Rascal Flatts stopped at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls as part of their Life is a Highway tour last week. The tour celebrates the group’s 25 anniversary and how far they have come, especially in recent years.
The group disbanded back in 2021 after their tour was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The group announced in October of 2024 a reunion tour which began Feb. 13. After over five years apart the band was back onstage and loving every second with the crowd.
Rascal Flatts has won numerous awards for their music, which includes 16 No. 1 hits and seven platinum albums. The band has over 40 awards from People’s Choice to Country Music Association Awards. The group’s first award was Top New Vocal Group at the 2001 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Opening the show were two rising names in country music, Lauren Alaina followed by Chris Lane. Alaina talked candidly about her child on the way and who raised her. She sang her newest hit “Those Kind of Women” and an unreleased song.
Lane also paid tribute to how he grew up with songs such as “I Should Have Been a Cowboy” by the late Toby Keith, “Check Yes or No” by George Strait, and many more.
Rascal Flatts performed to a full house for approximately 105 minutes covering 19 songs and having fun with the audience. Bass guitarist Jay DeMarcus had a bit of fun with the crowd, getting everyone to sing along to “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond and wave flashlights while he played the piano.
While Rascal Flatts kept the audience mesmerized for all 19 songs, lead guitarist Joe Don Rooney got emotional talking about his struggles with sobriety. In 2021, Rooney was arrested for driving while intoxicated after crashing into a line of trees near Nashville at 4 a.m.
Rooney talked about his struggles just before singing “I’m Movin’ On” alone. Being sober since his arrest, his bandmates are immensely proud of how far he has come.
Rascal Flatts covered songs from when they first started to their newest release “I Dare You” with the Jonas Brothers.
Their most popular song, “Life is A Highway,” is featured in the movie “Cars” and what the tour is named after they saved for the end. It had everyone on their feet and singing along. This song reminds people of their childhood and growing up with the band on the radio.
The set had a massive screen behind them that displayed multiple different graphics, and had two smaller screens on either side of the stage to show the band. The stage had many different lighting features as well that changed with each song.
The band missed performing and having fun on stage with each other and the crowd. It is evident that the reunion tour is something they are excited about and they love performing for a packed enthusiastic crowd that is just as in it as they are.
