COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board (CCLMC) has announced a major addition to the 2026 Southeastern BBQ Showdown lineup. Rodney Scott, James Beard Award-winning pitmaster and owner of Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ, will serve as a celebrity judge for the highly anticipated event.
“We’re honored to welcome Rodney Scott as the first official judge announced for the 2026 Southeastern BBQ Showdown,” said Miriam Atria, President and CEO of CCLMC. “His reputation as a whole-hog barbecue legend brings authenticity and prestige to the event and confirms our region’s place on the map as a destination for world-class barbecue.”
Scott has been cooking whole-hog barbecue over wood coals since he was 11 years old, mastering his craft over 25 years at his family’s Hemingway, South Carolina restaurant. In 2017, he opened Rodney Scott’s BBQ in Charleston, and the accolades followed—Bon Appétit magazine named it one of the 50 Best New Restaurants that year, and in 2018, Scott won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southeast.
Today, his barbecue empire stretches across the South with locations in Charleston, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Nashville—with a Miami location expected to open in late 2025 in partnership with country music star Eric Church.
Beyond the pit, Scott has become a familiar face in food media. He’s been featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table and served as a judge for five seasons on Food Network’s BBQ Brawl. His cookbook, Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ, has become a favorite among both home cooks and barbecue enthusiasts.
Scott’s commitment to tradition, his global influence, and his Southern charm make him the perfect fit to help crown the best in barbecue at next year’s event.
The 2026 Southeastern BBQ Showdown will be held April 24–25, 2026, at Gamecock Park in Columbia. Tickets go on sale this fall. More celebrity judges will be announced in the coming months.
For event updates, follow Southeastern BBQ Showdown on social media or visit SoutheasternBBQShowdown.com.
Photo courtesy of Lake Murray Country
