In his new memoir Shotgun Angels: My Story of Broken Roads and Unshakeable Hope, Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts reveals that he once gave a daughter up for adoption.
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People reports that when DeMarcus was in his early 20s, his then-girlfriend got pregnant after they'd been together for one month.
The bassist, who was then a member of the Christian band East to West, writes that he and his girlfriend were "in shock" and discussed their options.
"[Maggie and I] discussed many options, including getting married and raising the child ourselves, but we quickly determined we'd be making that decision for the wrong reason," DeMarcus writes in the book. "Abortion was never an option, so we began to discuss adoption."
DeMarcus says that he longed to be in his daughter's life and shares that he even wrote a letter for the adoptive family to give to her when she turned 14.
"My heart finds satisfaction in knowing that she ended up with a wonderful family, but I've had to live with this my entire life," he writes. "The adoptive family was supposed to give her a letter when she turned 14, explaining that I loved her, did not abandon her, and have tried several ways to make it possible to be in her life."
The 48-year-old says that when news of the pregnancy spread throughout the Christian music industry, it spelled the end for East to West.
"I understand, I guess, but it does seem that many Christians all too often kills their wounded instead of taking time to be there to help pick someone up," DeMarcus writes.
Shotgun Angels: My Story of Broken Roads and Unshakeable Hope traces DeMarcus' life from his upbringing in Columbus, Ohio to country stardom. In a statement, DeMarcus said "My ultimate goal is that the book will encourage people that no matter where they are in their lives, they can find hope, comfort and strength in their faith."
DeMarcus formed Rascal Flatts with Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney in 1999. He married Allison Alderson in 2004. The couple has a daughter Madeline, 8, and a son Dylan, 6.
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