The Weird Story About How Rascal Flatts Got Their Name

Rascal Flatts has risen from the ashes like a phoenix. Back and better than ever, the iconic country music group is set to embark on its 25th Anniversary Life is a Highway Tour on February 13. Rascal Flatts’ touring hiatus has been five years in the making, as the last time they performed live was in 2019 before their Farewell Tour was canceled due to the pandemic.

Regardless of cancellations or hiatuses, they are back now! The band takes credit for 2000’s hits such as “Life Is a Highway” and “My Wish,” and consequently, created moments that would become pure nostalgic gold. In regards to their past, some might need some refreshers on some good Rascal Flatts’ stories. That being so, here is one of the best—The time they obtained their name by signing a cocktail napkin in a Nashville bar.

The Closing of Rascal Flatts’ Musical Birthplace

Back in 2014, the band sat down with the Today Show’s, Lester Holt, to discuss the closing of Nashville’s Fiddle and Steel Guitar Bar in Printers Alley. In the interview, the band attributed their start to the opportunity the bar gave them, as Jay Demarcus told a story about him and his cousin, Gary LeVox, starting at the bar. Demarus said the owner “came up to us and said, ‘What are you guys doing? We’d like to give you guys Tuesday nights.” And well, Rascal Flatts got their first solidified gig.

Thanks to their performances at the bar the group finally scored a record deal with Disney’s Lyric Street Records. Given their history with Fiddle and Steel Guitar Bar Rascal Flatts had a deep affinity for the venue. Thus, when they heard it was closing Demarcus said, “It’s really really heartbreaking” and “It’s going to be an emotional night.” In addition to the bar gifting them their career, it also gifted them something else–Their name.

The Cocktail Napkin Contract

It was seemingly some random night when an audience member saw Rascal Flatts perform at the Nashville bar. After their set, the unassuming bystander invited them over and had a career-changing suggestion. He told the band, “I had a band in the ’60s. We did Bar Mitzvahs and high school dances and we called ourselves ‘Rascal Flatts.’”

A lightbulb turned on in the members’ heads, and the two parties wrote up an impromptu contract on a napkin. They would then sign the napkin and obtain ownership of the now iconic name by paying the man $5,000. LeVox said, “I think that’s what we did with our signing bonus…Paid for our name on a napkin.” A legendary story that hopefully gets some limelight on their upcoming anniversary tour.

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