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Shotgun Angels: My Story of Broken Roads and Unshakeable Hope
Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts reveals the untold stories of his journey--from obscurity to becoming one of America's most successful and beloved country music artists--that will rally your own courage to find hope where you least expect it. From his humble beginnings in Ohio to the spark of early fame in Nashville to a fair share of surprises and setbacks, Jay has learned firsthand that the blessing only comes through the broken road. Shotgun Angels details his path to celebrated heights, as well as the hope instilled in him at a young age that started it all--a hope that sustained him when it looked like his music career was over and continues to fuel him today. As you discover more about Jay and his incredible story, you'll be encouraged With no shortage of humor, heart, and off-the-cuff candor, Jay gives you a backstage pass to the story behind the music and the musician. You'll follow his intensely personal journey through big breaks, broken dreams, desperate dashboard prayers, and limelight glories. Along the way, you'll find the same constant source of strength that he has--hope that's powerful enough to hold you up through whatever trials come your way. Praise for Shotgun Angels : "We all get asked at one time or another, 'How did this happen for you?' Usually our answers are uncomfortably awful. But Jay DeMarcus has dug deep inside to look not at his career but at himself. Such a rare look inside has created a rare book. Enjoy." --Cris Collinsworth, NBCSports broadcaster and former NFL wide receiver
240 pages, Hardcover
Published April 30, 2019
37 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 6, 2019
I loved it and a definite must read. I love Rascal Flatts and it was really cool to see Jay's road to where he is today. Go grab a copy and read it!
May 21, 2019
http://bookishdevices.com/2019/05/21/...
I have loved Rascal Flatts from the moment I heard their first song, "Prayin' For Daylight," back in 2000. Nineteen years later, I've seen the group in concert 10+ times and love them still. The first time I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. I had no idea I would walk away as if I had just been to church. That I would walk away full of hope. This was not what I expected but in the very best way.
I highly the audiobook! Clocking in at just under 5 hours, this book is a quick and powerful read. Jay — I feel like we're on a first name basis now :) — narrates and does a fantastic job! I felt as if we were sitting down for a nice chat. Well, he was doing all the talking, I was kicked back enjoying the story ;)
Don't pick up this book expecting a Rascal Flatts story. If you do, you'll be disappointed. Of course they're mentioned because they're a part of Jay's life, but this is Jay DeMarcus' story, not the Rascal Flatts story.
Shotgun Angels allows readers to get to know the serious side of Jay. But have no fear! If you love Jay for his humor, there is plenty of that too. This book was a great reminder that no matter the person or their celebrity status, all of us are human and go through rough patches. I'm in awe of Jay for putting himself out there this way.
I didn't find the stories of hope and faith preachy. I truly enjoyed that Jay was completely honest and forthcoming about everything. I found the sharing of his "nuggets of hope" inspiring and uplifting.
If this book left me longing for anything, it's similar books from Gary and Joe Don. Their voices, their songs but also their faith continues to draw me to Rascal Flatts. I want to know everything about all of them. Y'all, these guys can SING! If you've never heard one of their songs, fix that now :)
Jay, THANK YOU for sharing your heart and your faith! I walk away encouraged to keep on keeping on and that there is always a nugget of hope right around the corner.
Reader friends, if you need a bit of encouragement, it's right here in the pages of Shotgun Angels. Get yourself to a bookstore ASAP!
I have loved Rascal Flatts from the moment I heard their first song, "Prayin' For Daylight," back in 2000. Nineteen years later, I've seen the group in concert 10+ times and love them still. The first time I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. I had no idea I would walk away as if I had just been to church. That I would walk away full of hope. This was not what I expected but in the very best way.
I highly the audiobook! Clocking in at just under 5 hours, this book is a quick and powerful read. Jay — I feel like we're on a first name basis now :) — narrates and does a fantastic job! I felt as if we were sitting down for a nice chat. Well, he was doing all the talking, I was kicked back enjoying the story ;)
Don't pick up this book expecting a Rascal Flatts story. If you do, you'll be disappointed. Of course they're mentioned because they're a part of Jay's life, but this is Jay DeMarcus' story, not the Rascal Flatts story.
Shotgun Angels allows readers to get to know the serious side of Jay. But have no fear! If you love Jay for his humor, there is plenty of that too. This book was a great reminder that no matter the person or their celebrity status, all of us are human and go through rough patches. I'm in awe of Jay for putting himself out there this way.
I didn't find the stories of hope and faith preachy. I truly enjoyed that Jay was completely honest and forthcoming about everything. I found the sharing of his "nuggets of hope" inspiring and uplifting.
