Rascal Flatts Celebrates 26 Years With Return To Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena

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Rascal Flatts. Photo: Evan DeStefano

Rascal Flatts returned to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Thursday night (Feb. 5) for the first time in a decade on the second leg of their “Life Is A Highway Tour.”

Pictured (L-R): Maverick’s Brian Wolf, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus, Maverick’s Clarence Spalding.

To honor their achievements in a storied 26-year career, Big Machine Label Group Founder, Chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta presented the trio with a plaque to commemorate over 10 million album equivalents before the trio took the stage. Three of the band’s songs have earned new RIAA certifications, with “I Won’t Let Go” and “I Like The Sound Of That” now certified double-Platinum, and “Yours If You Want It” earning a Platinum certification.

Chris Lane took the stage first, setting the tone for the night ahead with a set that included fan-favorites “Take Back Home Girl,” “Big, Big Plans” and “I Don’t Know About You.”

Next to the stage was Lauren Alaina, who kicked off her set with a mashup of her playful “Thicc As Thieves” and Gretchen Wilson’s “Here For The Party,” before moving into “Doin’ Fine” and “Getting Good.” Alaina surprised the crowd with Chase Matthew for their current single “All My Exes.”

The crowd got quiet as Alaina shared how a conversation with her brother after the loss of their father inspired her latest single, “Little Things.” “When something really big that matters happens, it points out all of the little things that don’t matter at all. We are all so caught up in so many things, and I know for myself I need to focus more on the things that really matter,” she said before performing the grief-heavy track.

Alaina finished her set with “What Ifs,” and “Road Less Traveled” as fans lit up the Bridgestone Arena with flashlights.

Rascal Flatts. Photo: Evan DeStefano

With the crowd fired up, Rascal Flatts made their way to the stage, kicking off with “Here’s To You.” The trio kept the energy high and the crowd singing along as they moved through “Yours If You Want It,” “Fast Cars And Freedom” and “Stand.”

The band leaned into nostalgia with “Mayberry” and “Prayin’ for Daylight” before calling Alaina back to the stage for “My Wish.” The energy picked right back up with the lively “Banjo.”

The lights dimmed as Joe Don Rooney took a moment on the stage to share his gratitude for the fans. “Twenty-six years is a long time to do anything, but we are so grateful that you all still care and still like our music. What a gift it is to be able to be on stage and sing and play for you guys.” He performed a solo rendition of “I’m Moving On” before inviting the rest of the band back for anthemic “Why Wait.”

The band pressed on with their current single “I Dare You,” before inviting Lane back to the stage for a duet on “These Days.” The crowd roared as Jay DeMarcus took to the piano for the iconic “Bless the Broken Road.”

Photo: Evan DeStefano

As the night began to wind down, the group delivered a run of career-defining hits, including “I Like the Sound of That,” “What Hurts the Most,” and “Me and My Gang.”

After a brief break, Rascal Flatts returned for an encore of “Summer Nights” and a crowd-wide singalong as Gary LeVox made his way into the crowd during “Life Is a Highway” to end the night.

The “Life Is A Highway Tour” continues tonight (Feb. 7) in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Lauryn Sink
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