You really should stop being so arrogant and rude. Get a life and follow an artist you like. YOU were the one who posted the bash, I only defended it. I suggest you stop bad mouthing people you know nothing about.

First off, the Flatts have many great live performances; just because you don’t search for them does not mean they are not out there.

Gary only goes “missing” to give Jay and Joe Don their time on stage to do solos; it happens at EVERY show.

As for you claiming not to be a fan? Well, it’s pretty obvious by everything you posted before that…your need to spell it out seems like a desperate need for attention.

Gary, Jay, and Joe Don DO write their own songs. Just because they don’t write all of them does not make them less authentic. George Strait is a country music legend, and he’s never written a song in his life! Kenny Chesney does not write the majority of his material; same with Tim Mcgraw and Carrie Underwood.

On the debut album, Gary co-wrote “See Me Through” and Jay co-wrote “It’s Not Just Me”

On Melt Jay co-wrote “Too Good Is True,” Gary co-wrote “i Melt,” Joe Don co-wrote “Like I Am” and all three wrote “Shine On.”

On Feels Like Today Gary co-wrote “Fast Cars and Freedom,” Jay co-wrote “Here’s To You,” and all three wrote “Oaklahoma Texas Line, while Joe Don co-wrote “Break Away.”

On Me and My Gang Jay co-wrote “To Make Her Love Me,” the guys co-wote “Peices” and Joe Don co-wrote “Cool Thing.”

On Still Feels Good, Gary co-wrote “Bob That Head” and “Still Feels Good.” All three wrote “She Goes All The Way,” and “Winner At A Losing Game.” Jay co-wrote “No Reins.”

On Unstoppable Jay co-wrote the tittle track, Gary co-wrote “Summer Nights” and “Things That Matter.”

Also, these guys don’t let others write their songs for them. If you look at the songs I mentioned, you’ll notice that their names usually come before the prominate songwriter. To determine how much was contributed by each writer, it goes in order by name…The guys never come last.

Taylor Swift has an eight-note range. Gary has at least a one to two octiave range. Not great, but better than her. She writes only about teenage love. RF sings about adult love and real life (small towns, family, and loss.)

These guys make their own history and break thier own records; their obviously TALENTED enough for the 1-2 million people who pay close to $100 to see them LIVE every year, and purchase their cds and downloads.

As far as a group, it’s hard not to say that Rascal Flatts will win. However, I think Lady A has had a hugely successful year since winning their New Artist Award last year by finally earning their first number 1 song (which came way later than it should have) and their first gold album. On the other hand, RF is still churning out big hits. It’ll be interesting to see if Lady A or even ZBB (as much as I dislike them) can pull off the upset.

Who cares if they didn’t play on their first album? They are not the first ones in history.

Unlike boy bands, Rascal Flatts have produced eight of their albums, write many of thier own songs (including several on their debut), play their own insturements, and design their own stage show.

All the members of Rascal Flatts have incredible voices as well. Both NSync and the BackStreet Boys had ONE lead vocalist, because only one could be the lead.

Rascal Flatts don’t rely on dance moves and TEENAGE love songs to gain fans.

They have mature, adult love songs, and they sing about more than love.

What boybands sing about making love to their significant other? (“I Melt, “She Goes All The Way”). What boybands sing about small towns, famliy life, adult lost love and faith?(“Mayberry,” “Things That Matter,” “These Days”, “He Ain’t The Leaving Kind”).

Nysnc and the Backstreet Boys fell off the face of the earth after ten years. Rascal Flatts have been around almost as long, and they are only gaining popularity. They have played to millions of the fans the last three years, and they are having consistent album sales and radio play.

They consistently break touring records set by country legends, and they have a place in history when it comes to country bands.

What was the comparison again

What Rascal Flatts has done in the past sales wise should have NOTHING to do with nominations for this year. The award shows are supposed to follow specific period of time, not past marks. In the specific time RF has sold around 1 million of the albums released in that eligibility period (the GH and “Unstoppable” albums) compared to ZBB’s nearly 900,000. Go on these numbers alone and Zac Brown Band SHOULD be in contention for the group award, even if they aren’t likely to win it. That’s where Rascal Flatts’ past helps them. Lady Antebellum has sold less than either but the industry genuinely likes them and may be ready to move “past” Rascal Flatts, even if it’s just for one year.

I still don’t think they have nearly enough to beat the Flatts though.

18 million albums, consistent tour numbers (in the millions for the last few years), and consistent radio singles.

ZBB is too new; their success deserves a New Artist nomination at best.