If this book left me longing for anything, it's similar books from Gary and Joe Don. Their voices, their songs but also their faith continues to draw me to Rascal Flatts. I want to know everything about all of them. Y'all, these guys can SING! If you've never heard one of their songs, fix that now :)
Jay, THANK YOU for sharing your heart and your faith! I walk away encouraged to keep on keeping on and that there is always a nugget of hope right around the corner.
Reader friends, if you need a bit of encouragement, it's right here in the pages of Shotgun Angels. Get yourself to a bookstore ASAP!
August 8, 2019
while i appreciated the story that Jay shared with us and the insight into his background, i rated this book a two only because of the flow of it. it was hard to finish but i did because i knew it would contain inspirational content as well as a more in depth look into the life of one of the founders of the band we have come to love known as Rascal Flatts. The stories Jay shared about his life and beginnings are thoughtful, but i finished the book with a feeling left that yeah it was sweet and all, and I loved the aspect of how he always gives God glory for the moments of blessings in his life, but I closed the book feeling just, well, no different than I did when I opened it. I feel like there is a whole bunch that was left out and the story just couldn't ever flow nor have any significant meaning because there is too many details not given. I guess being left with more drop offs than story endings just did not do anything for me, but I still admire his willingness to share an important message. For that I am incredibly grateful for having purchased and read this book.
April 15, 2020
I’ve never been a huge fan of Rascal Flats and didn’t know anything about Jay in particular, but I picked this book up on a whim and found that I really enjoyed it. The ups and downs of Jay’s story make for a really engaging read and his overall message of hope in midst of hardship - whether from decisions you’ve made or things completely out of your control - really hit home with me.
Favorite Quote: “If you want to get noticed, you have to get a place to where you can get noticed.”
Favorite Quote: “If you want to get noticed, you have to get a place to where you can get noticed.”
November 15, 2019
I love Rascal Flatts and wanted something to listen to post- surgery. It was an okay listen. I wish it was better organized as that would help with flow and engagement. I did love his expression of faith and not giving up on God. It really inspired me.
August 18, 2022
Oh boy.
Rascal Flatts is my favorite band of all time so reading a book by one of its members seemed like a no-brainer. After having read it, though, I can honestly say that there would be little to no appeal from Jay's story had he not been part of Rascal Flatts. That isn't to say that I don't care or that I didn't find his story interesting and even enlightening, but the way that the book is framed as a story of learning from failure that morphs into a late-night local access cable channel sermon is pretty disappointing.
Early in his book, Jay says something to the effect of, "I'm a Christian and my faith is a very important part of who I am, but I'm not here to tell people what to think or how to live their lives." And he keeps his word until about 85% of the way into the book where he suddenly starts talking about how "we" owe so much to Christ or that Jesus has done so much for "us" and that our lives may not seem perfect--but as long as we believe and keep the faith, God has a plan for all of us. He even states, nearly verbatim, the old adage that "God works in mysterious ways." And that's all well and good, but that all follows a reiterative statement that Jay is not interested in telling people how to think or what to believe before taking a HARD left into Joel Osteen territory minus the scamming people out of their hard-earned money.
I'm not knocking Jay for being religious; it's not like it's news to anyone even remotely interested in Rascal Flatts music. But this book read a lot like Rascal Flatts' catalog: mostly secular with sprinkled religiosity here or there, then BOOM! "He Ain't the Leaving Kind" happens. It's oddly political, pointed at critics of state-sponsored religion, and the only one of RF's dozens of songs that I can't listen to anymore despite its top-5 guitar solo. It definitely reflects the guys' beliefs, but it feels so out of place among the rest of their music. The last chapter of Shotgun Angels similarly strikes me as belonging in a different book. But I digress.
The other disappointing part of the book comes early on when Jay explains that he won't really be talking about Rascal Flatts, because the band is just one part of his life and he is just one part of the band, and the other guys and he will tell their story if and when they decide to do so.
WHAT
The whole reason I bought the book was because I thought Jay seemed like a cool dude and I wanted to hear more about my favorite band, its inception, their songwriting process...anything. But it's all but nonexistent in the book. And yeah, I guess that isn't fair to Jay, since it is his story after all. The book is very short, and if you take out the preachy life lessons at the end, it's substantially briefer still.
Reading Jay's book is like spending time with a relative you've known all your life but who you don't always see eye-to-eye with. You still love them, but sometimes you wish they'd talk about something else.
