The best selling and most awarded country group of the decade, Rascal Flatts, wrapped a year-long celebration of their 10th anniversary year with a performance at the Grand Ole Opry tonight. To top off their Opry appearance, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean presented the band with an official city proclamation for their devotion to and support in the Nashville community in the past few years, a presentation most fitting on the city’s most famous stage. Rascal Flatts received a standing ovation by the Opry audience after the proclamation was read.

Nashville Mayor Presents Proclamation On Stage of the Ryman Auditorium During Opry Appearance

“This is such a privilege to be here tonight to thank you in person for all that you do for the community and for the children in this city,” said Mayor Dean. “Thank you so much Mayor,” remarked Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts. “We love calling Nashville home and thank everyone in this city who have helped us help the community and for being a part of our career.”

The proclamation recognizes the band for their numerous charitable endeavors and honors, many locally based in Nashville, including the Jason Foundation and the Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, where they were recently honored by the naming rights for the hospital’s only pediatric surgery center, “The Rascal Flatts Surgery Center.” The proclamation also stated additional efforts as previous recipients of the “Shining Star Award” by the Make A Wish Foundation and the Harmony Award presented by the Nashville Symphony, as both honors took place in Nashville.

Rascal Flatts, Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, have been blessed with a prosperous career. They have sold 20 million albums, 25 million digital downloads and placed 12 #1 singles and 24 Top Ten singles. They have more titles in Billboard’s Top 100 Songs of the Decade than any other group in the format. Their new release on Big Machine Records, Nothing Like This, debuted at #1 on the Country Albums chart, making them one of only four acts to have 6 consecutive albums debut in the top spot this decade. Rascal Flatts is also the most awarded country group of the new Millennium with nearly 40 trophies from the Academy of Country Music, American Music Awards, Country Music Association, People’s Choice Awards and more. In concert, Rascal Flatts continues to be one of the hottest touring acts of the decade with more venue attendance records than any other country act. They have played over 400 dates as a headline act, over 700 shows since 2000, with a ticket tally of nearly 6 million, including two sold-out stadium concerts at Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Columbus’ Crew Stadium.