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Darius Carlos Rucker (born May 13, 1966) is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist and of rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, which he founded in 1986 at the University of South Carolina along with Mark Bryan, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld, and Dean Felber. The band released five studio albums with Rucker as a member and charted six top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Rucker co-wrote most of the songs with the other members of the band.
His debut studio album, an R&B record titled Back to Then (2002) was released through Hidden Beach Recordings. Six years later, Rucker signed to Capitol Nashville as a country music singer and released his second album, Learn to Live (2008). Its first single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It", peaked at number one on Hot Country Songs chart, making it the first song by a Black artist to do so since Charley Pride in 1983. It was followed by three similarly successful singles: "It Won't Be Like This for Long", "Alright", and "History in the Making".
In 2009, he became the first Black American to win the New Artist Award from the Country Music Association, and the second Black person to win any award from the association. His third album, Charleston, SC 1966, was released on October 12, 2010. The album included the number one country singles, "Come Back Song" and "This". His fourth album, True Believers (2013), reached number 2 on the Billboard 200, and spawned the singles "True Believers", "Wagon Wheel", and "Radio". His first country Christmas album, Home for the Holidays (2014) reached number 31 on the US Billboard 200. His sixth album, Southern Style (2014) reached number 6 on the Billboard 200, supported by the singles "Homegrown Honey" and "Southern Style". His seventh and eighth studio albums, When Was the Last Time (2017) and Carolyn's Boy (2023) followed thereafter. In 2025, he debuted a new supergroup, Howl Owl Howl.
Rucker's signature contribution to the band is his baritone voice, which Rolling Stone has called "ingratiating,"DeCurtis, Anthony, David Wild (May 13, 1999). "Rock + roll." Rolling Stone (812):60 TIME has called "low, gruff, and charismatic," and Entertainment Weekly has characterized as a "barrelhouse growl."Browne, David (April 26, 96), "`Fairweather' report". Entertainment Weekly (324):55 Rucker said they "flipped" the formula of the all black band with a white frontman, like Frank Sinatra performing with Count Basie. Musically, he has sometimes been criticized or spoofed for not being "black enough". Saturday Night Live ran a sketch of Tim Meadows playing Rucker leading beer-drinking, white fraternity members in a counter-march to Louis Farrakhan's Million Man March.Baldwin, Kristen (November 3, 1995), "The week". Entertainment Weekly. (299):54 He also received death threats for singing the Hootie song "Drowning," a protest song against the flying of the Confederate flag above the South Carolina statehouse.
Shortly after gaining a measure of fame, Felber and Rucker (who consider themselves best friends) moved into an apartment in Columbia, South Carolina. With Rucker's recognition as the frontman of a successful band came increased opportunities. In October 1995, he was asked to sing the national anthem at the World Series. Frank Sinatra invited him to sing at his 80th birthday party; he sang "The Lady Is a Tramp."Russell, Lisa, Carolyn Ramsay (December 4, 1995). "Frankly admiring".. People. 44 (23):85 That same week, he made a voice cameo in an episode of the sitcom Friends. He also joined Nanci Griffith on the song "Gulf Coast Highway" for her 1997 album Blue Roses from the Moons,Stambler, Lyndon (June 2, 1997), "Blue Roses from the Moons". People., 47 (21):32 and sang backing vocals on Radney Foster's 1999 album See What You Want to See. He encouraged Atlantic Records to agree to a deal with Edwin McCain and made a guest appearance on McCain's debut album, Honor Among Thieves.Mukherjee, Tiarra, Maggie Murphy (April 19, 1996). "Give a Hootie". Entertainment Weekly. (323):10
In regard to the future of Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker was quoted by CBS news as stating in late 2011, "I don't think we'll ever break up totally. We're Hootie & the Blowfish. ... We'll make another record and do another tour someday. I don't know when, but it will happen. There's one more in us." After a ten-year hiatus, Rucker and the band announced that they would be touring with Barenaked Ladies in 2019 while also releasing a new album that same year.
Their sixth studio album Imperfect Circle was released on November 1, 2019.
Rucker appeared on a pop-star edition of the quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in July 2001.No byline (July 30, 2001), "Who Knows?". People. 56 (5):54 He also portrayed a singing cowboy in a television commercial for the fast-food company Burger King, promoting its TenderCrisp Bacon Cheddar Ranch sandwich in 2005. In the commercial, he sang a jingle set to the tune of "The Big Rock Candy Mountains". In 2006 Rucker lent his voice to the track "God's Reasons" written by Dean Dinning and Joel A. Miller for the film The Still Life.
Learn to Live was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 6, 2009, and received a platinum certification on August 7, 2009. The album's second single, "It Won't Be Like This for Long", spent three weeks at the top of the country chart in mid-2009. Its follow-up, "Alright", became Rucker's third straight No. 1 hit, making him the first singer to have his first three country singles reach No. 1 since Wynonna Judd in 1992. The album's fourth single, "History in the Making" was released in September and peaked at No. 3. The singles also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 35, 36, 30 and 61.
