View source for Darius Rucker

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Short description|American musician (born 1966)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Darius Rucker
| image             = Darius rucker (49562468842).jpg
| caption           = Rucker at the [[Daytona International Speedway]] in 2020
| birth_name        = Darius Carlos Rucker
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1966|5|13}}
| birth_place       = [[Charleston, South Carolina]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[Pop music|pop]]|[[Country music|country]]|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]||[[blues]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/darius-rucker-mn0000956675/biography | title=Darius Rucker | website=[[Allmusic]] | access-date=October 24, 2015 | author=Leahey, Andrew}}</ref>|[[alternative rock]]<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Darius Rucker Signs with CAA |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/darius-rucker-signs-with-caa-4207049/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 6, 2022}}</ref>}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|musician}}
| instrument        = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| years_active      = 1986–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]|[[Hidden Beach Recordings|Hidden Beach]]|[[Capitol Records Nashville|Capitol Nashville]]}}<!-- PLEASE DO NOT ADD ADDITIONAL LABELS WITHOUT A RELIABLE SOURCE. AND DO NOT REMOVE THE NOTE! -->
| current_member_of = [[Hootie & the Blowfish]]
| spouse            = {{marriage|Beth Leonard|2000|2020|reason=divorced}}
}}
'''Darius Carlos Rucker''' (born May 13, 1966)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Darius Rucker Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mo... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/darius-rucker-mn0000956675 |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist and [[rhythm guitar]]ist 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|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. Rucker co-wrote most of the songs with the other members of the band.

His debut studio album, an [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] record titled ''[[Back to Then]]'' (2002) was released through [[Hidden Beach Recordings]]. Six years later, Rucker signed to [[Capitol Records Nashville|Capitol Nashville]] as a [[country music|country]] 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 (Darius Rucker song)|Alright]]", and "[[History in the Making (song)|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 [[Hot Country Songs|country]] singles, "[[Come Back Song]]" and "[[This (Darius Rucker song)|This]]". His fourth album, ''[[True Believers (Darius Rucker album)|True Believers]]'' (2013), reached number 2 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], and spawned the singles "[[True Believers (song)|True Believers]]", "[[Wagon Wheel (song)|Wagon Wheel]]", and "[[Radio (Darius Rucker song)|Radio]]". His first country Christmas album, ''[[Home for the Holidays (Darius Rucker album)|Home for the Holidays]]'' (2014) reached number 31 on the US ''Billboard'' 200. His sixth album, ''[[Southern Style (Darius Rucker album)|Southern Style]]'' (2014) reached number 6 on the ''Billboard'' 200, supported by the singles "[[Homegrown Honey]]" and "[[Southern Style (song)|Southern Style]]". His seventh and eighth studio albums, ''[[When Was the Last Time]]'' (2017) and ''[[Carolyn's Boy]]'' (2023) followed thereafter.

==Early life==
Rucker was born and raised in [[Charleston, South Carolina]].<ref name="Puterbaugh">Puterbaugh, Parke (June 15, 1995)., "Fish out of water." ''Rolling Stone.'' (710):74</ref> His single mother, Carolyn, a nurse at [[Medical University of South Carolina]], raised him with his three sisters and two brothers.<ref name="Gray">Gray, Kevin, Cindy Dampier (April 10, 1995). "Fish out of water." ''People''. '''43''' (14):77</ref> According to Rucker, his father was never around, and Rucker saw him only before church on Sundays.<ref name="Farley">{{cite magazine |last1=Farley |first1=Christopher John |author1-link=Christopher John Farley |title=Music: Can 13 Million Hootie Fans Really Be Wrong? |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=April 29, 1996 |volume=147 |issue=18 |page=74 |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,984475,00.html |access-date=August 31, 2022 |issn=0040-781X}}</ref> His father was in a gospel band called The Traveling Echoes.<ref name="Farley" /> Rucker has said that he had a typical [[Southern United States|Southern]] [[African-American culture|African-American]] upbringing.<ref name="Puterbaugh" /> His family attended church every Sunday and was poor; at one point, his mother, her two sisters, his grandmother and 14 children were all living in a three-bedroom house.<ref name="Puterbaugh" /> But he says that he looks back on his childhood with very fond memories.<ref name="Puterbaugh" /> His sister, L'Corine, recalled that singing was always his dream.<ref name="Puterbaugh" />

