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Joe Don Rooney is looking forward to a fresh start in 2024. The former Rascal Flatts member spoke out on X Wednesday (Jan. 3) about his turbulent past few years, including his 2021 car crash and battle with alcoholism.
Rooney started off his lengthy post by setting the record straight on a rumor that had been floating around. “I’m sorry it’s been a while since I’ve posted on any socials. It’s actually been a couple years since I’ve engaged with fans and friends on Twitter (now X) or Instagram But I figured today, at the beginning of this brand new year 2024, would be a good day to send a message out to the world. First off, I am alive! There have been so many rumors and opinions thrown around about me – but I’m finally healthy and ready for the world. And NO, I’m not transitioning to be a woman. That thought has never entered my mind. Nothing against the trans community whatsoever but I needed to set the record straight.”
He went on to detail lessons learned following the 2021 car crash and subsequent DUI near Franklin, Tenn.
“My life and career took a major detour at 4 [a.m.] in the early morning hours of Sep 9, 2021 when I ran square into a tree and about killed myself,” Rooney tweeted. “I was drunk and I was so far gone with my life – I was completely out of control and finished with trying to fight the fears, depression and anxieties that had spun me out in a way I’ve never experienced before. My drinking had been an issue for many years – and as they say in AA and treatment, it’s a progressive disease. I am living proof that the progressive nature of drinking can really ratchet up and as I grew older as an adult my drinking grew worse.”
Rooney noted that career pressures and personal mistakes he had made, in addition to “a lot of pain and trauma from my childhood and early on in my adult life, had become too much to bear.”
“I was not a good father – I was not a good husband – and I was not a good band mate to my business partners,” he said, referencing his former Rascal Flatts bandmates Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus. “I probably would’ve never taken responsibility for any of this if it hadn’t been for my car wreck on Sep 9, 2021. And btw, going to jail sucks! Fortunately, (and I truly believe this,) God lead me into that tree safely enough to not kill me – and luckily nobody else was involved and I didn’t injure or kill anyone. I could literally be in a Federal Prison for life right now. That is the reality of what my life had become.”
Rooney said that following the car crash, he spent months in treatment in Utah.
“When I first got there, I didn’t want to stay. I was ashamed of myself. I was so full of fear and guilt, that it took me all of the those 4 months to really start understanding treatment and the AA way and how to best utilize these new tools that I downloaded from the amazing clinicians, counselors and other patients there,” he said. “My life has been changed forever – and I’m grateful for the change.”
Rooney said he has now been sober for nearly 28 months.
“I never believed I could actually live my life without drinking. It had become such a huge part of my daily and nightly routine. I had tried to stop on my own in the past but the powerful nature of alcohol always found its way back into my life. I learned that I had to come to the realization that I was powerless over alcohol – and a power much greater than myself (and much greater than alcohol) was the only way to stop drinking and completely restore my sanity. God intervened and helped me to get my life back. With the help of my family and so many other professional clinical advisors and now numerous new sober forever friends, I’ve been able to get the train back on the tracks and live without the burden of alcohol.”
Looking forward in 2024, Rooney says his focus is on protecting his family and his newfound sobriety. In December 2023, Rooney and Tiffany Fallon finalized their divorce, more than two years after Rooney first filed for divorce in January 2021. Rooney and Fallon wed in 2006 and have three children together: Jagger Donovan, Raquel Blue and Devon Olivia.
“I have new healthy boundaries for the first time in my life. Only positive, loving, caring & understanding people may enter. It’s an absolute blessing in ways I can barely put into proper words. But for now, I’ll just say – thank you God!! I wish there was a way I could give back to God what all God has given to me – but moving forward, I will do my best to reflect God’s light of love and grace onto others like so many have done for me.”
He ended his note with gratefulness to his fans and supporters. “I hope y’all have an amazing 2024. Thank you for all the love, support and prayers. I promise you, I’ve felt them all and I’m super appreciative. Here’s to making the best of 2024 and living our most healthiest, happiest and goal oriented lives ever!!”
