Welcome to Biscuits and Jam from Southern Living. I'm Sid Evans, editor-in-chief of Southern Living magazine,

and I'm talking with legendary musicians and celebrated chefs about food, family, songwriting, and Southern culture.

Because of his Carolina upbringing, my guest today is no stranger to Southern

cooking. But in moving to Nashville recently, he admits he still wasn't prepared for authentic

hot chicken. You know, I'm not a big of the spicy food, but I tried it. And I'm going to

let you guys know a little secret. The mild is really hot.

The mild was too hot for me.

Yes, it's really hot.

Darius Rucker is that rare entertainer who has landed two trailblazing careers in one lifetime.

His band Hootie and the Blowfish topped the charts throughout the mid-90s with hits like

Let or Cry, Only Wanna Be With You, and Hold My Hand.

And their debut album, Cracked Rear View, has sold over 14 million copies, making it one of the

20 biggest albums of all time.

Then, starting in 2009, his presence as a country star exploded as he became only the second

black artist to ever win a CMA award and the first black artist to reach number one

on Billboard's country charts in a quarter century.

On today's program, Darius tells me about the hometown charms of Charleston, South Carolina. You know, Charleston is such a laid-back cool, cool city, and, you know, not to take ourselves too seriously. We're that city that, you know, you're at a stoplight, you don't go. To the green light, nobody blows the horn, because everybody behind you figure, well, he'll go next time. You know, I love that attitude. I love spending the rest of my

life in the town that I think is the best city in the country and the world. Plus, his love for

ochre soup, how he broke new ground and country music, and much more this week on Biscuits and Jam.

Darius Rucker, welcome to Biscuits and Jam.

Thank you, man.

Thanks for having me.

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