Rascal Flatts is my favorite band of all time so reading a book by one of its members seemed like a no-brainer. After having read it, though, I can honestly say that there would be little to no appeal from Jay's story had he not been part of Rascal Flatts. That isn't to say that I don't care or that I didn't find his story interesting and even enlightening, but the way that the book is framed as a story of learning from failure that morphs into a late-night local access cable channel sermon is pretty disappointing.
Early in his book, Jay says something to the effect of, "I'm a Christian and my faith is a very important part of who I am, but I'm not here to tell people what to think or how to live their lives." And he keeps his word until about 85% of the way into the book where he suddenly starts talking about how "we" owe so much to Christ or that Jesus has done so much for "us" and that our lives may not seem perfect--but as long as we believe and keep the faith, God has a plan for all of us. He even states, nearly verbatim, the old adage that "God works in mysterious ways." And that's all well and good, but that all follows a reiterative statement that Jay is not interested in telling people how to think or what to believe before taking a HARD left into Joel Osteen territory minus the scamming people out of their hard-earned money.
I'm not knocking Jay for being religious; it's not like it's news to anyone even remotely interested in Rascal Flatts music. But this book read a lot like Rascal Flatts' catalog: mostly secular with sprinkled religiosity here or there, then BOOM! "He Ain't the Leaving Kind" happens. It's oddly political, pointed at critics of state-sponsored religion, and the only one of RF's dozens of songs that I can't listen to anymore despite its top-5 guitar solo. It definitely reflects the guys' beliefs, but it feels so out of place among the rest of their music. The last chapter of Shotgun Angels similarly strikes me as belonging in a different book. But I digress.
The other disappointing part of the book comes early on when Jay explains that he won't really be talking about Rascal Flatts, because the band is just one part of his life and he is just one part of the band, and the other guys and he will tell their story if and when they decide to do so.
WHAT
The whole reason I bought the book was because I thought Jay seemed like a cool dude and I wanted to hear more about my favorite band, its inception, their songwriting process...anything. But it's all but nonexistent in the book. And yeah, I guess that isn't fair to Jay, since it is his story after all. The book is very short, and if you take out the preachy life lessons at the end, it's substantially briefer still.
Reading Jay's book is like spending time with a relative you've known all your life but who you don't always see eye-to-eye with. You still love them, but sometimes you wish they'd talk about something else.
November 7, 2019
This book was a very pleasant surprise. When I first saw this book I wanted to read it due to the fact of having talked with Jay many times over the years. We had met at concerts and around Nashville through mutual friends back in the mid 90's, several years before Rascal Flatts was even a dream. I did not know much about his story before that point. As I read his journey I was better able to understand his whole story and marveled at the twists and turns brought about by "God moments". I have not crossed paths with Jay since the early days of Rascal Flatts before their rocket to fame lifted off. I do recall vividly a conversation with him and Joe Don Rooney about considering leaving Chely Wright's band to join with Jay's cousin (Gary LeVox) to form a group. That was a little unexpected at the time, yet somehow it seemed they were destined for great things. This book helped tie up some of the loose ends of what led to those decisions and others.
His is an amazing story and a great read by a first time author. There is great flow and Jay is transparent enough to pull you into his story to feel the pain, the tears, the joys and every other emotion he experienced. Laced throughout the entire story is how his faith carried him, even when he was running from God. He was able to still feel God's love and His hand upon his life. This story was written to share hope and inspire others as they chase their dreams or just as they make it from day to day. Jay realizes God , faith, friends, and family have carried him through his entire life both in the spotlight and out.
This is not a tell all book about Rascal Flatts, Chely Wright, Michael English, nor East to West. Instead, it is the journey of a simple man from a small town that recognized his God given gifts and felt the call upon his heart to pursue his dreams. There are some incredible events that helped nudge him back onto the road of "success". Around 23 years after first meeting Jay, it is wonderful to see him achieving his dreams. I know first hand he is not an overnight success, having seen him all over Nashville and the country working his butt off in dive bars, festivals, fairs and small clubs playing with various bands to hone his craft.
If you enjoy reading about someone over coming the odds, doubt and fears to achieve their dreams, then this is a read for you. Thank you Jay for being so open and honest about your journey. This story will inspire countless others to not give up. This book is an easy read and one that will quickly pull you into the story.
His is an amazing story and a great read by a first time author. There is great flow and Jay is transparent enough to pull you into his story to feel the pain, the tears, the joys and every other emotion he experienced. Laced throughout the entire story is how his faith carried him, even when he was running from God. He was able to still feel God's love and His hand upon his life. This story was written to share hope and inspire others as they chase their dreams or just as they make it from day to day. Jay realizes God , faith, friends, and family have carried him through his entire life both in the spotlight and out.