==Hootie & the Blowfish==
Darius Rucker has been the lead singer of [[Hootie & the Blowfish]] since its formation in 1986. He met fellow band members [[Mark Bryan]], [[Jim Sonefeld|Jim "Soni" Sonefeld]],<ref name="Puterbaugh" /> and [[Dean Felber]] while attending the [[University of South Carolina]]. Bryan first heard Rucker singing in the shower, and the two became a duo, playing [[R.E.M.]] covers at a local venue.<ref name="Kennedy">Kennedy, Dana, Darryl Estrine (July 28, 1995). "Hootie's revenge." ''Entertainment Weekly'' (285):32</ref> They later recruited Felber and finally Sonefeld joined in 1989.<ref name="Kennedy" /> As a member of Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker has recorded seven studio albums: ''[[Cracked Rear View]]'' (1994), ''[[Fairweather Johnson]]'' (1996), ''[[Musical Chairs (Hootie & the Blowfish album)|Musical Chairs]]'' (1998), ''[[Scattered, Smothered and Covered]]'' (2000), ''[[Hootie & the Blowfish (album)| Hootie & the Blowfish]]'' (2003), ''[[Looking for Lucky]]'' (2005) and ''[[Imperfect Circle]]'' (2019), also charting within the top 40 of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] six times.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=hootie-the-blowfish-p44727/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=Hootie & the Blowfish chart history|work=Allmusic|access-date=November 22, 2010}}</ref> All six albums feature songs that Rucker, Bryan, Felber, and Sonefeld wrote. As the frontman, Rucker began to be called simply "Hootie" by fans,<ref name="cohen">Cohen, Rich (August 10, 1995), "Southern comfort". ''Rolling Stone'' (714):42</ref> though the band title combines the nicknames of his college friends.<ref name="Gray" /> Before his rise to fame, he lived in the basement of the [[Sigma Phi Epsilon]] house at the University of South Carolina, attempting to launch his career through the college bar scene.

Rucker's signature contribution to the band is his baritone voice, which ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' has called "ingratiating,"<ref>DeCurtis, Anthony, David Wild (May 13, 1999). "Rock + roll." ''Rolling Stone'' (812):60</ref> ''[[TIME]]'' has called "low, gruff, [and] charismatic,"<ref name="Farley" /> and ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' has characterized as a "barrelhouse growl."<ref name="browne">Browne, David (April 26, 96), "`Fairweather' report". ''Entertainment Weekly'' (324):55</ref> Rucker said they "flipped" the formula of the all black band with a white frontman, like [[Frank Sinatra]] performing with [[Count Basie]].<ref name="cohen" /> Musically, he has sometimes been criticized or spoofed for not being "black enough".<ref name="Kennedy" /> ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' ran a sketch of [[Tim Meadows]] playing Rucker leading beer-drinking, white [[Fraternities and sororities|fraternity]] members in a counter-march to [[Louis Farrakhan]]'s [[Million Man March]].<ref name="Farley" /><ref name="Balwin">Baldwin, Kristen (November 3, 1995), "The week". ''Entertainment Weekly''. (299):54</ref> 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.<ref name="Farley" />

Shortly after gaining a measure of fame, Felber and Rucker (who consider themselves best friends) moved into an apartment in [[Columbia, South Carolina]].<ref name="Kennedy" /> 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]].<ref name="Balwin" /> Frank Sinatra invited him to sing at his 80th birthday party; he sang "[[The Lady Is a Tramp]]."<ref>Russell, Lisa, Carolyn Ramsay (December 4, 1995). "Frankly admiring".. ''People''. '''44''' (23):85</ref> That same week, he made a voice cameo in an episode of the sitcom ''[[Friends]]''.<ref name="Balwin" /> He also joined [[Nanci Griffith]] on the song "Gulf Coast Highway" for her 1997 album ''[[Blue Roses from the Moons]]'',<ref>Stambler, Lyndon (June 2, 1997), "Blue Roses from the Moons". ''People''., '''47''' (21):32</ref> and sang backing vocals on [[Radney Foster]]'s 1999 album ''[[See What You Want to See]]''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=See What You Want to See |others=Radney Foster |year=1998 |type=CD insert |publisher=[[Arista Records]] |id=18833}}</ref> 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 (Edwin McCain album)|Honor Among Thieves]]''.<ref>Mukherjee, Tiarra, Maggie Murphy (April 19, 1996). "Give a Hootie". ''Entertainment Weekly''. (323):10</ref>

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."<ref name="Moraski">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/darius-rucker-to-release-new-country-album-in-early-2012/|title=Darius Rucker to release new country album in early 2012|last=Moraski|first=Lauren|date=December 14, 2011|work=CBSnews|access-date=January 9, 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Rayford">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hootie-and-the-blowfish-2019-tour-new-album-announced/|title=Hootie and The Blowfish reunite with new album, tour|last=Rayford|first=Sean|date=December 14, 2018|work=CBS News|access-date=December 5, 2018}}
</ref>

