The Ugly Details Of Rascal Flatts Guitarist Joe Don Rooney's Divorce
The following article includes mentions of substance abuse.
Some celebs manage to protect their personal life while leading successful careers, while others are unable to prevent their private business from overlapping with their work. Unfortunately for guitarist Joe Don Rooney, he falls in the latter category. In January 2020, Rascal Flatts announced its disbandment after more than two decades together. "There is no sadness. Just new chapters, new journeys, and new beginnings," the country pop band captioned a Facebook post.
But their farewell tour, Life Is A Highway, was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing fans and bandmates from properly saying goodbye. A year later, however, lead vocalist Gary LeVox suggested their parting wasn't exactly sadness-free. "I've never been OK with the way that it ended," he told People in October 2021. LeVox went on to name culprits, giving us an idea of what had really happened. "I was never OK with... I wasn't happy that Joe Don quit," LeVox concluded, after hesitating to finish the sentence.
So, apparently, it was the guitarist who broke up Rascal Flatts. And according to some sources, Rooney has been declining requests to go on a final tour. "The guys are begging him to do one last big tour together," an insider told Radar in January. "But Joe Don says no way!" Before Rascal Flatts fans start fuming at Rooney, though, they should know his decision reportedly has nothing to do with the band or his bandmates. Instead, Rooney doesn't want to play as a consequence of his messy divorce from model Tiffany Fallon.
Joe Don Rooney wants to prevent profits from going to his ex-wife
Nearly 15 years after tying the knot in April 2006, Joe Don Rooney quietly filed for divorce from Tiffany Fallon in January 2021, TMZ reported in January. Two years into it, the legal dissolution of their marriage remains far from over. Rooney and Fallon, who share three children born between 2008 and 2014, indicated the divorce would be difficult from the get-go. In April 2021, the 2005 Playmate of the Year responded to his petition with one in which she contended the guitarist's "inappropriate marital conduct" caused the end of the relationship, according to People.
This is where things got really ugly. In her filing, Fallon accused Rooney of abusing drugs and alcohol, which he denied. Then both brought up affairs, with Rooney pointing out Fallon had been seeing her personal trainer since before he filed for divorce. Fallon reportedly admitted to the affair but argued that her relationship with Rooney was already broken as a consequence of his behavior. "[Rooney] had fully withdrawn from their marital relationship due, [among other things], to habitual alcoholism and drug use," her document claimed.
Amid the back and forth, Rooney also admitted to adultery, but continued to deny his alcohol use caused the rift between them. Here is where Rooney's personal life affected his career. Because Fallon is requesting that Rooney pay her alimony in case Rascal Flatts goes on tour again, he is refusing to play again, according to Radar.
Joe Don Rooney has received treatment for alcohol dependence
The divorce filings also shed light into Joe Don Rooney's struggle with addiction. Documents contended the country musician spent four months in a Utah treatment facility, costing him a total of $315,800, People reported. Tiffany Fallon accused Rooney of keeping her in the dark about his decision, knowing she would suggest a less lavish solution. But Rooney hit back, claiming his team was behind the choice. "[No other options] would have benefitted [his] recovery in the same manner," he claimed in court documents.
Rooney's extramarital affair happened during his rehab stat, which made Fallon question his motives for seeking treatment. "[Rooney] has admitted to engaging in an ongoing sexual affair with another facility patient while he was there for his incredibly expensive therapy, calling into question his dedication to the program," a court document she filed read. In September 2021, Rooney was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Tennessee, according to Fox News.
In June 2022, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two days in jail, The Tennessean reported. According to Fallon, Rooney's conviction proved her claims that his alcohol use had gotten in the way of their marriage. Rooney denied this claim, arguing he completely abstained for four months in 2020 when she asked him to. Rooney and Fallon are set to appear in court on March 28. With the way divorce proceedings are going, it's not looking like Rooney will agree to that Rascal Flatts reunion anytime soon.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).