Oklahoma-bred Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney made honorary Ohioan for a day

First Lady of Ohio Karen Kasich, second from right, poses for a photo with the members of Rascal Flatts, from left, Joe Don Rooney, Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus.

Rascal Flatts took their “Change Tour” to Columbus, Ohio over the weekend, the hometown and home state of band members Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus. Not wanting to leave out bandmate Joe Don Rooney, the First Lady of Ohio Karen Kasich proclaimed him an honorary “Ohioan” for the day and shared “buckeye” candy with the country music superstars.

The trio’s guitarist, Rooney was born in Baxter Springs, Kan., and raised in Picher.

Rascal Flatts’ “Changed Tour” will continue this weekend in North Charleston, S.C.; Greensboro, N.C.; and Charlottesville, Va. with The Band Perry and Kristen Kelly opening.

The tour includes an Aug. 10 stop at Tulsa’s BOK Center. As previously reported, the Tulsa show was originally scheduled for Jan. 18 but postponed due to illness.

For more information on the Tulsa show, go to www.bokcenter.com.

-BAM