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A quick update

I haven't been able to update in a while because of school, but now that the semester's over, I'll be back in full force! Here is the latest with Rascal Flatts:

1) The video for "Here's to You" was released this week! You can catch it on CMT and GAC, and online as well: Here's to You
2) Their new single "Fast Cars and Freedom" has made it into the top ten in less than seven weeks! Keep up the requests :)
3) The guys won Group video of the year at the CMT Awards for "Feels Like Today" Way to go!
4) The tour will start back up at the end of the month...see below for dates
5) A new album is in the works! It will hopefully be released sometime this fall.
6) RF will be performing on Good Morning America May 27, and on the ACM Awards!

I'll be updating more often now that I'll have a less crazy schedule. Below are the latest tour dates from RascalFlatts.com

Birmingham, AL	5/20/2005	Tickets on sale 4/9/05	Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Atlanta, GA	5/21/2005	Tickets on sale now	HiFi Buys Amphitheatre | Meet & Greet Full - No VIP Tickets available for this show, sorry.
Burgettstown, PA	5/28/2005	Tickets on sale 4/9/05	Post-Gazette Pavilion - VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Virginia Beach, VA	5/29/2005	Tickets on sale now	5th St. Stage - | Meet & Greet Full - We're sorry, but there are no VIP tickets available for this show
Jacksonville, FL	6/2/2005	On-sale date changed to 5/7/05	Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena - VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
West Palm Beach, FL	6/3/2005	Tickets on sale 4/30/05	Sound Advice Amphitheatre VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Tampa, FL	6/4/2005	On-sale date changed to 5/7/05	Ford Amphitheatre VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Detroit, MI	6/11/2005	Tickets on sale 4/16/05	DTE Energy Music Theatre VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Cuyahoga Falls, OH	6/12/2005	Tickets on sale 4/9/05	Blossom Music Centre - VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Boston, MA	6/16/2005	Tickets on sale 4/23/05	Tweeter Center - VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Saratoga Springs, NY	6/17/2005	Tickets on sale 5/7/05	Saratoga Performing Arts Center VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Scranton, PA	6/18/2005	On-sale date changed to 4/30/05	Ford Pavilion at Montage Mtn - VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Oshkosh, WI	6/23/2005	Tickets on sale now	Country USA - Fan Club Meet & Greet requests will start TBA. We're sorry, but there are no Fan Club VIP Tickets available for this show
Dallas, TX	6/25/2005	Tickets on sale 4/30/05	Smirnoff Music Centre - VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Concord, CA	7/7/2005	Tickets on sale 5/8/05	Chronicle Pavilion - VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Los Angeles, CA	7/8/2005	Tickets on sale 5/21/05	Universal Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start Tuesday, May 17th at 12:00 PM central Time
Los Angeles, CA	7/9/2005	Tickets on sale 5/21/05	Universal Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start Wednesday, May 18th at 12:00 PM Central Time
Kelseyville, CA	7/10/2005	Tickets on sale now	Konocti Field Amphitheatre VIP Ticketing Closed - Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Marysville, CA	7/13/2005	On-sale date changed to 5/14/05	Sleep Train Amphitheatre VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Fresno, CA	7/14/2005	On-sale date changed to 6/11/05	SaveMart Center - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Chula Vista, CA	7/15/2005	Tickets on sale 5/21/05	Coors Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start Thursday, May 19th at 12:00 PM Central Time
Las Vegas, NV	7/16/2005	Tickets on sale 5/7/05	Mandalay Bay Events Center VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Bonner Springs, KS	7/21/2005	On-sale date changed to 5/21/05	Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre VIP Tickets | Meet & Greet Full
Monticello, IA	7/22/2005	Tickets on sale now	Great Jones County Fair - VIP Ticketing Closed - Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Eau Claire, WI	7/23/2005	Tickets on sale now	Country Jam USA - Fan Club Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Bristow, VA	7/29/2005	Tickets on sale 6/18/05	Nissan Pavilion - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Harrington, DE	7/30/2005	Tickets on sale now	Delaware State Fair - Fan Club Meet & Greet requests will start TBA - We're sorry, but there are no reserved VIP tickets available for this show
Indianapolis, IN	8/11/2005	Tickets on sale 4/9/05	Indiana State Fairgrounds - VIP Ticketing Closed - Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Springfield, IL	8/12/2005	Tickets on sale 4/30/05 (Internet only)	Illinois State Fair - VIP Ticketing Closed Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Jackson, MI	8/13/2005	Tickets on sale 2/5/05	Jackson County Fair - VIP Ticketing Closed | Meet & Greet Full
Columbus, OH	8/14/2005	Tickets on sale 4/9/05	Columbus Crew Stadium VIP Ticketing Closed - Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Sedalia, MO	8/19/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Missouri State Fair - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Meadville, PA	8/23/2005	Tickets on sale 4/4/05	Crawford County Fair - VIP Ticketing Closed - Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
St. Paul, MN	9/1/2005	Tickets on sale 4/30/05	Minnesota State Fair VIP Ticketing Closed Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Huron, SD	9/3/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	South Dakota State Fair - Fan Club Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Cincinnati, OH	9/9/2005	Tickets on sale 7/23/05	Riverbend Music Center - Fan Club Meet & Greet and VIP Ticket requests will start TBA
Verona, NY	9/11/2005	Tickets on sale 5/18/05	Turning Stone Casino - Fan Club VIP Ticket requests will start Monday, May 16th at 12:00 PM Central Time. Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
York, PA	9/12/2005	Tickets on sale 2/19/05	York Fair - VIP Ticketing Closed Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Charlotte, NC	9/16/2005	Tickets on sale 7/30/05	Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Raleigh, NC	9/17/2005	Tickets on sale 7/30/05	Alltel Pavilion - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA

