“Reel South,” the public television series spotlighting documentary films steeped in Southern flavor, will return with an expanded season and a new host — platinum-selling, Grammy-winning recording artist Darius Rucker. The series, a coproduction of UNC-TV, South Carolina ETV and the Southern Documentary Fund, premieres weekly on WORLD Channel on Sunday nights from January 8 through March 5, 2017, at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT.




Season Two of “Reel South” features 12 documentaries from across the region, highlighting the rich Southern tradition of storytelling and celebrating diverse voices and unexpected points of view. This season’s films include a look back at the rise and fall of the utopian Soul City in 1970s North Carolina, a thoroughly modern story of a young transgender Christian trying to find his place in the church, a portrait of influential Mississippi bluesman Fred McDowell, the story of two unforgettable women from West Virginia coal country who find common ground across the divide that separates them, a visit to the epicenter of the costuming community in New Orleans, and timely looks at the region’s oldest and newest immigrants.

After phenomenal success as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Hootie & The Blowfish, Darius embarked on a solo career in country music, releasing four consecutive albums to top the Billboard Country albums chart. Throughout three decades of worldwide fame and acclaim, he has remained committed to the South — as his involvement with “Reel South” attests.

All films from Season Two will stream on reelsouth.org and WORLDChannel.org the day after broadcast. “Reel South” will also engage audiences through monthly screenings and conversations moderated by intriguing thought leaders via the OVEE interactive streaming platform.

“Reel South” is a collaboration between South Carolina ETV, UNC-TV, and the Southern Documentary Fund (SDF). Rachel Raney and Amy Shumaker are Executive Producers.

A trailer for Season Two of “Reel South” on the WORLD Channel is below. One-hour episodes premiere Sundays at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT.