Darius Rucker Shows Off New Fanatics MLB Apparel

Darius Rucker is a well-known sports fan, and his love of NFL and college football is legendary. Darius continues expanding his creative endeavors off the stage and onto the field. He announced his Fanatics apparel line recently launched its third season of NFL gear while expanding to include all 30 MLB teams and select NCAA markets.

In a post on Instagram, Rucker showed off his latest Fanatics apparel. He wrote, "With baseball season heating up, I'm thrilled to officially unveil the @MLB x Darius Rucker Collection by @Fanatics - with more than 30 products representing all your favorite clubs! You can shop now at MLBshop.com, Fanatics.com, and select Major League ballparks. I can't wait to see how the season shapes up! ™/© 2023 MLB."

Darius's passion for sports and music will also converge as he performs the national anthem at the USC vs. UNC game this weekend to kick off the college football season, which he will play an essential part in as the new voice of ESPN's "College GameDay" theme song.

Rucker posted to Instagram, "To celebrate 30 years of GameDay hitting the road, Darius Rucker, Lainey Wilson, and The Cadillac Three are the new voices of our anthem. The latest version of 'Comin' To Your City' will be here Saturday morning."

Rucker recently announced that his first solo album in six years, Carolyn's Boy, is set for release on October 6. Darius said in a statement, "I wanted to name the record 'Carolyn's Boy' because Mom never got to see any of my success. She died before any of this happened, so it's just another homage to the greatest woman I've ever known."

Rucker feels that now is the right time to honor her. He said, "Years ago, I wasn't really sure what my place in Country music was, and I was trying to find it. Now I have found it – I know – and I think it's time to give that record."

1. Beers And Sunshine (Darius Rucker, JT Harding, Josh Osborne, Ross Copperman)
2. In This Together (Darius Rucker, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick, Joy Williams)
3. Never Been Over (Darius Rucker, Lee Thomas Miller, John Osborne)
4. Fires Don't Start Themselves (Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice, Dan Isbell)
5. Ol' Church Hymn feat. Chapel Hart (Darius Rucker, Greylan James, Ben Hayslip, Josh Miller)
6. 7 Days (Darius Rucker, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Charles Kelley)
7. Same Beer Different Problem (Darius Rucker, Topher Brown, Sarah Buxton, Brad Tursi)
8. Sara (Darius Rucker, Joel Crouse, Kyle Rife, Ed Sheeran)
9. Have A Good Time (Darius Rucker, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick)
10. Sure Would Have Loved Her (Darius Rucker, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey)
11. Southern Comfort (Chris LaCorte, Matt Rogers, Josh Osborne)
12. 3am in Carolina (Darius Rucker, Ross Copperman, Michael Hardy)
13. Lift Me Up (Temilade Openiyi, Robyn Fenty, Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Goransson)

Ed Sheeran is the latest pop star to consider a switch to country music, He performed a new song with his buddy Luke Combs at the ACM Awards last week (5/11) in Texas. Over the years, several pop or rock stars have tried their hand at country music.

Sheryl Crow released a country album a few years back. She never left Nashville, living in the community and performing at events and benefits despite the fact that her country music career never really took off. Cyndi Lauper recorded a country album in 2015 and spent some time in Nashville doing interviews. She talked about the country songs she leaned on throughout her life.

In 2013, Kelly Clarkson released a song just for country radio that never really had success called "Tie It Up." It was about getting married. Her marriage to Reba's stepson Brandon Blackstock, which she gushed about in an interview for the song, didn't make it either. They got divorced in 2020.

While many pop and rock stars have tried their hand at country music, only a few really made it all the way to becoming a country star. We wish Ed Sheeran well if he really wants to give country music a try. Here, we look at five pop and rock stars that had their sights set on country music superstardom.

In 2016, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler signed with Nashville's Big Machine record label and released a solo country album called We're All Somebody From Somewhere. It didn't do much to bring the rocker into country music. But he didn't quit his day job - Aerosmith has just announced their farewell tour.

In the spring of 2012, Lionel Richie released a country album featuring many collaborations with country stars called Tuskegee. It featured Lionel's own popular songs with Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, and many more. The country album wasn't a huge hit, but it did start the friendship between him and his now fellow American Idol judge Luke Bryan.

Ed is just beginning his dip into country music. He performed a song called "Life Goes On" with Luke Combs at the ACM Awards show. Sheeran said he would like to move towards country music in the future.

Elle King has been very successful in her dive into country music as she has already charted two number-one country songs, one with Miranda Lambert, "Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home)," and "Different For Girls" with Dierks Bentley. King released her debut country album Come Get Your Wife in January. She is currently touring and has been embraced by the country music community and fans.

Darius has been the most successful pop/rock star that switched to country music. So far, he has released five country albums, charted eight number-one country songs, and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2012. He has been nominated for numerous country music awards and got a Country Grammy for Best Solo Country Performance for "Wagon Wheel" in 2013.