Country singer Darius Rucker couldn’t quite believe it when he was surprised this week with the news that his song “Wagon Wheel” was certified eight times platinum, making it one of the top five most popular country singles ever.
After repeating the word “Wow!” over and over, Rucker muttered to himself, “That can’t be true,” as he inspected the plaque in his hands.
“It’s amazing to me because I came here to make country music, and I didn’t expect success and I didn’t expect to be on the radio,” said Rucker, who had already had a highly successful rock career as lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish.
He joked at seeing his CMA new artist of the year trophy behind glass, noting it happened for him when he was in his 40s. But the South Carolina-native also represents the changing face of country music, as one of two black artists among the RIAA’s top country singles.
For the full story, visit Billboard.com.