Their sixth studio album ''[[Imperfect Circle]]'' was released on November 1, 2019.<ref name="Hootie & the Blowfish">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article233640762.html|title=Hootie & the Blowfish to release new album since 2005. Here's how to hear new song|work=The State|last=Feit|first=Noah|date=August 8, 2019}}</ref>

==Solo career==
[[File:Darius Rucker.jpg|thumb|Rucker at [[Yokota Air Base]] in Japan, May 2004]]
In 2001, he made his solo [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] debut album, ''The Return of Mongo Slade,'' for Atlantic Records. Because of contractual changes, it was never released by the label.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=darius-rucker-p227711/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Darius Rucker biography |access-date=May 7, 2008 |last=Wilson |first=MacKenzie |work=[[Allmusic]]}}</ref> [[Hidden Beach Recordings]], an independent label, acquired the masters from Atlantic and released the album as ''[[Back to Then]]'' in July 2002.<ref name="allmusic" /> The album included work from the production team of [[Jill Scott (singer)|Jill Scott]], and she made an appearance on the track "Sometimes I Wonder."<ref>Arnold, Chuck (August 12, 2002). "Back to Then (Music recording)". ''People''. '''58''' (7):45</ref> The single "This Is My World" was featured in the 2001 comedy film ''[[Shallow Hal]]''. In regards to the album, "That was just a minute in my life," he later told ''[[The Arizona Republic]]'' about the record. "I was listening to a lot of [[Notorious B.I.G.]] and [[Lauryn Hill]] at that time, and I wanted to make a [[neo soul]] record."<ref name="CordRucker">Cordova, Randy. "[http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/10/15/darius-rucker-concert-hootie-reunion/17316481/ 10/15: Darius Rucker talks State Fair, Hootie reunion]." ''[[The Arizona Republic]]''. October 15, 2014.</ref> He also said in the article that he doesn't anticipate recording an R&B-styled disc again. "Country music is my day job now. I'll probably do this till it's all over, but that album was a lot of fun."<ref name="CordRucker" />

Rucker appeared on a pop-star edition of the [[quiz show]] ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]'' in July 2001.<ref>No byline (July 30, 2001), "Who Knows?". ''People''. '''56''' (5):54</ref> 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]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://advertising.about.com/b/2005/03/07/yes-thats-hootie-crooning-for-burger-king.htm |title=Yes, that's Hootie crooning for Burger King. In 1999, he sang "War" at the Bob Marley All-Star Tribute. |access-date=June 10, 2008 |last=Duncan |first=Apryl |date=March 7, 2005 |work=[[About.com]] |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707074923/http://advertising.about.com/b/2005/03/07/yes-thats-hootie-crooning-for-burger-king.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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 (2007 film)|The Still Life]]''.

