Country singer Darius Rucker may have made hits as the front man for Hootie & The Blowfish but as a country singer he made history and Twitter took notice. Country music & Blowfish fans alike on Twitter were elated to see Rucker be the first African American man to win the "Best New Artist" award on the 43rd Annual Country Music Associationa Awards (CMA) in Nashville.
While Taylor Swift's "Vocalist of the Year" award set off a controversy on Twitter, it appeared at the time of this writing, the only tweeters disappointed in Rucker's award, were Hootie & The Blowfish fans who wanted him to return to the band.
The award signals a more open and progressive CMA. @RodneyMiller44 posted this tweet to his Twitter page, "Darius Rucker thanks country music fans for accepting him... Hootie has come a long way."
A few tweeters wondered how longtime hitmaker "Hootie" a.k.a. Darius Rucker could win a best new artist award. Tweets like @danfletcher71's, "Darius Rucker Best NEW Artist??? So I guess that isn't him on all those Hootie and the Blowfish Albums in my collection?" hit Twitter. Rucker may have been around in pop music but he is brand new on the country scene.
There have been other black country singers like Charley Pride but Rucker may be doing what they haven't. Turning pop music fans on to country. Some pop fans watched the CMA's for the first time in anticipation of Rucker's win. " Darius Rucker aka Hootie on the Country Music Awards? Me--watching the Country Music Awards?!? Expect world to implode shortly", tweets @canicemurphy.
Tweets:
@brittyb23 "Darius rucker was the first african american to win best new artist at the CMA's. yes, makin history, baby!"
@ashah1306 "Darius Rucker???...hootie?? Whaaaaaat!!!! Hootie won a CMA!?!? You go Hootie!!!"
@auditiondanny "Darius Rucker's speech for winning best new artist at the CMA's was amazing tonight. Respect, dude."
@jbottle "Darius Rucker won a CMA? That makes me so happy. This was always the kind of music he wanted to make. Yay for him."
@FLStrawberryFst "Congratulations Darius Rucker, 2009 CMA New Artist of the Year."
@ccannon "I like Darius Rucker better doing country more than him as Hootie! Anyone else agree or care?"
@OhSoCali "Luv that Darius Rucker! He's making some great country music! :-)"
@VenniCaprice "Darius Rucker, cowboy boots?? My world has been turned upside down. Let her cry Hootie."
@Avery_P "Congrats to Taylor Swift! Also to Darius Rucker for proving there are no limits in this industry for those with talent and perseverance!"
For everything country music, check out the Lexington Country Music Examiner column.