Rascal Flatts just announced the release of Twenty Years of Rascal Flatts The Greatest Hits, coming out on October 2. The 20-track collection includes some of the trio’s biggest, and most personal, songs over the years, including “My Wish,” which has taken on an entirely different meaning, especially for Jay DeMarcus, in the 14 years since it was released.
“You know, I always viewed that as my mother’s song to me, who had sacrificed so much for me growing up,” the father of two shared with Everything Nash and other outlets, at a recent virtual media event. “Putting me through private schools, working three jobs. And I always envisioned her singing that to me whenever we would do that song. Now, of course, years later, with an almost ten-year-old and an eight-year-old, it takes on a whole different meaning for me. Now it’s a song to my kids.”
Joe Don Rooney echoed Jay’s sentiments, revealing that “My Wish” also impacted him differently, since he became a father of three as well.
“‘My Wish’ is one of those [songs] that, I remember singing it on stage, performing it, before having children,” he recounted. “And now it takes on such a whole new meaning, being a father now, and a husband.”
For lead singer Gary LeVox, one of the most meaningful songs for him over the past two decades is “I’m Moving On,” although not just because of the song’s massive success.
“I mean, that’s what took us to our first gold record,” Gary shared. “And you know, our first gold record party happened on 9/11, so we had to cancel. And so that just brings up a flood of emotions every time. Looking back on that song and just remembering where we were when we cut it, it became this — I mean, pastors were using it in church.
Alcoholics Anonymous, they were using it in AA and the 12 Step programs,” he added. “This song just became bigger than us, and so that’s the one I look back on and just go, ‘Wow.’”
All three band members admit it was hard knowing which songs to put on their new record, and which ones to leave out, especially since Rascal Flatts announced earlier this year that they were disbanding.
“When we were putting together the track listing for this it was an emotional but nostalgic feeling getting a chance to look back during this anniversary year,” Gary said in a statement. “We hope that our fans feel the same way when they listen to it. This release and this year as a band is all a huge thank you and celebration for them.”
Rascal Flatts have yet to decide if they will reschedule their Life is a Highway farewell tour, which was canceled because of COVID-19. Pre-order Twenty Years of Rascal Flatts The Greatest Hits at RascalFlatts.com.