The Southern Baptist Church is the fastest growing church in America. Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich, both Southerners, lead our major political parties. And southern county music has gone mainstream. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, how life below the Mason- Dixon line is transforming the nation. Also, the secret war to resurrect the Old South.

SEGMENT 1:

Journalist Peter Applebome tells Steve Paulson that the South now greatly influences American mainstream culture, citing the number of Southerners prominent in national politics, and the popularity of country music. Applebome writes for the New York Times; his book is "Dixie Rising: How the South Is Shaping American Values, Politics and Culture." Also, Diane Roberts - a lifelong Southerner - teaches southern culture at the University of Alabama. She tells Jim Fleming about The League of the South and why they want to separate from the rest of the country.

SEGMENT 2:

Daryl Cumber Dance is the editor of "Honey, Hush!: An Anthology of African American Women's Humor." She tells Judith Strasser that African-American humor is rooted in the tradition of Southern folk wisdom and helps African Americans endure the injustices of history.

SEGMENT 3:

Rick Bragg is a Pulitzer Prize winning correspondent for the New York Times, and the author of "All Over But the Shoutin'." It's a memoir of growing up in poverty with his remarkably strong and resourceful mother. Bragg tells Judith Strasser about his favorite memories, and what he thinks of outsiders' stereotypes of Southerners.

Distribution dates:

• week of 01/18/98 - hour 1