Flatt’s 2011 Memory: The Opry

They’ve already sold millions of records, had more than a dozen #1s, and played for millions of fans.  In October, Rascal Flatts became part of country history, as the trio became the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry.  Lead singer Gary LeVox told the media backstage, “It was such a surprise.  We had no clue about anything.  We were so blown away, and even after Vince invited us, we were in shock.  It’s an absolute dream come true.”

Country Countdown USA host Lon Helton was back stage the night they were inducted, and noticed that the band had a lot of relatives on the guest list.  Jay DeMarcus said, “We flew everybody in that was an immediate family member.  It was an expensive Opry trip!  But I tell you it was something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.  One of the coolest things was see George W. Bush giving us personal congratulations.  I’m so proud and thrilled to be called for the rest of my life to be called a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”

Lon asked them to explain the connection with former President Bush.  Gary said, “The first time he asked us to play the White House, we hit it off, and we’ve had a personal connection, we’ve played the White House so often we could be the White House band, but we saw him a couple months ago.  He’s got a new thing with the Wounded Warrior Project, they held a golf tournament, we went out and did that, it was a lot of fun.”

In many ways it was a family night, because they were also being brought into the Opry family, as Gary noted: “That’s probably the biggest thing you notice, even before we became members, every time you play the Opry, it is truely family.  Even if you come to visit, you feel like it’s your grandma’s house.  It’s just family there.  You leave with a great feeling and a smile on your face.”  Jay added: “That was one of the things Vince Gill told us the night he invited us to be members.  He said, ‘What’s gonna be fun for you now is you’re gonna see how these people will become your family, and you’ll feel that for the rest of your life.”

LISTEN HERE: 11-51 Flatts4

Tags: Opry, rascal

Category: Audio