RASCAL FLATTS ANNOUNCE 2012 TOUR

“Thaw Out 2012”

            Nashville - (Oct 17, 2011) -  The newest members of the Grand Ole Opry and CMA awards nominees, Rascal Flatts have announced their winter tour, “Thaw Out 2012,” with special guest Sara Evans and opener Hunter Hayes.  The tour will kick off in Charleston, West Virginia at the Civic Center Coliseum on January 12 and will run through February 18.

Rascal Flatts wrapped up touring for 2011 last month and critics across the nation touted this year's "Flatts Fest" was a thrilling experience for fans.  The Buffalo News claimed, "This band is incredibly tight and capable of conjuring up grandiose, emotion-filled moments." "Long considered one of the top touring acts in country music, Rascal Flatts proved the reputation was rightly deserved," said the Leader-Post.  Cmt.com shared the band "delivered an electric show full of special effects, big hits and a renewed sense of purpose…it's a testament to their talent that the band can keep the momentum going."

Rascal Flatts debuted their first album on Big Machine Records, NOTHING LIKE THIS, last fall at #1 on the country album sales chart and became one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at #1.  Since their musical debut in 2000, the band has sold over 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads and delivered 13 #1 singles to the top of the chart.  Rascal Flatts is the most awarded country group of the past decade with over 40 trophies from the American Country Awards, Academy of Country Music, American Music Awards, Country Music Association, People's Choice Awards and more.  Since their touring career began, they have sold over 6 million concert tickets.  They are currently nominated asVocal Group of The Year at the upcoming 45^th Annual CMA Awards, on the ABC Television Network Nov 9 and also received 3 nominations for the American Country Awards taking place Dec. 5, a iring on FOX.  For additional information on Rascal Flatts go to www.rascalflatts.com .

Multi-platinum RCA recording artist Sara Evans has been honored with numerous accolades, among them the 2005 ACM Female Vocalist of the Year and the CMA Video of the Year for "Born to Fly.” She has been named one of People Magazine’s "50 Most Beautiful People" and won the hearts of television viewers as the first-ever country star to compete in ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.  She enjoys a prolific recording career with nearly 6 million records sold and 5 chart toping # one Country singles including the self-penned “Born To Fly”.  2011 marks the release of Evan’s highly anticipated sixth studio album “Stronger” which debuted at #1 for two weeks and features the Platinum smash multi-week #1 single “A Little Bit Stronger.”  Evan’s also received award nominations for Single of the year and Female vocalist of the year at the upc oming CMA awards in November

Hunter Hayes, the Breaux Bridge, Louisiana multi-instrumentalist (acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, electric guitar, ganjo, mandolin, keys and more) is making some noise as he continues to draw attention from thousands of fans, industry. Billboard notes Hunter as “a prodigious talent…drawing on modern pop and country sounds – including Keith Urban, John Mayer, Rascal Flatts and Jason Mraz” and USA Today recently raved that “if this Louisiana singer is as good as this single [Storm Warning], he’s about to be a big country star.” His self-titled Atlantic Records debut album, which he kicked-off release week with his world-premiere national television debut on CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman of his hit single, “Storm Warning.” Hunter has co-written songs for renowned artist such as Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry and has shared the stage with Trace Adkins, Lady Antebellum, LeAnn Rimes, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban, to name a few. He recently wrapped-up touring with superstar Taylor Swift on her “SPEAK NOW World Tour 2011” and made his Grand Ole Opry debut.

“Thaw Out 2012”

1-12     Charleston WV            Charleston Civic Center Coliseum

1-13     Roanoke, VA               Roanoke Civic Center

1-14     Hershey, PA                Giant Center

1-19     Columbia, MO             Mizzou Arena

1-20     Peoria, IL                     Peoria Civic Center

1-21     Columbus, OH             Nationwide Arena

1-26     Albany, NY                 Times Union Center

1-27     Providence, RI             Dunkin’ Donuts Center

1-28     Atlantic City, NJ          Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall

2-9       Jacksonville, FL           Jacksonville Arena

2-10     Birmingham, AL          BJCC Arena

2-11     Little Rock, AR           Verizon Wireless Arena

2-17     Wilkes-Barre, PA         Mohegan Sun Arena

2-18     E Rutherford, NJ         Izod Center

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