So here’s a story that only Blake would tell, a story about how he ended up being so close with Reba’s family. Reba’s husband, Narvel Blackstock, is her manager, and his son Brandon is Blake’s manager. How did that happen? When Blake was opening for Rascal Flatts a few years back, Brandon was their tour manager. One of his reponsibilities was to help the guys do their “business” in between the last song in the show and the encore. You know how it is, they play the last song, we all cheer for a minute and then they come back to do more. And if they have to relieve themselves at that point, Brandon is standing by with these milk jugs that they fill up.

So Blake’s backstage, and this guy comes walking up to him with milk jugs full of pee in each hand, saying, “Hey Blake! I want to be your manager!” Blake says he thought he was an idiot, but Brandon was persistent, so he talked Blake into hiring him, even after such a bizarre first impression. And now, Blake is up there at the CMAs thanking Reba and thanking Brandon for all the #1s….songs, that is.

Rascal Flatt’s new song, “Why Wait” is all about running off and tying the knot with your girl, so what better place to do a video for it than Las Vegas?  The boys have released a few pics from the shoot, and let me tell you they are sporting a full rainbow of polyester pastel tones.  Check it out:

That’s David Arquette and Ron White helping out, by the way…

Rascal Flatts got together yesterday to make 2 announcements, and depending on your outlook, one was way bigger than the other. If you are a music biz person, then it was a huge deal to learn that RF has left Lyric Street records after 10-plus years to join Big Machine. This is a huge deal for several reasons, but mainly because a few years back, Big Machine was a small deal in Nashville. Then the owner, Scott Borchetta, signed a girl named Taylor Swift and everything changed very quickly. Now he’s got Taylor, Reba and Rascal Flatts on his label, which officially makes him The Man.

Secondly, if you’re keeping track of the country baby boom, you’ll be excited to hear that the last Flatt to replicate, Jay DeMarcus, says that the baby on the way is a girl! Weird country baby trivia: Jay’s wife has a sister named Amy, who is married to James Otto, and who is also expecting a girl. So the girls will be little country star cousins!

Gary LeVox already had a daughter when his band, Rascal Flatts, got their start. The next guy to procreate was Joe Don, whose wife is now expecting their second child. And now, the last of the three Rascal Flatts to start a family has caved! Jay DeMarcus and his wife Allison have announced that after 6 years of marriage they are expecting their first kid in January. Jay says that “I am confident Ali will be a wonderful mother because she has done an incredible job raising me over the past six years.” Allison was Miss Tennessee in 1999 and Miss Tennessee USA in 2002.

Forbes magazine released their annual Celebrity 100 list, which rates famous people based on their earnings, how much they’re in the public eye, etc.  This year, the highest ranking country star by far is Taylor Swift.  Not only did she pull in about 45 million bucks, Forbes says she’s one of the few music acts who can still actually sell music.  Kenny Chesney is the next country star on the list, but he’s slipped from #31 last year to #54 this year.  Forbes says Kenny makes about $1.6 million per show, which is almost double his closest $-per-show competition, Keith Urban.  Rascal Flatts also make the list at #62, Toby Keith’s at #67 and Keith Urban clocks in at #76.  See the full list here.

They’re all getting stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year.  The Flatts join the Muppets, the Go-Gos, Oprah Winfrey and more on the list for stars in 2011.  Jay DeMarcus says, “There are only a few things I can think of that are as big of an honor….This is the kind of stuff you dream of growing up as a kid.”  Congrats, gents.

We’ve known Rascal Flatts since the beginning of their career, and so we know they are very, very funny and goofy.  Here’s an interview that gives you just a little taste of the goofiness:

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….these pictures of Joe Don Rooney and Gary LeVox. I present to you the link, even though it makes me feel kind of dirty to link you to this cheesy website.  I show you the pictures because they are causing a stir, but also because if you see them, you will realize that they don’t really prove anything. The person who posted them claims the her “friends” in the pictures have been bragging about their one-nighter with Gary and Joe Don (who are both married), and that they have more revealing pictures that they are “embarrassed” to show. Hmmmmm….it may very well be a ploy to drive traffic to this website (I know, I’m part of the problem!)…they could very well have just found some kind of sloppy, semi-drunken photos of the boys out at some meet and greet type deal at a club and decided to create a story around them. Or maybe these other pictures will be released and we’ll really know what happened. I’m just telling you so you know.   I also find it disturbing that everyone is fixated on how these girls are too “ugly” to be telling the truth about the hook-up. 

What do you think?  Click on the “Comment” link above and let it fly.

Am I the only one who likes the show this season?  I just find the variety kind of refreshing.  So it was fun to see everyone’s take on Shania songs last night.  And I thought Shania did a good job of mentoring.  In fact, I think she’s a lot mellower and warmer since her split with the hubby. 

And a reminder that tonight there’s more country on there.  Rascal Flatts perform live, Lady A performs taped, and a brand-new band called Sons of Sylvia will perform, which I would say is a major score for a band that no one knows yet.  All tonight at 9 on Fox 12.

I told you that Shania will be the mentor next week on Idol as the finalists sing her songs.  Now they’ve added more country to the results show, which will be next Wednesday:  Lady Antebellum and Rascal Flatts.  Lady A will sing “Need You Now,” which may or may not be the pre-recorded version they already did.  Rascal Flatts will sing “Unstoppable” and also help Shakira out with a song….huh?  Remember Shakira’s big hit “My Hips Don’t Lie?”  No?  Well anyway, she’s a Colombian songstress along the lines of Britney Spears.  Should be interesting.