Vote now for the CMT Music Awards!

Rascal Flatts' video for "Feels Like Today" has been nominated for two CMT Music Awards, "Group/Duo Video of the Year" and "Video of the Year." Be sure to vote and tune in to CMT on Monday, April 11 at 8:00pm ET/PT to see all the winners!

Video code provided by Music Video Codes

from CMT.com - Rascal Flatts celebrate sale of 6 million albums






Trio Greets 300 Guests During Dinner at Country Music Hall of Fame

Edward Morris

It was probably the longest reading of citations since Kid Rock's last court appearance. Seated on a massive stage in the echoing lobby of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the three members of Rascal Flatts announced the name of every producer, engineer and songwriter who contributed to their first three albums.

Those albums have sold a combined total of more than 6 million copies, and it was this achievement that the crowd of 300 or so industry insiders came to celebrate Wednesday night (March 23) in downtown Nashville.

Guests arriving at the party were handed laminated passes to wear around their necks that said "6 Million Reasons to Have a Party." Dozens of large, round tables topped with black cloths surrounded the stage in readiness for the dinner that would follow the awards presentations. Buffet tables with steaming trays of food stood at the back of the room, and bars (and their patrons) gurgled in strategic corners. Rascal Flatts videos played continuously on flat-panel TV screens arrayed prominently around the hall.

"We live in a cynical world and work in a cynical business," said Lyric Street Records president Randy Goodman as he opened the ceremonies. But that cynicism is tempered, he added, each time an "18 to 40 mother of two" shopping at a Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target or Best Buy store pauses at a record display and buys an album on impulse. The celebration, Goodman implied, was the culmination of 6 million such impulses.

After the showing of several short videos that chronicled Rascal Flatts' rise to superstardom, Goodman called members Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney to the stage. He then pulled a curtain at the back of the stage to reveal seven identical 6-foot tall plaques to commemorate their sales feat.

Once the group's producers and the top executives at Lyric Street were brought forward and introduced, LeVox, DeMarcus and Rooney each took an album -- Rascal Flatts, Melt and Feels Like Today -- and read off the names of virtually everyone involved in it, pausing to recognize those who were there in the audience.

At a press conference held at the adjacent Ford Theater before the ceremonies, reporters struggled valiantly to ask the much-interviewed trio questions more profound than "How does it feel?" or "What's next?" -- and ultimately lost the struggle.

LeVox ventured that he hoped they would sell 6 million copies of their next album "and a lot more." He later mused, "It would be nice to be nominated for a Grammy and be up for [the Country Music Association's] entertainer of the year [award]."

