By Madhuri Dey
Nashville, Nov. 12 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Darius Rucker became the surprise winner at the 43rd annual Country Music Awards. At 43, he obviously left the others as far behind him in age as he did in talent. The former lead singer of the country band “Hootie and the Blowfish” won the award for the best new artist of the year. He became the first black American to be honored with this award and also the second African-American to win a major individual award after Charlie Pride.

Rucker took the award with pride and joy gleaming on his face. He started his speech by saying, “What a night!” He went on to thank all his fans and listeners who made the win possible. Mostly, he thanked country radio to have given him the chance. It was obvious from his speech that he did not expect the chance, let alone the award, which was indeed difficult, as he said, for a singer from Charleston, S.C. He expressed his gratitude towards his wife and his three children. He revealed that the head of Capitol Records had called him crazy, saying that his idea of leaving the band and striking out on his own would never pay off. Rucker seemed pleased, and not without reason, to have proved them wrong.

All the critics agreed that Rucker’s win was well deserved and that there is no doubt about his talent. There was an unanimous decision that the singer would continue to present the world with one great country song after another. His enormous talent has allowed him to churn out hit after hit like “Alright”, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” and “It Won’t Be Like This For Long.”