Darius Rucker wants to end racism in country music

Growing up in South Carolina, Rucker, 55, has dealt with racism his entire life, whether in the classroom or the football field.

“There was never a time when [racism] wasn’t around in my life,” he said Monday after a morning round of golf in Hilton Head, South Carolina. “It’s better now, but it’s not even close to where it should be. It’s a blot on our country. Let’s not let the extreme other side come out of the woodwork and be emboldened to think they can take over.”

When Rucker made the move from pop stardom to country music in 2008, country radio programmers told him that they’d play his songs but he shouldn’t expect to be welcomed by listeners.

“I was told the audience wouldn’t accept a Black country singer because it had been 25 years since [Black country star] Charley Pride had had a hit,” Rucker remembered. “But it worked. Charley opened the door.”

And now Rucker has kicked open the door for Kane Brown, who just scored his eighth No. 1 single, as well as Jimmie Allen, a nominee for Grammy’s best new artist, and triple Grammy nominee Mickey Guyton, who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl last month.

“Nashville is changing a lot,” said Rucker. “Instead of the labels seeing a Black face on the cover of a CD and just throwing it out there, I think every [label] is actually looking for African American artists they can make stars.”