In Lady Antebellum co-lead vocalist Hillary Scott’s view, Darius Rucker is the perfect touring partner.
Lady Antebellum and Rucker’s Summer Plays On tour stops in Noblesville for a 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 performance at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center.
Scott said Rucker has been a musical hero to Scott and bandmates Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley for several years and became a good friend.
“It’s awesome to be able to be on tour with him and his camp,” Scott said. “Everyone is so kind and gets along great and has a blast. It carries into the live show, which is one of the most collaborative shows we’ve ever had.”
Typically, there are several spontaneous moments.
“One night Darius randomly walked out and did the guitar change for Dave, which was hilarious,” Scott said. “Our opener, Russell Dickerson, has so much energy and such great music. It’s a lot of guys, and I luckily get to be the only girl on the stage every night, which I take as a huge honor.”
Scott said Rucker’s country solo career started around the same time Lady Antebellum was formed in 2006. Rucker gained fame as the lead vocalist for Hootie & the Blowfish.
Scott said they play three or four songs from their 2017 album, “Heart Break,” as well as other fan favorites.
“Our set is full of songs that have been on the radio, which is fun,” she said. “We hope for the audience that is a night of music where they pretty much know the words to every song.”
Scott’s husband, Lady Antebellum drummer Chris Tyrrell, is taking the tour off to be with their three daughters, 5-year-old Eisele Kaye and twins Betsy Mack and Emory JoAnn, who were born in January.
“My husband is superdad and holding it down at home,” Scott said. “The first performance we did with Ian (O’Neill), our new drummer, was at the ACM (Academy of Country Music) Awards. Chris was at home with our three girls, and I turned around and said, ‘Oh, I can’t flirt with the drummer anymore.’ Ian is absolutely incredible. He’s such a great drummer. He’s so fun to be around and fits in with the Lady A family seamlessly.”
Scott’s parents, Linda Davis and Lang Scott, were country music singers and members of Reba McEntire’s band. Scott decided at 14 she wanting a singing career as well.
“I’ve always been a big dreamer, but I don’t think I could have ever fathomed what this has become,” Scott said. “My bandmates and I talk about how much gratitude we have (for our success) and how it could have been anybody else. There are so many people in the world who deserve the show we were given. We feel so humbled and thankful we truly wake up and do what we dreamed of doing. We want to use our platform to encourage others.”
