Beloved chef & James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott was born on November 1, 1971, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born to Roosevelt and Ella Scott, as the only child in his family, he moved with his parents in 1972 to South Carolina’s Pee Dee region.
The family ran multiple businesses, including a gas station, a variety store, a farm, and a barbecue restaurant.
By age 11, Scott was helping at the family’s business, Scott’s Variety Store + Bar-B-Q in Hemingway, South Carolina, where they smoked a whole hog each week. As demand grew, they increased production to seven or eight hogs a day.
By 17, Scott was working full-time as a pitmaster. While the chef is famous for his whole hog barbecue, is he married? Here’s what we know about his personal life, family & legendary career.
Is Rodney Scott Married?
Yes, according to reports, Rodney Scott has been married for ten years and has two daughters. While he keeps much of his personal life private, including his wife’s name, it’s clear that family remains central to his story. In 2022, he shared a sweet photo with his wife celebrating their 7th anniversary.
Beyond his public image as a master pitmaster, Scott is also a devoted husband and father, balancing his thriving restaurant empire with his life at home.
From Family Tradition to Culinary Stardom
In 2009, Southern food historian John T. Edge profiled the Scott family’s work. By 2011, Rodney had taken over the family’s barbecue operations, but in 2016, after a disagreement with his father, he partnered with Nick Pihakis to open his own restaurants.
Rodney Scott’s BBQ launched in Charleston in 2017, expanded to Birmingham in 2019, Atlanta in 2021, and another Alabama location later that year. His whole hog barbecue quickly gained nationwide acclaim.
Awards & National Recognition
Scott’s craftsmanship has earned him top honors. His list of awards includes the 2018 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast, making him only the second pitmaster ever to win the prize.
He has been featured on Netflix’s “Chef’s Table: BBQ” and hailed as “a whole hog legend” by Texas Monthly.
In 2020, he was nominated for the Barbecue Hall of Fame, and The Washington Post has called him a “barbecue celebrity.”
Rodney Scott Launched Good & Gather BBQ Line at Target in May
Scott has partnered with Target’s Good & Gather brand to bring his signature Southern flavors to home cooks nationwide.
The 12-product collection is crafted to elevate any backyard barbecue, featuring Carolina-style sauces, honey cornbread, mac & cheese, pork rinds, baked beans, iced tea, and more. For his famous whole-hog barbecue, though, fans will still need to visit a Rodney Scott’s BBQ location.
The Rodney Scott & Good & Gather collaboration was launched on June 1, both in Target stores and online.
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Is Beloved Chef Rodney Scott Married?