Here’s another reason to tune into the 2012 CMT Music Awards tonight (June 6). Rascal Flatts with get supersized and perform with rock band Journey for the first time ever! That’s quite a shift from their previous collaborator Justin Bieber — with whom they remixed last year — but it’s equally as thrilling.

CMT reports that during Tuesday’s (June 5) rehearsals, Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus was beyond pumped about this collaboration, saying, “I’ve got to tell you, tonight was amazing because we’ve dreamed about collaborating with Journey forever. So to be up there onstage with those guys who are heroes. You hate to say ‘heroes’ growing up, but as kids of the ’80s, their music was iconic for that era. I was such a huge fan, so to be able to stand onstage beside some your heroes is the best feeling on the entire planet. You can’t describe it. You can’t put it into words — and it’s nerve-wracking!”

Clearly, DeMarcus is a fanboy who’s soaking up every second of working with Journey. And we don’t blame him.

His bandmate, Joe Don Rooney, chimed in about the partnership too, saying, “It is a little nerve-wracking, but what’s cool is to see that these guys are as hungry as ever to perform and to play and to make music. It’s so cool with [lead vocalist Arnel Pineda] in the band now. It’s been this injection. This guy’s got serious energy. He’s got serious pipes. He can really, really sing and really bring it. It’s good to see these guys 30 years in the business, and they’re still just dying to get on stage and make music for the fans. I think it’s exciting for us to see that.”

As expected, Gary LeVox is also stoked to rock with Journey tonight. “As a band, they’ve made some of the most timeless music in music history,” he admits. “So to be able to share the same stage and sing and play with those guys is just a dream come true.”

Be sure to tune in to CMT tonight at 8PM ET when the Flatts and Journey make their own music history. Can’t catch it live? No worries — we’ll have extensive coverage right here at Taste of Country.

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