You know that feeling when a song just rips the air out of your lungs? That’s what happened in 2006. Rascal Flatts dropped their version of "What Hurts the Most," and honestly, country music—and pop radio—wasn't really the same for a while. It’s one of those tracks that feels like it’s been around forever, but here’s the thing: it’s actually a cover.
Most people don't realize that Gary, Jay, and Joe Don weren't the first to record it. Not even close. Before it became a multi-platinum powerhouse, it lived a whole other life. But there’s something about the way the trio handled it that made it the definitive version. It wasn't just a "country cover." It was a vocal explosion that somehow managed to feel incredibly intimate.
The Surprise History of a Modern Classic
If you think Rascal Flatts "What Hurts the Most" cover was an original, you’ve been living a lie. Kinda. The song was actually written by Jeffrey Steele and Steve Robson. Steele is a legendary Nashville songwriter, but he originally wrote this about his father passing away. He called it "What Meant the Most."
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Fate stepped in during a vocal booth session when Steele accidentally sang "What hurts the most" instead of the original title. He felt it was a "God thing." The lyric shifted from a son mourning a father to a more universal story of lost love and words left unspoken.
Before the Flatts got their hands on it, three other artists gave it a go:
- Mark Wills (2003): The first to record it. He put it on his album And the Crowd Goes Wild. It’s a great version, but his label dropped him before it could be a single. Talk about bad timing.
- Bellefire (2004): An Irish girl group. Their version was a bit more pop-orchestral.
- Jo O'Meara (2005): Former S Club 7 singer. She actually had a decent hit with it in the UK and Ireland, peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart.
By the time 2006 rolled around, the song had already been around the block. But producer Dann Huff saw something in it for Rascal Flatts. He knew Gary LeVox’s voice could take that bridge and turn it into a stadium-sized anthem.
Why This Specific Cover Worked
Let’s be real. Gary LeVox has a range that most singers would sell their soul for. In the Rascal Flatts what hurts the most cover, he doesn't just sing the notes; he attacks them with this weirdly perfect mix of grit and polish.
The arrangement is what really changed the game. While previous versions were more "piano-forward" or strictly pop, the Flatts version added that soaring, mid-tempo country-rock swell. It starts small—just some atmosphere and that iconic acoustic guitar riff—and then it just builds.
"It was another Jeffrey Steele song. He was on fire at that time," Jay DeMarcus recently recalled.
The band was looking for a massive lead single for their Me and My Gang album. They actually almost lost the song to Keith Urban, who passed on it. Imagine that for a second. Urban’s version would have been cool, but it probably wouldn't have had that specific three-part harmony that makes the chorus feel like a wall of sound hitting you in the chest.
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Breaking Down the Success
It wasn't just a country hit. It was a cultural moment.
- It topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
- It reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was huge for a country group at the time.
- It hit number 1 on the Adult Contemporary charts.
It’s rare for a song to dominate both the "truck and tailgate" crowd and the "office radio" crowd, but this one did. It even earned two Grammy nominations. The music video, directed by Shaun Silva, won Group Video of the Year at the 2007 CMT Music Awards. It told a tragic story of a young girl losing her boyfriend in a car accident, cementing the song as the ultimate "crying in your car" anthem.
The Cascada Factor and Global Reach
While the Rascal Flatts version was conquering America, the song was doing something else entirely across the pond. In 2007, the German dance act Cascada released a high-energy Eurodance cover.
It sounds crazy, but it worked. Cascada’s version became a top 10 hit in the UK, Austria, France, and Germany. It proved that the songwriting was so strong it could survive being turned into a club banger. However, if you’re looking for the emotional "gut punch," the country version remains king.
A Recent Twist: The 2025 Refuel
Fast forward to 2025, and Rascal Flatts decided to revisit their crown jewel. As part of their LIFE IS A HIGHWAY: REFUELED DUETS album, they teamed up with the Backstreet Boys for a new take on "What Hurts the Most."
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This wasn't just a nostalgia play. It was two of the biggest vocal powerhouses of the Y2K era joining forces. The harmonies are predictably insane. It reminds you that even 20 years later, the song hasn't aged. It still feels like a raw nerve.
What You Should Do Next
If you haven't listened to the original Mark Wills version, go do that. It’s fascinating to hear where the song started before it became the polished titan we know today.
Also, if you're a musician, pay attention to the "God thing" that Jeffrey Steele talked about. Sometimes a mistake in the recording booth—like swapping one word for another—is the difference between a forgotten album track and a song that defines a decade.
Next steps for your playlist:
- Listen to the 2025 Duet: Check out the Backstreet Boys collaboration to hear how the harmonies have evolved.
- Compare the Bridges: Listen to Gary LeVox’s high note in the 2006 version vs. Jo O'Meara’s 2005 pop version. The difference in vocal "weight" is a masterclass in genre-shifting.
- Watch the Live Performances: Find the 2006 ACM performance where they did it with Kelly Clarkson. It’s legendary.
The song is a reminder that the best covers don't just repeat what came before; they find the emotional core that the previous artists missed and crank it up to eleven.