This is not a tell all book about Rascal Flatts, Chely Wright, Michael English, nor East to West. Instead, it is the journey of a simple man from a small town that recognized his God given gifts and felt the call upon his heart to pursue his dreams. There are some incredible events that helped nudge him back onto the road of "success". Around 23 years after first meeting Jay, it is wonderful to see him achieving his dreams. I know first hand he is not an overnight success, having seen him all over Nashville and the country working his butt off in dive bars, festivals, fairs and small clubs playing with various bands to hone his craft.
If you enjoy reading about someone over coming the odds, doubt and fears to achieve their dreams, then this is a read for you. Thank you Jay for being so open and honest about your journey. This story will inspire countless others to not give up. This book is an easy read and one that will quickly pull you into the story.
July 15, 2021
I picked this book up at the library because I'd seen Rascal Flatts in concert one time-- it was around 2002 and they were Toby Keith's opening act. Since I live fairly close to Nashville, I thought this would be a good "tell all book" about the music business. I was wrong, only about 1/3 was about Christian music/R. Flatts, the other 1/3 was about Jay's family and 1/3 about his religious beliefs. The book was well written, albeit in a kind of "aw shucks" kind of way. Jay's book/ life is sort of half secular, half religious (some early Pentacostal and most Church of Christ) which I find confusing to read. I didn't know hardly any of the Christian recording artists/songs he spoke of, so I sort of skipped over that part. I had to jog my memory to think back to the Michael English scandal, which was interesting because the two of them crossed professional paths. I wish he'd spoken more on the Chely Wright scandal, he also worked with her. I felt that he's had a whole lot more adventures in the music business that he didn't want to write about. The book felt more like a sanitized memoir and in his defense, I'll say he does take the high road and covers subjects in his life and people he's known in a very gentlemanly fashion.
June 7, 2019
What an incredible story of Hope and Grace. I love Jays transparency and honesty. He shares so many painful times, mixed with so many moments of grace.
He is amazing in so very many ways. It was awesome to get some behind the scenes insight to him and to Rascal Flatts. I have always been an incredibly huge fan and I completely agree that when they perform it’s like a church choir with everyone singing along. I cried through their last concert and now knowing more of Jay I’m sure my next concert will be even more emotional. Thank you Jay for sharing your incredible story and for reminding us all that we have shotgun angels!
He is amazing in so very many ways. It was awesome to get some behind the scenes insight to him and to Rascal Flatts. I have always been an incredibly huge fan and I completely agree that when they perform it’s like a church choir with everyone singing along. I cried through their last concert and now knowing more of Jay I’m sure my next concert will be even more emotional. Thank you Jay for sharing your incredible story and for reminding us all that we have shotgun angels!
July 26, 2021
What an inspiration. Jay Demarcus openly discusses his mistakes and his difficulties with faith in his early years and the book makes you feel like he is talking directly to you. I have made some of the same mistakes that he made as a teen/twentysomething and I have had the same types of struggles with my faith along the way, so it really touched closed to home. I appreciated his honesty and his insight on how he overcame his obstacles and continued to grow in his relationship with his band mates, family and, most importantly, God. This is the book to read if you want 'real life faith'. Thank you Jay for such a wonderful book.
July 9, 2020
Jay DeMarcus' message is to keep going no matter how many times you mess up and no mess is impossible for God and you to clean up. Wrong decisions can have devastating consequences. I like that message, but his tone is so upbeat that people may get the impression that being a "prodigal son" is a good for the experience. I guess it makes good country western song material.
I admit to having "older brother syndrome" from the prodigal son parable. I would rather steer kids away from the mistakes rather than promise that Jesus will come along and clean up after them.
I admit to having "older brother syndrome" from the prodigal son parable. I would rather steer kids away from the mistakes rather than promise that Jesus will come along and clean up after them.
December 5, 2022
I loved this. Jay DeMarcus opens up and shares his story with us, the highs, the lows and everything in between. I loved that Jay was completely honest. This was such a quick read, I couldn’t put it down. There are some serious parts but there is also some light relief of Jay’s humour thrown in. Religion is a big part of Jays life, so it’s mentioned a lot but it’s not preachy. My favourite parts were when he’s talks about his grandparents, it tugged my heart strings as I saw similarities with my own grandparents. Definitely a tale that inspires hope. A must read.
