JDR

Guitar slinger & singer, proud dad to (J)agger, (D)evon & (R)ocky.🤠Follow me on Insta - - thanks!

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

I’m sorry it’s been a while since I’ve posted on any socials. It’s actually been a couple years since I’ve engaged with fans and friends on Twitter (now X) or Instagram.
But I figured today, at the beginning of this brand new year 2024, would be a good day to send a message out to the world.

First off, I am alive!
There have been so many rumors and opinions thrown around about me - but I’m finally healthy and ready for the world. And NO, I’m not transitioning to be a woman.
That thought has never entered my mind. Nothing against the trans community whatsoever but I needed to set the record straight.

My life and career took a major detour at 4a in the early morning hours of Sep 9, 2021 when I ran square into a tree and about killed myself. I was drunk and I was so far gone with my life - I was completely out of control and finished with trying to fight the fears, depression and anxieties that had spun me out in a way I’ve never experienced before.

My drinking had been an issue for many years - and as they say in AA and treatment, it’s a progressive disease. I am living proof that the progressive nature of drinking can really ratchet up and as I grew older as an adult my drinking grew worse.

The pressures of my career and the many mistakes I made in regards to my home life, coupled with a lot of pain and trauma from my childhood and early on in my adult life, had become too much to bear.
I was not a good father - I was not a good husband - and I was not a good band mate to my business partners. I probably would’ve never taken responsibility for any of this if it hadn’t been for my car wreck on Sep 9, 2021.
And btw, going to jail sucks!

Fortunately, (and I truly believe this,) God lead me into that tree safely enough to not kill me - and luckily nobody else was involved and I didn’t injure or kill anyone.
I could literally be in a Federal Prison for life right now. That is the reality of what my life had become.
That event lead me to treatment for my alcoholism for 4 months in the beautiful mountains of Utah. When I first got there, I didn’t want to stay.
I was ashamed of myself. I was so full of fear and guilt, that it took me all of the those 4 months to really start understanding treatment and the AA way and how to best utilize these new tools that I downloaded from the amazing clinicians, counselors and other patients there.

My life has been changed forever - and I’m grateful for the change.
I’ve been sober now for almost 28 months come this Jan 13.
I never believed I could actually live my life without drinking. It had become such a huge part of my daily and nightly routine. I had tried to stop on my own in the past but the powerful nature of alcohol always found its way back into my life.
I learned that I had to come to the realization that I was powerless over alcohol - and a power much greater than myself (and much greater than alcohol) was the only way to stop drinking and completely restore my sanity. God intervened and helped me to get my life back.
With the help of my family and so many other professional clinical advisors and now numerous new sober forever friends, I’ve been able to get the train back on the tracks and live without the burden of alcohol. Now, I need to protect my family and protect my sobriety.
I have new healthy boundaries for the first time in my life. Only positive, loving, caring & understanding people may enter.

It’s an absolute blessing in ways I can barely put into proper words.
But for now, I’ll just say - thank you God!! I wish there was a way I could give back to God what all God has given to me - but moving forward, I will do my best to reflect God’s light of love and grace onto others like so many have done for me.

I hope y’all have an amazing 2024.
Thank you for all the love, support and prayers. I promise you, I’ve felt them all and I’m super appreciative.

Here’s to making the best of 2024 and living our most healthiest, happiest and goal oriented lives ever!!

-JDR

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

Fantastic observations, brother. The other thing that has always hit me right square in the middle of my heart - at the end of the movie when old man Marley is (from Kevin’s encouragement) reconciling and hugging his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, we realize two very important things: old man Marley’s hand has healed and also we realize Kevin wasn’t the only one Home Alone the entire movie - old man Marley had been Home Alone as well.

Grace and light,
-JDR 🙏🏻💫

[Josh Howerton @howertonjosh]

Home Alone is a CHRISTIAN movie⁉️

This is CRAZY. I can't believe I've never noticed this before 🤯

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr @RobertKennedyJr]

This is the harvest of cancel culture—the stunted pace of idea generation and debate across the entire liberal ecosystem. And, by the way, you could make the same graphic for comedy.

