Keepin' it Country Media & Radio » Joe Don Rooney

Oklahoma country stars reflect on tornado

Lydia Picknell — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:07:46 +0000

Our thoughts remain with Oklahoma and the victims of the tornado earlier this week. Country music stars are also reflecting and praying for the region after an EF 5, the highest rating a tornado can receive, touched down in the region.

Toby Keith said:

“This storm has devastated the community that I grew up in. I rode my bike through those neighborhoods. I have family and friends in Moore. My heart and prayers go to those that have lost so much. But Moore is strong and we will persevere. God be with you all.”

Krystal Keith:

“Please pray for my Okie’s today and in the coming days. I am devastated to watch the footage from afar. Feeling pretty helpless today.”

Carrie Underwood:

“I’m thinking about and praying for my beautiful home state and the people in it tonight. Growing up in Tornado Alley, you always know what could happen. It doesn’t change how devastating it is when something does happen. #pray.”

Miranda Lambert:

“Pray. That’s all we can do. Pray for peace for Oklahoma.”

Blake Shelton:

“Just landed in LA and hearing about all the tornados in Oklahoma right now… Get somewhere safe!”

See more reactions below:

Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts:

“My thoughts & prayers are with my home state of Oklahoma. May God’s love & grace be with all affected by these horrible storms.”

Reba McEntire:

“All my prayers go out to the folks in Oklahoma dealing with these tornados. Stay safe everyone!”

Ronnie Dunn:

“Stopped to spend the night in Shawnee, Okla. Just woke up to another tornado hitting Moore. Right in front of it! We got out just before it hit. Those poor people. We will help when and where we can.”

Rascal Flatts Changed Goes Gold!

Lydia Picknell — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:32:47 +0000

Congratulations to Rascal Flatts and the team at Big Machine! Their latest album “Changed” has just been certified gold by the RIAA for selling over 500,000 copies since its release. The newest single from the album “Come Wake Me Up” hits country music radio on Monday, May 21st. “Banjo,” from the album, was the band’s fourteenth number one single.

The trio will be playing the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night and again on Thursday night. They became Opry members late last year. Their next tour date is a stop at the Bayou Country Superfest on May 27th.

Joe Don Rooney…. Homeless?

Lydia Picknell — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:06:27 +0000

Things are a little confusing for Oklahoma native Joe Don Rooney. The guitarist for Rascal Flatts finds himself without a home-town after Picher, Oklahoma voted to dissolve in 2009! After some teasing from both Gary and Jay on-air, radio station WZZK in Alabama invited Joe Don to become an honorary member of their town.

Before their concert Friday night in Birmingham, Alabama, radio station WZZK met up with the group and gave Joe Don an official proclamation declaring him a “son of Birmingham” signed by the town’s mayor William A. Bell Sr.

Looks like Joe Don’s officially an Alabama guy now!

Rascal Flatts To Receive CRS Artist Humanitarian Award

Jeanna D. — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:36:19 +0000

As if we needed another reason to love Gary, Jay, and Joe Don!

Rascal Flatts have always been very involved in various charities throughout their career, and this year they are being honored at the Country Radio Seminar on February 22nd as the 2012 Artist Humanitarian Award recipients.

The trio donated $3 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt’s Pediatric Surgery Center in 2010. The super group also serves as spokespersons for the national suicide prevention organization, The Jason Foundation, and have been members of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet for seven years.

CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne stated:

“The board is very pleased to honor Rascal Flatts with the CRS Artist Humanitarian Award. They join a long, distinguished list of celebrities who have received this prestigious award since it was instated in 1990.”

The CRS Artist Humanitarian Award was created to honor country music artists who have displayed extraordinary humanitarian efforts during their career. Past recipients of the award include Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, among others.

CRS will be held February 22-24 in Nashville. Visit www.countryradioseminar.com for more information.

Congratulations to Rascal Flatts on this deserving honor!

Rascal Flatts Become Grand Ole Opry Members As The Opry Turns 86

Jeanna D. — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 02:20:13 +0000

It was a celebration at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville last night.

As the Opry marked its 86th birthday, Rascal Flatts were officially inducted as members into the Opry family.

The trio could not have been more appreciative of this distinguished honor. Before they took the stage, Gary, Jay, and Joe Don reflected on the occasion.

Gary LeVox: It is so humbling to carry the Opry flag. There’s no higher pinnacle.

Jay DeMarcus: One of the titles we’re most proud of is members of the Grand Ole Opry.

Joe Don Rooney: We are humbled by this and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us and the Grand Ole Opry.

The group was inducted by Opry member Little Jimmy Dickens and Opry general manager Pete Fisher. They also received a surprise congratulatory video message from President George W. Bush, who acknowledged the group’s exceptional dedication to music, the community, as well as our country and armed services.

Congratulations, once again, to Rascal Flatts on this career milestone!

Check out the video of the induction below:

Joe Don Rooney Joining American Century Championship Golf Tournament

Lydia Picknell — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:45:58 +0000

Joe Don Rooney has announced plans to compete in the American Century Championship Celebrity Golf Tournament July 15th to the 17th. The tournament will be hosted for the second year at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Club. He’ll be one of 75 other celebrities from all over the United States competing. It will be the sixth straight year that the charity tournament is LIVESTRONG.

Michael Jordan and Ray Romano are some of the other stars slated to join the tournament. Rooney is the only country star announced at this time.

The event will be aired live on VERSUS on Friday, July 15th from 4 to 7 pm EST, and on NBC Sports on Saturday, July 16th and 17th from 3 to 6 pm EST.

For more information on the tournament, see the official website.