James Beard Award Winning pitmaster Rodney Scott acts as celebrity judge at the 2026 Southeastern BBQ Showdown
- Staff Writer
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
Lake Murray, SC 07/10/2025 - The Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board (CCLMC) is proud to announce that Rodney Scott, James Beard Award-winning pitmaster and owner of Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ, will be lending his expertise as a celebrity judge at the 2026 Southeastern BBQ Showdown.
“We’re honored to welcome Rodney Scott as the first official judge announced for the 2026 Southeastern BBQ Showdown,” said Miriam Atria, President/CEO of CCLMC. “As a James Beard Award-winning pitmaster and a true legend in whole-hog barbecue, Rodney brings unmatched authenticity and expertise to this event. His presence sets the tone for the caliber of talent this event will showcase and solidifies our region as a destination for world-class barbecue.”
Rodney Scott is a legendary pitmaster who has been cooking whole-hog barbecue over wood coals since the age of 11. After spending 25 years honing his craft at his family’s barbecue stop in Hemingway, South Carolina, he opened Rodney Scott’s BBQ in Charleston’s North Central neighborhood in 2017. That same year, the restaurant was named one of “Bon Appétit” magazine’s 50 Best New Restaurants, and in 2018, Scott received one of the culinary world’s highest honors—the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Chef: Southeast. His signature whole-hog, South Carolina-style barbecue and famous “Rodney’s Sauce” have since expanded across the South, with locations in Birmingham, Atlanta, and most recently, Nashville in partnership with country music star Eric Church. A Miami location is also on the horizon, set to open in late 2025.
Scott’s influence reaches beyond the pit. He has been featured in a full episode of the award-winning Netflix series “Chef’s Table” and has served as a judge for five seasons on Food Network’s “BBQ Brawl.” His cookbook, “Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ,” was released in 2021 to critical acclaim. With his hard work, approachable spirit, and global reputation, Rodney has cooked alongside top chefs and pitmasters from New York to Belize, Uruguay, and Australia. His presence as a judge brings authenticity, deep expertise, and Southern barbecue tradition to the 2026 Southeastern BBQ Showdown.
This announcement marks the first of many celebrity judge announcements for the 2026 Southeastern BBQ Showdown. Stay tuned as more celebrity judges will be announced soon.
Save the date! The 2026 Southeastern BBQ Showdown is taking place on April 24-25, 2026, at Gamecock Park in Columbia, South Carolina. Tickets will go on sale in the fall of 2025. To stay updated on the latest announcements, follow Southeastern BBQ Showdown on Facebook and Instagram, and visit SoutheasternBBQShowdown.com.
Rodney Scott's path from a family barbecue to becoming a James Beard Award-winning chef is extremely inspirational. His commitment to creating whole-hog barbecue is unparalleled, just as an assignment helper ensures precision and quality in academic work both based on love, expertise, and consistency.