Billboard magazine said that "there's a sense of purpose that makes Rucker feel like a member of the country family, rather than calculating interloper."Price, Deborah Evans (June 28, 2008). "Don't Think I Don't Think About It". Billboard. 120 (26):64 Rucker made visits to various country stations around the United States, explaining that he was aware that he was the "new kid on the block."Tucker, Ken (September 27, 2008), "New Kid On The Block". Billboard. 120 (39):48 Mike Culotta, the program director of Tampa, Florida, radio station WQYK-FM expected that Rucker would be "somebody who would have entitlement," but instead said that "Darius engaged everybody."No byline (September 23, 2008), "Hootie's Rucker tops country chart". USA Today. When Rucker found that "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" went to number one, he cried.Greene, Andy (September 30, 2008). "Hootie and the Blowfish Singer Leads Country-Crossover Pack". Rolling Stone. (1064) On November 11, 2009, Rucker won the Country Music Association New Artist of the Year award (formerly known as the Horizon Award), making him the first African American to do so since the award was introduced in 1981. Only one other African American has won at the CMAs: Charley Pride, who won entertainer of the year in 1971 and male vocalist in 1971 and 1972.
On December 14, 2011, CBSnews.com reported that Rucker was working on a third country album with recording set to begin January 2012 followed by the release of the album early in the year. The album's lead-off single, "True Believers," made its chart debut in September. On October 12, 2012, Rucker told Broadway's Electric Barnyard that his album would also be titled True Believers. "True Believers" peaked at No. 18. Its second single is a cover of Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor's "Wagon Wheel" (previously made famous by Old Crow Medicine Show), featuring backing vocals from Lady Antebellum. "Wagon Wheel" reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart in May 2013. True Believers was released on May 21, 2013. The album's third single, "Radio", was released to country radio on July 22, 2013. The album's fourth single, "Miss You", was released to country radio on February 3, 2014.
On October 2, 2012, Rucker was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. Halfway through his set at the Opry that night he answered questions from the audience which included a question from Brad Paisley. Paisley said: "I have two questions. One, are you still the worst poker player in the world? And two, would you like to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry?" Rucker accepted, and it became official on October 16.
Rucker was a featured performer at the festival in London on March 17, 2013, which was headlined by Carrie Underwood.
On News Year's Day 2013. he sang the national anthem at the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida.
On May 11, 2013, Rucker was the speaker at the commencement ceremony for the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Before his speech, he received an honorary doctorate of music.
Rucker also sang the national anthem at the NBA finals on June 16, 2013.
On December 6, 2013, it was announced that Rucker's version of "Wagon Wheel" had earned him a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. At the awards ceremony on January 26, 2014, Rucker won, becoming only the third African American recording act (the first being Charley Pride, the second being The Pointer Sisters) to win a vocal performance Grammy Award in a country music category.
On September 15, 2014, it was announced that Rucker had completed his first Christmas album and that it would be released on October 27, 2014. Included is a collaboration with Sheryl Crow on "Baby, It's Cold Outside". May 30, 2015, Rucker headlined Philadelphia's famous XTU 31st Anniversary Show at the Susquehanna Bank Center. Christopher Bousquet named President of the Hootie fan club
Rucker makes an appearance on Sister Hazel's 2016 album, Lighter in the Dark.
On May 29, 2016, Rucker performed the national anthem prior to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Rucker also performed the national anthem for a game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets on September 15. Rucker agreed to perform the song at the behest of personal friend and former Bills player Bruce Smith, whose jersey was being retired that night. He sang the national anthem again ahead of the Saints-Dolphins game held at London's Wembley Stadium in October 2017, as part of the NFL International Series.
Rucker was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mash-up track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again" and "I Will Always Love You", which celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards. On July 24, 2017, Rucker released the second single from his upcoming album, titled "For the First Time." On July 26, 2017, he shared details of his fifth country album, titled When Was the Last Time and it was released on October 20, 2017.
Rucker appeared as a mentor on seventeenth season of The Voice for Blake Shelton. Special Look: Normani, Usher, Darius Rucker, will.i.am Join "The Voice" as Battle Advisors, Headline Planet, September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2019. Rucker released Beers and Sunshine Beers and Sunshine, AudioDorks, August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020. in August 2020 under Capitol Records, and released a "summer mix" version of the song in 2021. In 2021, Rucker contributed a cover of the Metallica song "Nothing Else Matters" to the charity tribute album The Metallica Blacklist.
Rucker released a new single titled "Same Beer Different Problems" in April 2022. Later in the year, he confirmed that he would be releasing a new album which would feature a collaboration with Chapel Hart. Rucker subsequently announced that his seventh solo album, Carolyn's Boy, named after his mother, would be released in 2023. He featured on the single "To Be a Man" by Dax in October 2023.
On September 26, 2025 Rucker performed, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, to celebrate Opry 100, alongside Luke Combs, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde and Marty Stuart.
