, he admitted to using cocaine “a few times.”
Five months later, DeMarcus appeared on Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley to discuss a variety of topics and he also gave an update on Joe Don Rooney.
“Joe Don went through his very public debacle a couple of years ago, and he’s better than I’ve heard him in 10 years,” DeMarcus said in June of 2023. “He’s 19 months sober. And he’s enjoying some peace. He’s living and learning how to live again without his addiction.”
“[I’m] really, really, really proud of him and where he’s at right now,” he continued. “There are just so many steps that would have to take place in order for us to get back to even talking about [getting back together]. I think the further we get away from it, the harder it is. It’s harder to put it back together.”
It currently remains unclear if Rascal Flatts will come back together as a group in the near future, however, this reunion gives fans hope.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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