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Joe Don Rooney

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Joe Don Rooney
Rooney at a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in September 2012
Rooney at a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in September 2012
Background information
Born (1975-09-13) September 13, 1975 (age 49)
Baxter Springs, Kansas, U.S.
OriginPicher, Oklahoma
Genres
OccupationSinger
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass guitar
  • mandolin
  • banjo
Years active1992–present
LabelsLyric Street, Big Machine
Member ofRascal Flatts
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2006; div. 2023)​

Joe Don Rooney (born September 13, 1975) is an American guitarist. He is the lead guitarist and high octave harmony singer in the country music band Rascal Flatts.

In addition to the electric guitar, Rooney plays the acoustic and bass guitars, as well as mandolin & banjo. His influences include guitarists Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.

Biography

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Joe Don Rooney's first band formed in 1992 under the name Uncle Thumbtack. In addition to Rooney playing lead guitar and singing backup harmony, this band included bass guitarist Gregory Fitzgibbon, acoustic guitarist Erin Fitzgibbon, drummer Colin Frayser, and rhythm guitarist Jason. Like future bandmate Jay DeMarcus, he also played in Chely Wright's band before Rascal Flatts.[citation needed] Rooney frequently jammed with family member musicians Justin Speer, Tracy Conder, and Jeramy Essary (to whom he later dedicated "I'm Movin' On").[citation needed]

In 2016, Rooney signed Dylan Brady to an artist development deal. Together, Brady and Rooney produced Brady's first single, "Shifting Gears," which was released in August 2018. In 2019, Rooney produced Brady's singles "Over Us" and "I Hate California."[1]

Personal life

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Rooney has struggled with alcohol abuse throughout his career, though became sober in 2021. In September 2024, he announced that he had maintained his sobriety for three years.[2]

Relationships

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Rooney married former beauty queen Tiffany Fallon on April 23, 2006.[3] She was Miss Georgia USA in 2001 and 2nd runner-up for the Miss USA 2001 competition. She was also the 2005 Playmate of the Year. The couple was featured in the Playboy Cyber Club's celebrity photographer section, with the nude pictorial of Fallon being shot by Rooney himself. The couple have three children: son Jagger Donovan Rooney (b. May 31, 2008) and daughters Raquel Blue Rooney (b. September 7, 2010) and Devon Olivia Rooney (b. September 25, 2014).[4][5][6] The couple separated in 2021 and the divorce was finalized in 2023.[7]

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On September 9, 2021, he was arrested for and charged in Tennessee with driving under the influence after crashing his vehicle into a tree line. He sustained no injuries in the crash. On June 1, 2022, Rooney pleaded guilty to the charges; he was sentenced to one year in jail, with all but two days of the sentence suspended, and the loss of his driver's license.[8]

Discography

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Main article: Rascal Flatts discography

References

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  1. ^ "Dylan Brady's Tourette Syndrome Advocacy Leads to Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney Co-Producing Single 'Over Us'". Country Music. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  2. ^ {{Cite web url=https://tasteofcountry.com/rascal-flatts-joe-don-rooney-three-years-sober/%7Ctitle=Rascal Flatts Guitarist Joe Don Rooney Celebrates Three Years of Sobriety|website=Taste of Country|date=September 14, 2024|access-date=November 29, 2024}}
  3. ^ "Rascal Flatts Guitarist Weds in Mexico". People.com. 26 April 2006. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Rascal Flatts Guitarist Welcomes a Son". People.com. 3 June 2006. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Meet Joe Don Rooney's Little Rascal, Raquel Blue". People.com. 1 December 2020. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Joe Don Rooney and Tiffany Fallon Welcome Daughter Devon Olivia". People.com. 2 December 2020. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney Finalizes Divorce from Wife Tiffany Fallon After More Than 2 Years of Legal Drama". People. December 4, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Garner, Glenn (4 June 2022). "Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney Pleads Guilty to DUI: Reports". People. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
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