Darius Rucker: Not Mad His Song Is Banned At A Nashville Bar
Darius Rucker is celebrating his album, True Believers, which turns ten years old this year. That album includes one of his most popular solo songs, “Wagon Wheel.” The song changed his country music career, winning a Grammy in 2013 for Best Solo Country Performance.
We interviewed Darius yesterday (9/20), and he talked about the song, which has been certified Diamond, for sales in excess of 10 million. He told us, “‘Wagon Wheel’ is one of those songs that all of us artists want. It’s a song that just won’t stop.”
He continued, “I remember a year ago or two years ago, we were about to announce that we had sold ten million copies, and we were waiting a couple of months till I could get to town and do the party, and then it got to eleven. You go like, ‘Wow.’ It’s just one of those songs that just resonates with people, and I’m so proud of it.”
Rucker was in a Nashville bar not long ago when he realized that the song was so popular it was banned. He explained, “I went into Tootsies the other night, and they had one of the signs that said ‘Ten days since somebody played ‘Wagon Wheel.’ And somebody said, ‘Does that bother you?’ and I said, ‘No, that doesn’t bother me. Do you know how big your song is for people to ban it from a bar?’ They banned ‘Freebird.’ They don’t ban songs that aren’t big. (laughs). It doesn’t bother me in the least.”
RELATED: Darius Rucker Reveals 'Carolyn's Boy' Album Details
Darius considers himself an elder statesman in country music these days, and “Wagon Wheel” is a big part of that distinction. He noted, “That song is part of country music history, and it makes me so proud.”
He added, “That record had a life of its own. I can’t believe it’s been ten years since True Believers.”
Rucker releases his next country album, the first one in six years, called Carolyn’s Boy, on October 6. A few days before that, on October 4, Darius Darius will get a star on the Music City Walk of Fame Park. Inductees are recognized for their significant work preserving Nashville’s musical heritage and contributing to the world through song.
Professional wrestler and Rucker’s good friend Ric Flair will be in attendance to induct him.
Top Five Of Country Music's Most Passionate NFL Fans
5 - Kenny Chesney - Pittsburgh Steelers
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
A native of East Tennessee, Kenny Chesney is a Tennessee Vols fan when it comes to college football, but when it comes to the NFL, he’s a lifelong fan of The Pittsburgh Steelers. While he has played Heinz Field (now called Acrisure Stadium) many times, he visited the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp in 2015 to watch his favorite team in action.
4 - Chris Young - Dallas Cowboys
Rick Diamond/Getty Images
Chris, who was based in Texas and played there almost exclusively before hitting it big in Nashville, is a huge Dallas Cowboys fan. He was quite happy over the weekend (1/16) when his beloved Dallas Cowboys beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to advance in the playoffs. He was so pleased he posted a video on his socials from a trip to Hawaii to cheer his team on.
3 - Luke Combs - Carolina Panthers
Rick Diamond/Getty Images
This North Carolina native loves his Panthers. He often wears Panthers gear on stage.
2 - Blake Shelton - Arizona Cardinals
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Blake loves the Arizona Cardinals and even took his then-girlfriend, Gwen Stefani, to a game in 2015 when they were dating. He always posts on social media about his team, and as they say, “He bleeds Arizona red.” The now-married couple went to another game of Blake’s fave team in November (2022) when his Cardinals played the Los Angeles Rams.
1 - Darius Rucker - Miami Dolphins
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Darius Rucker is definitely country music’s most passionate NFL football fan. He famously said that he has two seasons, “football season and waiting for football season.” A lifelong Miami Dolphins fan, he often sings that National Anthem at their games and did so this past September 2021 when the Dolphins played the Buffalo Bills. When he fronted Hootie and The Blowfish, he wrote the band’s biggest song, “I Only Want To Be With You,” in college when he was so upset that his Dolphins were losing, he started to cry, and his mother called him a baby. Rucker also has his own line of NFL wear.