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

@TomBrady picked round 6 and 199th overall. Just sayin… #legendary

[Barstool Sports @barstoolsports]

“We all didn’t expect this”

Shedeur Sanders spoke to his draft party after falling out of the first round.

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

Thank you! I’m grateful.🙏🏻💫

[Jenny Ritchie @jennifer_86_]

@JoeDonRooney congrats on three years sober, last month!!

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

Thank y’all for the birthday wishes. I’m humbled and blown away at all the X posts I’ve seen for my birthday today.
It’s been a heckuva journey for me the past 3 years. Not only is today my born date - but today is also my 3 year sobriety date.
I’m grateful and my heart is so full of love and appreciation today. God is so GOoD!!
Anyone out there who might be struggling with addiction, please know there is light at the other end of that long seemingly endless small tunnel.
Lean on those who love you - and if you are able to, get with a good treatment center and take the time to love on yourself like you maybe never have before.
You can do it!
“Don’t give up before the miracle happens.”
- Fannie Flagg

Peace, love and good happiness stuff!!
-JDR

[Tommi Pedruzzi @TommiPedruzzi]

I have spent endless hours reading the Bible.

I found the most repeated verses in the book itself.

You should pay close attention to them because they are repeated for a reason.

-Thread-

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

X marks the spot! Thank you @elonmusk

[Chuck Callesto @ChuckCallesto]

BREAKING REPORT: Today marks the ONE YEAR anniversary of X.

If you could say ONE THING to Elon Musk, what would it be?

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

Obviously want to be higher up on the green than that. It ain’t rocket science.😂😂

[NUCLR GOLF @NUCLRGOLF]

⚡️⛳️ 😨 CARNAGE COMING — The greens are rolling at lightning speeds at Pinehurst No. 2.

What will the winning score be this week?

(Via: @preservedlinks)

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

Niamber is really talented. Wow!! Thank you for sharing!!❤️💫

[Desrea Mckee @DesreaMckee]

Just wanted to share this with you @GaryLevox @JayDeMarcus @JoeDonRooney
A friend drew this for me back in 2014, her name is Niamber. She knew how much your music meant to me, and she put hours of work into this for me. 😍 would love to share your opinion with her!

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

Nice work, Brandi!!❤️💫

[Brandi @brandiburleson]

@JoeDonRooney This one perhaps? 😜

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

For those that asked for it… here is what that road reminded me of.
Congrats to those who got it!!
Love y’all!! Happy Sunday!!

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

This road totally reminds me “the most” of another road in my past.
Any ideas what this road reminds me of??😜
Give me your thoughts and then I’ll reveal my answer in the next post.

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

I got 65 baby!!🔥🔥

[Anthony Kim @AnthonyKim_Golf]

Known scottie since he was 8. Comes from a great family & love that he is unapologetically himself which is a great human being. Winning everything these days and just won the PIP this morning. Double the points at majors I heard. Scottie-66

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

Day of Gratitude

On this day of gratitude - I’m thinking back to our first album and the recording sessions that ensued late 1999. All of our influences were thrown out on the table for us to create our music, from the music that had inspired us for many many years.
Bands and artists like Shenandoah, Vince Gill, Diamond Rio, Bryan White, Alabama, Randy Travis, Restless Heart, Reba Mcentire, LoneStar, Dolly Parton, Little Texas… the list could go on and on of the many incredible country bands and artists that paved the way for us Flatts fellas to create and record the kind of country music we wanted to make.
If it wasn’t for them and countless others - there’s just no way we could’ve made the records we made.
I’m forever grateful.
#blessed

Who are some of your favorite artists/bands from the past??

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

Hey, @elonmusk - can you please update @X so that vids and images can be expanded with your thumbs - zooming in on images and vids can be extremely helpful.
Thank you for considering.
Love what you’ve done with @X - the platform keeps getting better and better.😊

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

@elonmusk can you please update @X so that vids and images can be expanded with your thumbs - zooming in on images and vids can be extremely helpful.
Thank you for considering.
Love what you’ve done with @X - the platform keeps getting better and better.😊

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

It is such a major blessing in my life to get a great night’s sleep and to not be hungover in the morning!

How’d y’all sleep??

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

@sandilou2u I see what you did there.😜

[JDR @JoeDonRooney]

😂😂😂😂😂#GROK