During their career, trio Rascal Flatts earned two top 10 hits on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, including 2006’s “What Hurts the Most” and “Life Is a Highway.” The group also earned 14 Country Airplay chart-toppers, including “Bless the Broken Road” and “These Days.” They also won six CMA vocal group of the year honors.
June, a documentary that premieres Jan. 16 on Paramount +, will examine the extraordinary life of June Carter Cash.
A member of the country music’s pioneering Carter Family, Carter Cash won five Grammy awards, co-wrote the classic “Ring of Fire,” and married Johnny Cash. The songwriter, performer and actress opened for Elvis Presley and appeared onscreen with Robert Duvall and Jane Seymour.
The documentary features rare and never-before-seen footage of Carter Cash as she carries on her family’s legacy and becomes half of a power couple with Cash. Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves and Reese Witherspoon — who won an Oscar in 2006 for her portrayal of Carter Cash in Walk the Line — also contribute.
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Carter Cash, who died in April 2003 at age 73, charted as a solo artist only once on Billboard’s Country singles chart in 1971 with “A Good Man,” but found greater success with her duets with Cash, reaching the top 10 four times with a cover of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe” (1964), “Jackson” (1967), “Long-Legged Guitar Pickin’ Man” (1967) and “If I Were a Carpenter” (1969). Cash scored a hit with “Ring of Fire,” taking the song to No. 1 for seven weeks on the country chart in 1963.
June is produced by Jason Owen and Josh Matas for Sandbox Productions, Mary Robertson for Maxine Productions, Sarah Olson and Kristen Vaurio. Executive producers include Tom Mackay and Krista Wegener for Sony Music Entertainment, Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman for Sony Pictures Television, Jean Song and Chandra LaPlume for Sandbox Productions, Bruce Gillmer and Vanessa White Wolf for MTV Entertainment Studios, and her children John Carter Cash and Carlene Carter. The documentary premiered at the DOC NYC Festival on Nov. 12.
After opening in North America on Jan. 16, June will be available on Paramount + starting the next day in the U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Joe Bonsall, who has spent the past five decades as the tenor singer for Country Music Hall of Fame group The Oak Ridge Boys, has officially revealed his plans to retire from touring.
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In 1973, Bonsall left his position with gospel group The Keystones to join The Oak Ridge Boys. With his signature tenor and charismatic persona, Bonsall entertained audiences on stages around the world for 50 years, alongside his Oak Ridge Boys bandmates Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban. Along the way, the group notched more than a dozen No. 1 Hot Country Songs hits, including their signature 1981 hit “Elvira,” which earned the group one of their five Grammy wins.
Bonsall noted that his decision to retire from the road is due to an ongoing health issue. For more than four years, Bonsall has battled the slow onset of a neuromuscular disorder.
“I am now at a point where walking is impossible, so I have basically retired from the road. It has just gotten too difficult,” Bonsall said in a statement. “It has been a great 50 years, and I am thankful to all the Oak Ridge Boys band crew and staff for the constant love and support shown to me through it all. I will never forget, and for those of you who have been constantly holding me up in prayer, I thank you and ask for you to keep on praying.”
Bonsall’s departure from the road marks a significant lineup change for the group, as Bonsall, Allen, Golden and Sterban have helmed the group for the past 50 years, save for an eight-year timespan when the now-deceased Steve Sanders had replaced Golden.
Ben James
Courtesy of The Oak Ridge Boys
Bonsall’s touring replacement will be Ben James, 27, known for his previous work with Doyle Lawson’s band Quicksilver, as well as Dailey & Vincent’s band. James is also a songwriter, penning “I Hear You Calling” and “Teardrops in Tennessee” as part of his recent solo album Wonderland.
Bonsall officially introduced James to Oaks fans in his statement, saying, “There is a young man named Ben James singing for me out there, and he needs your love and encouragement … his sound is different than mine, but he brings a ton of talent to the table! The Oak Ridge Boys will finish the Farewell Tour without me, but rest assured, I am good with all of it! God’s Got It!!!”
