Rucker, on his Twitter feed, says a user @pqkullman sent him the tweet," Leave country to the white folk." Rucker responded saying, "Is this 2013 or 1913," and, "Ill take my grand ole Opry membership and leave your racism. Wow"
Rucker's final message Sunday on Twitter Sunday said, "Gotta go to bed this has been hilarious tonight. If any hater thinks I care what u think. I don't make music for u. So don't listen."
The account in question, @pqkullman, appears to have been closed and restarted by a new user since the controversy began.
The insult was apparently hurled through the Twittersphere in response to Rucker's cover of the song "Wagon Wheel," previously recorded by artists including Bob Dylan, Old Crow Medicine Show.
"To Bob Dylan and my friend Ketch Secor and all the boys @crowmedicine thanks for an amazing tune," Rucker said.
"People @dariusrucker recording Wagon Wheel no diff then Carl Perkins writes Blue Suede Shoes and Elvis Presley records," a Rucker fan tweted.
Rucker is scheduled to perform June 5 on the CMT Music Awards. He released his latest album, "True Believers" on Capitol Records Tuesday.
On his two previous Nashville, Tenn.-recorded solo albums, Rucker proved he could gain acceptance from contemporary country music fans. On new the album "True Believers," he proves he can do more than create formulaic radio hits: Finding a country voice and sound of his own.
AP Review:
With the funk-country rhythms of "Radio," ''Shine" and "Lost In You," he combines the beach-music sound of his native South Carolina with the breezy, catchy side of current Nashville hits. With powerful originals like the roots-rocking "Heartbreak Road" and the raw emotions of "Miss You," Rucker makes great use of the expressive capabilities of his baritone voice - which had been so important to the success of his rock band, Hootie & the Blowfish.
Rucker writes 10 of the 12 songs on "True Believers," yet adds momentum to the collection with two well-chosen songs by others. He faithfully covers Old Crow Medicine Show's Americana hit, "Wagon Wheel," and nicely handles a duet with Sheryl Crow on "Love Without You," written by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally.
Altogether, "True Believers" suggests the 47-year-old has found a home on the country charts where he can settle down for a long spell.
