2009 Rascal Flatts

You don't generally think of Columbus, Ohio as a hotbed of country music, but since Ohioans Gary Levox and Jay DeMarcus got together with Oklahoma native Joe Don Rooney during a gig in Nashville, the capital of Ohio boasts two of the country music world's hottest stars. Their trio, Rascal Flatts, has earned them enthusiastic reviews and a large fan base that buys plenty of tickets to their shows.

Levox and DeMarcus are second cousins, and DeMarcus and Rooney were both in the band of country star Chely Wright when Rascal Flatts was formed. Since their self-titled debut album from 2000, the strength of the Rascal Flatts vocal harmony sound has carried the trio far. The harmonies remind the country world of such powerhouse acts as Alabama, while the instrumentation separates Rascal Flatts from some of the slick prepackaged groups now in vogue.

One song from the debut album, 'I'm Movin' On,' remains a cornerstone of the band's stage show, thanks to its universal theme of rebounding from tragedy. In 2002, Rascal Flatts released their second album, 'Melt.' 'These Days' was the first single from the album, and its success fueled huge album sales.

In 2004, the third Rascal Flatts album, 'Feels Like Today,' hit the stores, and the title song, along with 'Bless the Broken Road' and other well-received songs, helped Rascal Flatts earn their second Vocal Group of the Year designation from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. With solid music and increasing recognition boosting their career, Rascal Flatts are such a hot band that it's hard to find their tickets. Take this opportunity to get yours while you still can.