The reliably puckish DeMarcus marveled, "It's really amazing that our moms bought 5.5 million of [these albums]."

Rascal Flatts and Lyric Street Records Have 6 Million Reasons to Celebrate

from PRNewswire-

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

 This evening, Lyric Street Records hosted a party for Rascal Flatts to celebrate
the group's achievement of selling over 6 million albums.  Close to 300 invited guests
joined Lyric Street Records at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to
celebrate with Rascal Flatts.  Just five years into a career marked by
superlatives, Rascal Flatts has reached the benchmark of exceeding sales of
6 million with just three albums worth of material.
  "It's an amazing thing, to do the kind of music that you love ... ," said
the members of Rascal Flatts, "to pour your heart and soul into an album.
Sort of lay it all out on the line.  It's even more amazing when millions of
people think it's good enough to go and lay their hard-earned money down to
buy it.  We are humbled, grateful, and feel so incredibly blessed.  'Thank
you' does not even begin to cover it."
  After showing a video reel containing highlights from Rascal Flatts'
career, Lyric Street Records President, Randy Goodman brought the trio
onstage, surprising them by revealing seven plaques -- each of them six feet
tall -- commemorating the 6 million albums sold. In addition to the Artists;
Gary Levox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, plaques were also dedicated to
Lyric Street Records, Turner, Nichols & Associates, Universal Music and Video
Distribution, Producers Marty Williams and Mark Bright, Country Radio and the
songwriters and musicians who contributed to each of the group's first three
albums.  The latter plaque was given by the Label to the CMHF for permanent
keeping and display within the Museum.
  Rascal Flatts acknowledged each of the songwriters, musicians, and
engineers that have contributed to their albums, all of whom received
individual plaques.
  By any measure, Rascal Flatts has entered elite territory.  In addition to
selling over 6 million records, hits like These Days, I'm Movin' On, I Melt,
Mayberry and Bless The Broken Road have taken them repeatedly to the top of
the charts. They have pulled in a host of awards and accolades, and are the
reigning 2003 & 2004 CMA & ACM Vocal Group of the Year as well as the 2004 CMT
and ASCAP Vocal Group of the Year. They have played for the President and
First Lady, become national spokesmen for the American Red Cross, and have
headlined 3 sell-out tours.  Even after racking up all of these
accomplishments with the group's first three albums, both Rascal Flatts and
Lyric Street Records have no plans of slowing down in the near future and look
forward to working together towards taking the trio's extraordinary career to
yet another level.
  Lyric Street Records is a part of the Buena Vista Music Group.  The Buena
Vista Music Group is the recorded music and music publishing arm of the Walt
Disney Company.

SOURCE Schmidt Relations

"Here's to You" Tour reaches a quarter million fans

from RascalFlatts.com-

NASHVILLE – (March 23, 2005) - Headline act RASCAL FLATTS wrapped their first leg of touring in 2005 on March 12 in Biloxi, Miss. The highly successful “HERE’S TO YOU” Tour, which originally launched last fall, has played in 36 cities in front of a quarter million fans. The tour will re-launch on May 20 in Birmingham, Ala. after a two month break for recording. The tour will expand into larger venues throughout the remainder of this year due to ever increasing ticket demand.

During a tour stop in Memphis, Tenn. 2 weeks ago, the band filmed a video for the tour’s anthem song “Here’s To You.” The song was co-written by band member Jay DeMarcus and appears on current double platinum selling album Feels Like Today. The clip will make its way to the video channels soon, but listen for new radio single “Fast Cars and Freedom” now. This tune was written by Gary LeVox, Neil Thrasher and Wendell Mobley, who also penned Rascal Flatts' #1 hit “I Melt.”

Gary, Jay and Joe Don are celebrating with Lyric Street Records and the songwriters on all their albums for sales of 6 Million albums!

BTBR stays at #1 for six weeks straight!

