Rascal Flatts on the Red Carpet on Wednesday, Nov. 7 for "The 41st Annual CMA Awards" in Nashville. Photo courtesy of the CMA.
Nov. 6, 2008 — Rascal Flatts can chalk up 2008 as a huge year for the band. They closed their tour schedule for the fall on Sunday and counted some 1.2 million fans in attendance at 70 concerts on the Bob That Head Tour.
The band has apparently learned its on-stage lessons. It opened early in its career for Toby Keith, then hit the road as an opening act for Kenny Chesney in 2004.
"I can't think of many stars who work harder than Kenny does, even when it comes to just staying in the physical shape you need to be in when touring," Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney told USA Weekend. "He works out twice a day, not once! We try to be mindful of taking care of ourselves, too, and putting in the time and preparation and professionalism needed to put on a show that audiences will remember the rest of their lives."
Taylor Swift opened for band this year. Jessica Simpson has already been tabbed as the opener for a 25-date extension of the tour when they hit the road again in January.
In other sectors of their career, Rascal Flatts’ Greatest Hits Volume 1 pulled in sales of 90,000 copies in its first week of release. And the band is in the running Nov. 12 for the Vocal Group of the Year honor at "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards." Should they pick up the trophy, they’ll tie the Statler Brothers as the only acts ever to claim that prize six times in a row. The Statlers’ streak is more than three decades old: They picked up their six consecutive trophies 1972-1977.