A Dream Come True! by Emily Noxon I LOVE RASCAL FLATTS!!!! Singing with them was what I thought it would be and more! The Gibson tour bus came to pick me up from my hotel and it was incredible! Leather seats, sweet guitars, big screen TVs, a piano, a jukebox, shower, beds and an awesome driver named Robert. He was so cool! He had just had his "Lucille" signed by B.B. King and it hung there for everyone to see. We got to the venue and the bus was parked next to all the other buses. There were at least 10 of them! Every time I go to a concert I think to myself, "Oh, I wish I could go back there." This time, I was back there and people walking by were thinking that when they saw me!! It was so surreal!! Ashley Heron from Lyric Street records came to the bus to take me to the sound check. They switched the song I was supposed to sing from "What Hurts the Most" to "Bless the Broken Road". It's a good thing I'm a fan and know the words to all of their songs! I walked on the stage and Joe Don walked up to me and hugged me! We chatted for a minute and I told him how excited I was for this. He introduced me to the band and they started playing. Jay came up and welcomed me and I was trying so hard to keep myself composed. I couldn't believe I was practicing with Rascal Flatts! I started singing and out of nowhere Gary appeared. The best part was them treating me like a musician. I really felt like part of the band and that they respected me. The sound check was SO cool! We even got to have dinner with Jay's mom. She is so fantastic and classy. She told us how proud she is of the guys. And, she told us some of Jay's embarrassing moments but she made me promise not to tell. Hehehe. We went back to the bus so I could change for the private meet and greet. Yeah, private. Ashley came back to get us and took us to the VIP room where we waited for the guys. They are so great. They are funny and friendly and it's no wonder why everyone loves them. They gave me an autographed Les Paul Studio guitar and Joe Don even taught me a chord!
We were in the pit for the concert. I didn't want to miss the beginning and I am glad I didn't. Rascal Flatts always rocks the house and this was no exception. All three of them saw me in the pit and waved and it made me happy. Ashley walked me backstage before I was supposed to go on and they put my ear buds in and handed me my microphone. It said "Gary 2" on it. I was holding Gary's mike!!! I was getting so excited. Everyone was asking me if I was nervous but I wasn't. I was too excited to be nervous. I had waited my whole life for this!
The song started and I was waiting off stage. Gary said my name and I walked out and the crowd went nuts! They didn't even know me and they were screaming for me! I sang my little heart out and it was everything I had hoped for. The crowd sang along and actually wanted to touch me! It was so exhilarating and I can't describe the emotions I felt. Singing is my passion and being on stage is where I FEEL that passion. Rascal Flatts knows what that feels like and they are so lucky to be doing it full time. As I was leaving the stage Gary hugged me and so did Jay. Then, Jay grabbed my arm and pulled back out to the middle. Joe Don high 5'd me and I could have cried. The guys have the best fans in the world. This experience has been such a thrill and I met some of the nicest people that I never would have met otherwise. I couldn't have asked for anything more.