James was introduced to The Oak Ridge Boys during a 2022 concert in Wheeling, West Virginia, where Dailey & Vincent shared the bill with The Oak Ridge Boys. Bonsall’s final show was on Dec. 17, while James’s first show with the group took place Dec. 30.
“Joe handed me the mic and said, ‘You’ve got the next verse,’ James recalled in a statement. “And I’m not sure I will ever get over that moment. ‘Elvira’ was always on repeat when I was growing up. It’s still one of those timeless songs that never grow old.”
In September, The Oak Ridge Boys announced their farewell tour, The Oak Ridge Boys American Made Farewell Tour, with a full slate of shows for 2024. The group is also slated to return to the studio with producer Dave Cobb later this month. To date, the Oak Ridge Boys have worked on four projects with Cobb,
See below for a full slate of The Oak Ridge Boys American Made Farewell Tour shows for 2024:
The Oak Ridge Boys American Made Farewell Tour:
Jan 20: The Grand 1894 Opera House – Galveston, TexasJan. 21: The Grand 1894 Opera House – Galveston, TexasFeb. 2: Boot Barn Hall (Gainesville) – Gainesville, Ga.Feb. 11: San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo – San Antonio, TexasFeb. 29: Florida Strawberry Festival 2024 – Plant City, Fla.March 2: Montgomery Performing Arts Centre – Montgomery, Ala.March 15: Foxwoods Resort Casino – Ledyard, Conn.March 16: American Music Theatre – Lancaster, Pa.March 17: American Music Theatre – Lancaster, Pa.March 23: Sugar Creek Casino – Hinton, Okla.April 4: Oxford Performing Arts Center – Oxford, Ala.April 5: City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium – Morganton, N.C.April 6: Alabama Theatre North – Myrtle Beach, S.C.April 10: Clay County Agricultural Fair – Green Cove Springs, Fla.May 17: Peoples Bank Theatre – Marietta, OhioMay 18: The Oak Ridge Boys American Made Farewell Tour – Defiance, OhioJune 7: Hartville Kitchen – Hartville, OhioJune 8: Hartville Kitchen – Hartville, OhioSept. 15: Kansas State Fair – Hutchinson, Kansas
John Michael Montgomery is saying goodbye to life on the road.
The “Life’s a Dance” hitmaker revealed via his official Facebook page on Monday (Jan. 1), that his 2024-2025 tour dates will serve as his farewell tour as he winds down his touring career.
“It’s been a wonderful run for me from the beginning over 30 years ago in 1992 when my first song ‘Life’s a Dance’ was released to radio I think either as a 45 vinyl or on a cassette tape, CDs had not quite taken over the market yet and the internet was still in its infancy,” Montgomery recalled in his Facebook post.
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“It amazes me where it is today,” he added. “I’ve been fortunate and blessed to be able to do what I love for so many years so please join me on my journey as I say goodbye to the road life. And thanks so much for your support for the last 3 decades, it’s meant so much me.”
Montgomery’s post did not state a specific reason for his decision to wind down his touring. A representative for Montgomery did not respond to a request for comment. Currently, Montgomery has concerts slated for 2024 in January, March, April, May and October.
The Kentucky native made his breakthrough with the 1993 top 5 Hot Country Songs hit “Life’s a Dance,” and won the Country Music Association’s Horizon Award in 1994.
He would go on to add seven No. 1 Hot Country Songs hits to his resume, starting with the three-week No. 1 “I Love the Way You Love Me.” His romantic ballad, “I Swear,” became a four-week Hot Country Songs hit No. 1 in 1994 and crossed over onto the all-genre Hot 100, reaching No. 42. The song won a CMA Award for single of the year, and nabbed Montgomery a Grammy nomination for best male country vocal performance. R&B group All-4-One recorded a version of the song, taking it to No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Montgomery’s hits have also included “Be My Baby Tonight,” “The Little Girl,” “I Can Love You Like That,” and “Sold (The Grundy County Auction).” His highest-charting Hot 100 crossover song was the 2004 military-inspired hit “Letters From Home.”
