Rascal Flatts guitarist and singer Joe Don Rooney turned to social media on Friday (Sept. 13) to reveal that he is now three years sober.
The musician posted on X to thank fans for their birthday wishes, revealing that the date also holds another special significance for him.
“It’s been a heckuva journey for me the past 3 years. Not only is today my born date – but today is also my 3 year sobriety date,” he writes.
“I’m grateful and my heart is so full of love and appreciation today. God is so GOoD!!” Ronney adds. “Anyone out there who might be struggling with addiction, please know there is light at the other end of that long seemingly endless small tunnel.”
Rooney was arrested and charged with drunk driving in September of 2021, after he crashed his car into a tree in the early morning hours. He remained mostly out of the spotlight until Jan. 3, 2024, when he shared a long update, confirming that he and his wife, model Tiffany Fallon, had divorced and revealing that he spent four months in rehab after pleading guilty to DUI.
Rooney admitted that he had abused alcohol for years prior to the incident, writing, “I was not a good father — I was not a good husband — and I was not a good bandmate to my business partners … I probably would’ve never taken responsibility for any of this if it hadn’t been for my car wreck on Sep 9, 2021.”
Rascal Flatts’ scheduled farewell tour in 2020 got canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the group broke up before they could reschedule. Singer Gary LeVox later revealed that Rooney had quit the band. Bassist and vocalist Jay DeMarcus has said that he would love to play with his former bandmates again.
The trio have been hinting at new plans via social media in recent days, sparking fan speculation that they might be preparing to reunite for a tour.
Country Stars Who Battled Addiction
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
Sterling Whitaker is a Senior Writer and Senior Editor for Taste of Country. He focuses on celebrity real estate, as well as coverage of Yellowstone and related shows like 1883 and 1923. He’s interviewed cast members including Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Sam Elliott and Harrison Ford, and Whitaker is also known for his in-depth interviews with country legends including Don Henley, Rodney Crowell, Trace Adkins, Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs and more.