Rascal Flatts Apologizes for ACM Lip-Synching

Rascal Flatts is well-known and loved for its sweet melodies and harmonies, usually delivered pitch-perfect to their crowds of adoring fans. However, when the trio performed its new single, “Rewind,” at last weeks Academy of Country Music Awards, things seemed a little too flawless.

Critics were quick to pick up — and comment —on the fact that the band probably was lip-synching their way through the high-profile appearance. (Yahoo Music’s own Chris Willman noted, “There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that what we were hearing was straight out of the studio.”)

Wisely, the Flatts didn’t even try to skirt — or, worse, blow off — what was obvious. Last week, the band posted an apology on their social media, admitting to lip-synching due to lead singer Gary LeVox losing his voice shortly before the telecast. “We’ve never done it before, and we obviously aren’t very good at it,” they observed.

Some might find it admirable that the boys were determined not to disappoint their fans and soldiered on (albeit with considerable help), but reaction was definitely mixed… ranging from a warm understanding, to exasperation with the scandal overall, to outright anger.

This certainly isn’t the first time a high-profile band has done the fake-out thing on a high-profile show. Just two months ago, the Red Hot Chili Peppers owned up to miming their performance on a considerably huger telecast than the ACM Awards: the 2014 Super Bowl halftime show. As bassist Flea explained, quality issues were the root cause: “There was not any room for argument on this, the NFL does not want to risk their show being botched by bad sound, period,” he noted in an open letter. “Our only thought was to bring the spirit of who we are to the people.”