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F once well known for being the spot of many print- in Topeka, Kansas, the week before I meet him at the ers' shops, like the ones that churned out Bibles, and video shoot. then, in a decidedly more devoted-to-the-heathens It's something, he says, his mother would say to him turn, as an alley for Prohibition-era drinking. But should he decide to allow himself to slip out of his ever since these three banded together in 1997 and regular guy mode for something a bit more, shall we then broke through in 2000 with their self-titled de- say, Kid Rock–like. but album, the Fiddle and Steel is now most famous "It's always a good thing to have in the chalkboard for being the place where Rascal Flatts got their start. of your mind, I think," Rooney says, his voice strained Three gold records that the band gave to owner Ali- with the last lingering hints of a cold the whole band son Bradsher hang on the walls, and a sign declares and the crew had been fghting off. "You better think that this is the "Home of Rascal Flatts." They—frst about what you're going to do before you do it," he just as Gary and Jay calling themselves Deuces Wild, explains. Which isn't to say that Kid's own mother and then, after meeting Rooney through a mutual didn't offer a similar loving admonishment that her friend to become Rascal Flatts—were the regular son walk the line of getting too big for one's britches. Monday and Tuesday night band for about a year. It's just that Rooney (and DeMarcus and LeVox) "It just got crazy to where people were coming out," seemed to have paid it heed. remembers Bradsher, "and more people were comAll three members are married with children. ing out, and then industry people were coming out." DeMarcus has a daughter, Madeline, and a son, Ah, say no more…once the industry folk appear, Dylan. LeVox has two girls: Brittany and Brooklyn. something is usually just about to happen, and so it Rooney met his wife, Tiffany Fallon, former Playmate was that about a year into their Monday and Tuesday of the Year (2005), through DeMarcus's wife, Allison, night residency, Nashville's Lyric Street Records frst at the Country Music Awards at the Grand Old signed them and saw them through their frst decade Opry in 2002, and then again in 2003 when the four of country music domination until 2010 when the la- of them got together for dinner, and then drinks at— bel folded, and Big Machine Records (home to Taylor where else—the Fiddle and Steel. Rooney and Fallon Swift) picked them up. have two children, a Even for their stratoson Jagger and daughspheric ascent (more ter Raquel. than twenty-one mil"I remember just sitlion albums sold; over ting there talking to seven million concert her," says Rooney, tickets sold, and four"and we were just eatteen singles that have ing each other up and hit number 1, for startthe conversation was ers), they haven't let wonderful. At one themselves "get above point, I said, 'You know that raising," to borrow what, I have to apolothe phrase Rooney uses gize for something.' when I speak to him And she said, 'What do from their stop on tour you have to apologize 2. Rascall Flatts band members visit with Vanderbilt Hospital patient Addyson Clark, and her mother. THE ELEMENTS OF FAITH AND THOSE BLESSINGS THEREIN ARE A FIRMAMENT FROM WHICH MANY OF THEIR SONGS GROW.