Darius Rucker has experienced country music stardom in a way that few before him have. He is one of only a handful of rock musicians to cross over to country successfully – and currently the only one who’s elected to stay there – and he’s one of even fewer African Americans to attain prominence in the genre. As a result, Rucker finds himself breaking down barriers for country fans everywhere. “All over the country are people coming out of the woodwork, telling me, ‘I’m black, but I love country music,’” he says, “‘and now you make it ok.’”

Raised by a single mom in an apartment that sometimes held as many as 14 children and four adults (his mother, two aunts, and his grandmother), Darius remembers music always being important in his life – singing along to his mother’s R&B albums and in church and school choirs. During college, he and three friends formed the band Hootie & the Blowfish, with Rucker as front man and rhythm guitarist. After success on the road, Hootie & the Blowfish exploded; their first LP, Cracked Rear View (1994), skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and is now the 19th best-selling album of all time, certified 21x platinum. Subsequent hits and Rucker’s rich baritone and effortless vibrato brought him rock superstardom and numerous once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, like singing the national anthem at the 1995 World Series.

In 2008, Rucker announced that Hootie & the Blowfish would be taking a break. Later that year, he released his first country debut, Learn to Live (Capitol Records). It’s lead single, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” climbed to No. 1 on the country charts – the first time a black artist had held that spot since Charley Pride, with “Night Games” in 1983. The album’s second and third singles – “It Won’t Be Like This for Long” and “Alright” – also hit the top of the charts and the album was certified platinum within a year of its release. Rucker’s follow-up album, Charleston, SC 1966 (2010), generated two additional No. 1s: “Come Back Song” and “This.” To date, Darius has had eight No. 1 singles on country radio – and more climbing the charts.

When asked about his “conversion” to country, Darius maintains that it’s something he’d been dreaming about for years – and that he’s in it for the long haul.