From RascalFlatts.com-

Bless The Broken Road, chosen by Rascal Flatts fans as the song they'd most like to be released as a single, continues to dominate the Billboard and R&R charts for a 6th straight week. The band's fastest rising hit is also their longest run at #1.,

Rascal Flatts nominated for 3 ACM Awards

Country trio Rascal Flatts has been nominated for the Academy of Country Music's Vocal Group of the Year, Single of the Year ("Bless the Broken Road") and Song of the Year ("Bless the Broken Road") awards. Be sure to tune to CBS on May 17 to cheer on the guys!

"Feels Like Today" back at #1 on albums chart

From RascalFlatts.com-

Riding the success of "Bless The Broken Road," the current Rascal Flatts album, Feels Like Today, regains its position as the number one album in Country this week!

Updated Tour Dates from RascalFlatts.com

Austin, TX	3/4/2005	Tickets on sale 2/5/05	The Backyard - | Meet & Greet Full We're very sorry, but since this is a General Admission show, there will be no VIP tickets
Bossier City, LA	3/5/2005	Tickets on sale 2/12/05 *On-sale date changed*	CenturyTel Center - VIPs Sold Out | Meet & Greet Full
Houston, TX	3/10/2005	Tickets on sale now	Houston Rodeo - | Meet & Greet Full - We're sorry, but there are no VIP tickets available for this show
Southaven, MS	3/11/2005	Tickets on sale 2/5/05 *On-sale date changed*	DeSoto Civic Center - VIPs Sold Out | Meet & Greet Full
Biloxi, MS	3/12/2005	Tickets on sale 2/19/05	Mississippi Coast Coliseum - VIPs Sold Out | Meet & Greet Full
Primm, NV	4/15/2005	Tickets on sale 2/26/05	Star of the Desert Arena - VIPs Sold Out | Meet & Greet Full
Florence, AZ	4/16/2005	Tickets on sale now	Country Thunder - Fan Club Meet & Greet Requests will start TBA
Albuquerque, NM	4/17/2005	Tickets on sale 2/18/05	Sandia Casino - VIPs Sold Out | Meet & Greet
Birmingham, AL	5/20/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Atlanta, GA	5/21/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	HiFi Buys Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Tickets and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Burgettstown, PA	5/28/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Post-Gazette Pavilion - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Virginia Beach, VA	5/29/2005	Tickets on sale now	5th St. Stage - Fan Club Meet & Greet requests will start TBA - We're sorry, but there are no reserved VIP tickets available for this show
West Palm Beach, FL	6/3/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Sound Advice Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Tampa, FL	6/4/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Ford Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Detroit, MI	6/11/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	DTE Energy Music Theatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests start TBA
Cuyahoga Falls, OH	6/12/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Blossom Music Centre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Scranton, PA	6/16/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Ford Pavilion at Montage Mtn - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Saratoga Springs, NY	6/17/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Saratoga Performing Arts Center - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Boston, MA	6/18/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Tweeter Center - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Oshkosh, WI	6/23/2005	Tickets on sale now	Country USA - Fan Club Meet & Greet requests will start TBA. We're sorry, but there are no Fan Club VIP Tickets available for this show
Dallas, TX	6/25/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Smirnoff Music Centre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Marysville, CA	7/7/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Sleep Train Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Los Angeles, CA	7/8/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Universal Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Los Angeles, CA	7/9/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Universal Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Kelseyville, CA	7/10/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Konocti Field Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Concord, CA	7/13/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Chronicle Pavilion - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Fresno, CA	7/14/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	SaveMart Center - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Chula Vista, CA	7/15/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Coors Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Las Vegas, NV	7/16/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Mandalay Bay Events Center - Fan Club VIP Tickets and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Bonner Springs, KS	7/21/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Verison Wireless Amphitheatre - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Bristow, VA	7/29/2005	Tickets on sale TBA	Nissan Pavilion - Fan Club VIP Ticket and Meet & Greet requests will start TBA
Harrington, DE	7/30/2005	Tickets on sale now	Delaware State Fair - Fan Club Meet & Greet requests will start TBA - We're sorry, but there are no reserved VIP tickets available for this show
Jackson, MI	8/13/2005	Tickets on sale 2/5/05	Jackson County Fair - VIPs Sold Out | Meet & Greet Full
York, PA	9/12/2005	Tickets on sale 2/19/05	York Fair - VIPs Sold Out Meet & Greet requests will start TBA