MIAMI, Okla. –
Joe Don Rooney, guitarist for the Grammy-nominated country trio Rascal Flatts, has officially joined the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
Rooney was inducted over the weekend during a ceremony in Miami, the town where he was raised. The event marked a full-circle moment for the musician, who received a heartfelt welcome from his hometown crowd.
Organizers and fans described Rooney as humble and appreciative throughout the ceremony, celebrating not only his career accomplishments but also his deep Oklahoma roots.
The Hall of Fame, based in Muskogee, honors artists who have made significant contributions to music while representing Oklahoma’s rich musical heritage. Rooney now joins a long list of legendary inductees whose influence spans genres and generations.
“Congratulations, Joe Don Rooney, and welcome to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame family,” the organization wrote in a social media post after the event.
Rooney is best known as lead guitarist for Rascal Flatts, one of the most successful country groups of the 2000s, with hits like “Bless the Broken Road” and “Life is a Highway.”