Additionally, musical talent runs in the Montgomery family. As a child, Montgomery and his brother, Eddie Montgomery, played music together. Eddie would go on to also find massive country music success as half of the duo Montgomery Gentry. John Michael recently celebrated the next generation of familial country music success, watching as his son, Walker Montgomery, recently made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry.
Zac Brown and his wife Kelly Yazdi are divorcing after four months of marriage, a rep for the Zac Brown Band frontman confirmed to Billboard on Friday (Dec. 29). “We are in the process of divorce,” the couple said in a statement sent to Billboard. “Our mutual respect for one another remains. We wish each […]
In 2025, the Gospel Music Association will open the Dove Center and Gospel Music Museum in downtown Nashville.
The Dove Center and Gospel Music Museum will be located at 147 Fourth Ave. N., at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Commerce Street, one block from the historic Ryman Auditorium.
“Developed to preserve the legacy of our historic past, support the impact of today’s artists, and plant seeds for the future, we believe the Dove Center will be a beacon of light for the kingdom of God,” Gospel Music Association president/executive director Jackie Patillo said in a video revealing details about the timeline for the upcoming Dove Center. “It will also be a key part of the GMA’s mission to expose, promote, and celebrate the Gospel through music.”
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The video also featured a rendering of the Dove Center, with plans including the Dove Awards Theater, a timeline of the history of the gospel music industry, exhibits highlighting artists’ stories, a Hall of Fame area spotlighting plaques for each member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame’s approximately 200 members, and exhibits allowing visitors to create and mix their own song. The center will feature exhibit areas with titles including Lift Your Voice, Moving Up The Charts and Created to Worship.
The Gospel Music Association, which puts on the annual GMA Dove Awards, was founded in 1964. The Dove Awards were conceptualized by singer-songwriter Bill Gaither in 1968. The inaugural Dove Awards were held in 1969 in Memphis, Tennessee, before the awards moved to Nashville in 1971. The Awards were held in Atlanta in 2011 and 2012, before returning to Nashville in 2013.
The building that will house the Dove Center is also home to Lipscomb University’s Spark Center. Since 2013, the Gospel Music Association and Lipscomb University have had a partnership, where the annual GMA Dove Awards have been held at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena, while the Gospel Music Association operates from its headquarters at 4012 Granny White Pike in Nashville, on Lipscomb University’s campus.
This 54th annual GMA Dove Awards winners this year included artist of the year winner Brandon Lake (who picked up four total awards during the evening), while Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Toby Mac, Blessing Offor and Jeff Pardo each won two awards.
The Dove Center will join several other music-focused museums in Music City, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, the National Museum of African American Music, the Johnny Cash Museum, the Patsy Cline Museum, and the Willie Nelson and Friends museum.
Dolly Parton just made a deserving fan’s wish come true. Two years after a Utah man named LeGrand Gold made a bucket list in the midst of battling stage four colorectal cancer, the 77-year-old country star made one of his wildest dreams come true by serenading him over the phone. The bittersweet moment was captured […]
Laura Lynch, a founding member of The Dixie Chicks, has reportedly died after being involved in a car accident in Texas. She was 65. The musician was instantly killed on Friday (Dec. 22) after another vehicle slammed head-on into her car as it was attempting to pass another vehicle on Highway 62 outside of El […]
As the year draws to a close and the country music business looks toward 2024, it’s time to contemplate the headline-making moments of the genre over the past year. 2023 saw monumental crests for country music on the Billboard Hot 100, with songs and albums that cemented superstar status for some artists, such as Morgan […]
2023 may have featured massive releases from artists such as Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Versions of Speak Now and 1989), Drake (For All the Dogs and its Scary Hours edition), Bad Bunny (Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana), Nicki Minaj (Pink Friday 2), Morgan Wallen (One Thing at a Time) and many others, but […]