August 23, 2024
I did not know anything about Jay Demarcus or Rascal Flatts for that matter, so it was a very interesting read and fascinating how he navigated the turbulent waters of being a musician, singer and performer while traveling and trying to live a Christian life. I like his authenticity and how he was able to put the idea of God's grace and mercy with the gospel in his own words throughout the book. Makes me want to listen to some of their songs and lean into the message that maybe is there behind the country sound.
March 1, 2020
I enjoyed and was inspired by Jay's 'broken road' to fame. I found the way it was written, it kind of jumped around a bit. Back and forth in the story,but I guess the reason for that was tied together in the end. We all have our struggles and have our own ways of dealing. Jay shared some of his. He also shared his belief and how true friend connections are so valuable. A good true story of family, friends and faith. ❤
June 11, 2021
I did not really expect to like this biography, yet I found his simplistic candor appealing. I expected it to be more about his journey with Rascal Flatts but yet it’s highly personal. He shares his faults, his failures, his dreams and his unshakable belief in God. Jay’s story encourages hard work and building on failure. “Failure is never final.”
Jay simply reminds us that his life story is much like our own and life is better with God riding shotgun beside us.
Jay simply reminds us that his life story is much like our own and life is better with God riding shotgun beside us.
October 30, 2023
I recently heard Jay Demarcus of Rascall Flatts on Andy Chrisman's podcast, and I was immediately interested to learn more of his story. His biography is honest and authentic, inspiring, and a reminder of the power of hope. Even thought he is "famous," any person who struggles with life and their faith journey will relate. The last few weeks I have been battling anxiety, and his message of hope and grace were things that encouraged me and I felt like I read this book at just the right time!
June 3, 2019
Inspired and Hopeful
Jay Damascus tells his story of finding hope in situations where he didn't always make the wisest choices. His testimonial is very touching,sad at times,funny sometimes,but always sincere. He wanted his fans to know his journey so it could possibly help someone else in theirs. So glad I chose to be inspired by his journey.😃
Jay Damascus tells his story of finding hope in situations where he didn't always make the wisest choices. His testimonial is very touching,sad at times,funny sometimes,but always sincere. He wanted his fans to know his journey so it could possibly help someone else in theirs. So glad I chose to be inspired by his journey.😃
October 30, 2019
As a fan of Rascal Flatts, I enjoyed reading about Jay Demarcus’s life. It was an easy, uplifting read. Jay started out singing in a Christian band and was from Columbus, Ohio. Being from Cleveland, Ohio, his story caused me to reminisce about the places he performed at and orher Christian artists in the 1990s. It brought back some good memories for me. This book was also encouraging to see how his faith grew throughout his life.
May 26, 2020
If you want to read the inside scoop on Rascal Flatts, this is NOT the book, as Jay explains on the very first page: this is Jay's life journey. I respect his candor, spiritualism, and hard work ethic. However, I disagree with him when he disparages literacy in music. Being able to understand the meaning of those black marks on a page can only serve as an advantage to any musician.
November 9, 2020
Awesome book. Its not long, at a little over 200 pages. It was relatable and not preachy. He was refreshingly honest about his personal journey, sharing with the reader his human nature. One need not be a Christian to necessarily understand it. Country music readers will find some history in it, especially some Rascal Flatts history.
May 29, 2019
Great read, nice to hear a real story
My wife and I used God Bless the Broken Road as our wedding song. I had no idea the past, the joy, the pain that went into it. Very kind book.
My wife and I used God Bless the Broken Road as our wedding song. I had no idea the past, the joy, the pain that went into it. Very kind book.
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April 18, 2020Amazing book.
Full of honesty, humor and inspiration. I found it well written, compelling and hard to put down. I
would highly recommend this book. Thank you Jay for sharing your story!
Full of honesty, humor and inspiration. I found it well written, compelling and hard to put down. I
would highly recommend this book. Thank you Jay for sharing your story!
May 17, 2020
There was quite a lot I didn't know about Jay. I gained some insight into his life growing up and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I didn't know he met Allison on the music video shoot for These Days. This book is a quick read and for anyone that's a fan of Rascal Flatts, I highly recommend it.
June 18, 2019
Loved going along for the ride on this great book. I enjoyed getting an inside view of what Jay went through to get to where he is today.
June 26, 2019
Honest. Real. Appreciated the candidness.
September 3, 2019
Not very familiar with his music but loved the book!
January 5, 2020
I enjoyed reading about Jay's path to becoming the man he is today. There are so many little (big) moments in life that have the potential to change your life, if you've prepared.
May 11, 2020
This book kept my interest but left me wanting more all the same. I feel like Jay could have gone deeper in some of his stories and anecdotes.
June 16, 2020
Audiobook
September 18, 2021
Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews