Country star Darius Rucker said he still doesn’t know how he’s getting to do the job he loves, and he’s grateful, but admitted the downside is being away from his kids.

The 56-year-old country singer opened up about his career, making the switch to country music after 15 years as the lead man for the pop group “Hootie and the Blowfish,” and the heartache of spending so much time on the road.

“The moment I knew it was time was when we had a meeting and we said we [Hootie and the Blowfish] weren’t going to tour … anymore like that, so I knew it was time to go to Nashville and see if I could do it,” Rucker told Fox News.

“When I very first started, there was a lot of naysayers and everything, but once ‘Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It’ hit, I think acceptance started,” he added.

The song debuted in 2008, and in a few short months skyrocketed up the chart to the number one spot. Since that time, he’s released four country music albums — with numerous songs going to the top of the charts — and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2012.

“I have no idea why any of this is happening. I just know I’m enjoying it,” the country star told the outlet. “I’ve wanted to play music since I was 4 and I’m getting to do it at 56 still so I think that’s pretty cool.”

“The only hard thing about being on the road is being away from your kids,” he added. “That’s the only hard part. Everything else is gravy. But you know being away from the family and not seeing them as much as you can … is tough, but it’s your job.”

Rucker was previously married to Beth Leonard from 2000-2020, and the two share two kids. The singer also has a daughter from a previous relationship.

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The singer also told the outlet that what he loves about Country music is that it’s “real. It’s stories and it’s life. It’s what music is supposed to be.”

“It touches you in the way I think music’s supposed to touch you,” he added. “And it’s just getting bigger and bigger and doing its thing. It’s all about the songs and that’s what country music is about, the song.”

Related: Kacey Musgraves, Reese Witherspoon Announce Plans For ‘Inclusive’ Country Music Competition Series

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click here.

Trump Officially Arrested

Former President Donald Trump arrived at Manhattan Court House  Tuesday afternoon, and he was immediately placed under arrest by New York City Police ahead of his arraignment in court following last week’s indictment. The president was not placed in handcuffs and did not have his mugshot taken. He pleaded not guilty on his own behalf. The president’s legal team has requested a change of venue to Staten Island for the trial, prior to his arrival Trump shared on his social media platform, “Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!” 

Protesters And Supporters Cheer And Jeer In Manhattan

The streets of Lower Manhattan buzzed with activity today ahead of former President Donald Trump‘s arraignment. A group of Trump supporters and counter-protesters gathered and, in some cases, clashed outside the lower Manhattan courthouse this morning. Journalists had been lined up outside the building since Monday night. There was heavy law enforcement presence, and much of the area was closed off. 

Just a ton more anti-Trump protestors outside the park. Despite an all-caps call for his supporters to protest before his arrest, Trump supporters are getting deeply outnumbered by people in support of his arrest in lower Manhattan today. pic.twitter.com/z8BQ5ynaBV

— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) April 4, 2023

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is bringing the case against Trump, arrived at the courthouse prior to much of the activity. Two high-profile Republican members of Congress — Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and George Santos (R-NY) — made public appearances to voice their support for Trump. Greene and Santos left the scene quickly after the crowd grew louder and more chaotic. New York Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman was also on the scene. 

Marjorie Taylor Greene arrives in NYC & immediately calls out Mayor Eric Adams.

"While you allow crime in your streets and you sent your henchman down here… Dems are the party of violence."pic.twitter.com/qMmLxROlEP

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 4, 2023

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) pops off on Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) after her rally outside Trump’s arraignment:

“Go back to your district. What are you doing here? You’re here for politics, you’re here because you want to be VP … you’re here for your own nonsense.” pic.twitter.com/fjGVepX7V8

— The Recount (@therecount) April 4, 2023

When the former president left Trump Tower to head to the courthouse, he put his fist in the air as a show of strength to his supporters. Television cameras will not be allowed inside the courtroom for the historic occasion. 

Democrats In Tennessee Could be Expelled

Three Democrat lawmakers in Tennessee could lose their jobs as a result of behavior at a recent protest inside the Tennessee statehouse. Resolutions of expulsion were filed Monday against Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson after they led chants from the House floor with protesters in the gallery last Thursday.

The announced resolution sparked outrage among those watching in the gallery, leading the house speaker to call for the gallery to be cleared. During the incident, lawmakers – including Jones and Republican Justin Lafferty – engaged in a confrontation on the House floor: 

Yesterday House Speaker Cameron Sexton confirmed that the three lawmakers had been stripped of their committee assignments and said more punishments could be on the way. 

Ex-Top Aide To Larry Hogan Dead

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s ex-chief of staff who has been on the run for three weeks after failing to appear at trial for wire fraud and embezzlement charges, died after he was apprehended Monday by law enforcement in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Roy McGrath, Hogan’s former top aide, suffered a gunshot wound and later died of the injury Monday night, according to his lawyer, Joseph Murtha. The FBI said an “agent-involved shooting” was under review but gave no further details. Murtha called it “a tragic ending to three weeks of uncertainty.” He added that Roy “never waivered about his innocence.”

Passports Delayed

Americans seeking to renew their passports ahead of their planned summer travel are experiencing shockingly long wait times. Here with more is Daily Wire writer Tim Meads:

It’s currently taking the State Department between 10 and 13 weeks to process routine passport applications. Expedited applications are currently taking between 7 weeks and 9 weeks. The Bureau of Consular Affairs warned that the State Department may also take as many as 2 weeks to receive mailed applications and another 2 weeks for the completed passport to be mailed back to the holder. The government is blaming pent-up demand following COVID lockdowns and restricted travel for the delays. 

Google Cutbacks

Google workers will lose access to their company-provided fitness classes, MicroKitchens, and other famous perks as the company cuts costs amid efforts to increase profitability.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai had already informed the company earlier this year that some 12,000 positions would be eliminated but a recent internal memo sent to Google employees noted that the “challenging economic environment” would now necessitate changes to the company’s cost structure. Even as such changes will not “be visible” to most employees, the self-proclaimed  “industry-leading perks, benefits and office amenities” at Google will be scaled back to reduce expenses. Google is just the latest tech company to make changes to its operating structure.

To listen to the audio version of this podcast, click here. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.