I don't have a very strong southern accent, but living here in Montana, where most of the natives have that nasally Dakotas/Minnesota accent, I actually find myself exaggerating my southern accent even more.
Literally gushing? As in blood?same thing happened to me, but in California some years ago. I was in a bar and and was talking to a couple of women from Los Angeles and they were literally gushing over my accent.
I've got cousins in Whyville and Fayevulle.I get called out for my accent anytime I leave the area, mostly for words like nice, wuter and Mondee, Tuesdee, Wednesdee, Thursdee................Whyville, Fayevulle, etc.
Facts, I went up to Massachusetts and the females up there just wanted to hear me talk.Friend of mine in college from Connecticut said girls would fall all over me if I went up north. So who cares what Douchbag guys think. I had a more hip hop/country accent.