In 2025, Rucker, R.E.M. (band) guitarist Mike Mills, and drummer Steve Gorman of the Black Crowes formed a supergroup called Howl Owl Howl, releasing the single "My Cologne."
Rucker has hosted the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head since 2012. The three-day tournament annually hosts some of the top women's intercollegiate golf teams in the country.
Rucker's mother died in November 1992 of a heart attack. His grief inspired two Hootie & the Blowfish songs: "I'm Goin' Home" and "Not Even the Trees." On April 21, 1995, his girlfriend, Elizabeth Ann Phillips, gave birth to Rucker's first child, a daughter, Carolyn Pearl Phillips. Rucker married Beth Leonard in 2000. Their first child, daughter Daniela Rose, was born on May 16, 2001, and their son, Jack, on October 27, 2004. The Hootie song "Where Were You" is about Rucker's strained relationship with his father, and was released only in Europe, where Rucker thought that his father would be unlikely to hear it. His country single "Alright" was inspired by his marriage. Rucker and his wife announced their divorce in 2020.
Rucker is a friend of golfer Tiger Woods, whom he met in a bar in 1993 when Woods was 18. Rucker sang at the golfer's wedding with Hootie & the Blowfish and at Earl Woods funeral.Dyball, Rennie (September 8, 2008). "Catching Up With... Darius Rucker". People. 70 (10):56 His interest in golf goes well beyond his relationship with Woods; he was a VIP guest of Team USA at the 2016 Ryder Cup, and he attended Arnold Palmer's funeral shortly before the Cup.
For the Undercover Boss series episode "Celebrity Undercover Boss: Darius Rucker", which premiered May 12, 2017, Rucker disguised himself as a 62-year-old music teacher, ran an open mic night and worked as a roadie.
On February 1, 2024, Rucker was arrested in Williamson County, Tennessee, on two misdemeanor drug charges and one misdemeanor vehicle registration violation. He was released after posting $10,500 bail. In a statement given to The Tennessean, Rucker's lawyer Mark Puryear claimed that Rucker was "fully cooperating with authorities related to the misdemeanor charges."
In 2024 his memoir, Life's Too Short: A Memoir, written with Alan Eisenstock, was published by Dey Street/
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On January 29, 2025, Rucker revealed in an Instagram post that he would be relocating to London, England, to tour more frequently around the United Kingdom, and work on new creative endeavors. He had no plans to renounce his U.S. citizenship.
Rucker announced his engagement to Emily Deahl on October 8, 2025.
On March 25, 2026, Rucker announced that he became co-owner of NASCAR Cup Series team Legacy Motor Club.
He serves as a board member of the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in Charleston, where his mother worked for over thirty years from the time Rucker was a child, and has helped raise millions of dollars to help build a new hospital.
He also made a commitment to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital after touring the facility in 2008. Since then, Rucker has spearheaded an annual event resulting in over $1.6 million raised for St. Jude's to date.
Co-headlining
Supporting
| 2001 | Shallow Hal | Maitre'd |
| 2016 | Live from Daryl's House | with Daryl Hall in Charleston, SC |
| 2017, 2023 | CMT Crossroads | Along with John Mellencamp in March 2017 with Earth, Wind and Fire in June 2017 with The Black Crowes in May 2023 |
| 2019 | The Voice | Season 17 for Blake Shelton |
| Brad Paisley Thinks He's Special | Brad Paisley along with Kelsea Ballerini, Jonas Brothers, Peyton Manning, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Kimberly Williams-Paisley | |
| 2020 | Country Music Association Awards | Along with Reba McEntire |
| 2022 | Rucker's Reno | About his renovation of a historic mansion in Charleston |
| 2022 | Big Sky | Episode: "Come Get Me". Plays the character of Possum |
| +Accolades for Darius Rucker | ||||
| 1995 | Grammy Awards | Best New Artist | Hootie & The Blowfish | |
| Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | "Let Her Cry" | |||
| 2009 | Country Music Association Awards | New Artist of the Year | Darius Rucker | |
| Academy of Country Music Awards | Top Male Vocalist | |||
| American Music Awards | Favorite Country Male Artist | |||
| 2011 | CMT Music Awards | CMT Performance of the Year | "Need You Now" (with Adele) | |
| 2012 | Country Music Association Awards | Musical Event of the Year | "Stuck on You" (with Lionel Richie) | |
| 2013 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Single Record of the Year | "Wagon Wheel" | |
| Song of the Year | ||||
| Vocal Event of the Year (with Lady Antebellum) | ||||
| Country Music Association Awards | Single of the Year | |||
| Grammy Awards | Best Country Solo Performance | |||
| 2014 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Country Song | ||
| Top Country Artist | Darius Rucker | |||
| 2015 | CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year | "Homegrown Honey" | |
| 2016 | Performance of the Year | "Alright" | ||
| 2017 | CMT Music Awards | Performance of the Year | "Pink Houses" (with John Mellencamp) | |
| 2018 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award | Darius Rucker | |
| 2023 | Country Music Association Awards | CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award |
In November 2023, it was announced that Rucker would get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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