Rascal Flatts bring ‘Unstoppable’ tunes to Civic Center

Country act Rascal Flatts will perform at the Columbus Civic Center on Friday, assuming they can survive a crime scene tonight.

Fortunately, the three musicians’ criminal encounter is confined to an appearance on the CBS drama “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” Their episode airs at 9 p.m.

The guest spot shows just how much the band’s recognition has extended beyond the country music circuit.

They bantered about R&B music at the 2010 People’s Choice Awards. Contributed to the soundtrack for a Disney/Pixar film. The trio even made a cameo in “Hannah Montana: The Movie.”

It’s a noteworthy climb for an act that skeptics initially thought wouldn’t find a musical home.

“We were different. Some people didn’t know how to accept us,” band member Joe Don Rooney said in an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer.

The musicians released their debut disc in 2000. Some listeners still weren’t sold on the act even when Rascal Flatts’ third studio album spawned popular hits like “Bless the Broken Road.”

After all, it was an untraditional formula: Three guys with a sound that’s too pop for traditional country, but too country for traditional pop.

But now, with the crossover success of big names like Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts’ pop-country vibe seems like the rule instead of the exception.

“It’s amazing how much it’s evolved,” Rooney said of country music. “I’m glad the evolution’s happened.”

Further illustrating that evolution: Darius Rucker, a special guest at Friday’s Columbus Civic Center concert.

Rucker seems like an unlikely recipe for country music success. The black musician is the longtime frontman of rock act Hootie & The Blowfish.

As a solo artist, he secured a chart-topping debut country disc, “Learn to Live.” Last November, he became the first black singer to win new artist of the year at the Country Music Association Awards.

Some country music purists might always be leery of genre’s more untraditional acts. But Rooney maintains, “I think there’s room for everybody.”

Expect the usual high-energy performances from Rascal Flatts during Friday’s concert, which promotes their most recent disc, “Unstoppable.” With every tour, band members learn to play off each other’s strengths even more, Rooney said.

“All three of us are completely different people,” he said.

Even after a more than a decade together, the band has sustained a strong off-stage harmony.

“It’s like any other marriage,” Rooney said. “We love each other like family.”