===Country music===
====2008–2009: ''Learn to Live''====
In early 2008, Rucker signed to [[Capitol Records]] [[Nashville]] as the beginning of a career in country music. His first solo single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" (which he co-wrote with [[Clay Mills]]) debuted at No. 51 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs]] charts for the week of May 3, 2008. It is the first single from his second album, ''[[Learn to Live]]''. For this album, Rucker worked with [[Frank Rogers (record producer)|Frank Rogers]], a [[record producer]] who has also produced for [[Brad Paisley]] and [[Trace Adkins]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/article/hooties-darius-rucker-not-just-a-rocker-gone-country/|title=Hootie's Darius Rucker not just a rocker gone country|last=Taylor Jr.|first=Otis R.|date=September 19, 2008|work=PopMatters|access-date=November 22, 2010}}</ref> Rucker also made his [[Grand Ole Opry]] debut in July 2008.<ref name="gac">{{cite web|url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,3034,GAC_26063_5908862_,00.html |title=Darius Rucker Basking in Country Success |access-date=August 24, 2008 |date=July 23, 2008 |work=[[Great American Country|GAC]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123154746/http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,3034,GAC_26063_5908862_,00.html |archive-date=January 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name="engine145">{{cite web|url=http://www.engine145.com/rucker-proves-that-sometimes-the-best-marketing-is-no-marketing-at-all/ |title=Rucker Proves That Sometimes, The Best Marketing Is No Marketing At All |access-date=August 24, 2008 |last=C. |first=Matt |date=August 13, 2008 |work=Engine 145 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821150650/http://www.engine145.com/rucker-proves-that-sometimes-the-best-marketing-is-no-marketing-at-all/ |archive-date=August 21, 2014}}</ref> The single reached number one in September,<ref name="BB">Caulfield, Keith. [http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/charts/chart_alert/e3i6981db61c01d2a4dc258a2a3119dde7b "Metallica Holds At No. 1, Ne-Yo Arrives In Second "] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521202916/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/charts/chart_alert/e3i6981db61c01d2a4dc258a2a3119dde7b |date=May 21, 2011}}. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. September 24, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2010.</ref> making Rucker the first solo, African-American artist to chart a number one country hit since Charley Pride's "[[Night Games (Charley Pride song)|Night Games]]" in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/music/6310065.html|title=Darius Rucker thrilled to be living his dream|last=Guerra|first=Joey|date=March 13, 2009|work=[[The Houston Chronicle]]|access-date=November 22, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Darius Rucker, USAF.jpg|thumb|Rucker sings to a crowd during an Operation Pacific Greetings tour concert.]]
''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.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Darius%20Rucker&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50|access-date=September 18, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924155441/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Darius%20Rucker&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref> 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 (Darius Rucker song)|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|Wynonna]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/chart-beat-darius-rucker-mariah-carey-wilco/|title=Chart Beat: Darius Rucker, Mariah Carey, Brad Paisley, Wilco |last=Trust|first=Gary|date=August 5, 2009|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 6, 2009}}</ref> The album's fourth single, "[[History in the Making (song)|History in the Making]]" was released in September and peaked at No. 3.<ref name="country peaks">{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=darius rucker|chart=Country Songs}}|title=Darius Rucker Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=September 14, 2010}}</ref> The singles also crossed over to the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at 35, 36, 30 and 61.<ref name="hot100 peaks">{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=darius rucker|chart=Hot 100}}|title=Darius Rucker Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=September 14, 2010}}</ref>

{{quote box|align=left|width=27%|quote="You see a lot of people doing a one-off, saying, 'This is my country record.' But this is a career I'm trying to build. The people that say that they don't get it, I'll let the music speak for itself. I plan to do a lot of country records."<ref>Tucker, Ken (May 10, 2008), "Genre-Bender". ''Billboard''. '''120''' (19):64</ref>|source=—Rucker, ''Billboard'', 2008|style=padding:8px;}}
''[[Billboard (magazine)|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."<ref>Price, Deborah Evans (June 28, 2008). "Don't Think I Don't Think About It". ''Billboard''. '''120''' (26):64</ref> 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."<ref>Tucker, Ken (September 27, 2008), "New Kid On The Block". ''Billboard''. '''120''' (39):48</ref> 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."<ref>No byline (September 23, 2008), "Hootie's Rucker tops country chart". ''USA Today''.</ref> When Rucker found that "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" went to number one, he cried.<ref>Greene, Andy (September 30, 2008). "Hootie and the Blowfish Singer Leads Country-Crossover Pack". ''Rolling Stone''. (1064)</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2009/11/12/2009-11-12_cmas_underdog_darius_rucker_of_hootie_and_the_blowfish_first_black_to_win_best_n.html|title=CMA's underdog: Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish, first black to win best new artist|last=Lapowsky|first=Issie|date=November 12, 2009|work=NY Daily News|access-date=November 21, 2010|archive-date=November 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091116000002/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2009/11/12/2009-11-12_cmas_underdog_darius_rucker_of_hootie_and_the_blowfish_first_black_to_win_best_n.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33825077/ns/today-entertainment|title=Darius Rucker shoots for country milestone|date=November 11, 2009|work=Msnbc.com|access-date=November 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922084648/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33825077/ns/today-entertainment|archive-date=September 22, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====2010–2011: ''Charleston, SC 1966''====
Rucker released his second country album, ''[[Charleston, SC 1966]]'', on October 12, 2010. The title is inspired by [[Radney Foster]]'s solo debut album, ''[[Del Rio, TX 1959]].''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1643882/darius-rucker-schedules-new-album-charleston-sc-1966-for-oct-12.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022172051/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1643882/darius-rucker-schedules-new-album-charleston-sc-1966-for-oct-12.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2012|title=Darius Rucker Schedules New Album, Charleston, SC 1966, for Oct. 12|date=July 16, 2010|work=[[Country Music Television|CMT]]|access-date=August 22, 2010}}</ref> Its first single was "[[Come Back Song]],"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100820/JUICE05/8200368/-1/NEWS13/Rucker-makes-easy-transition|title=Rucker makes easy transition|last=Lawler|first=Joe|date=August 20, 2010|work=[[Des Moines Register]]|access-date=August 22, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> which Rucker wrote with [[Chris Stapleton]] and [[Casey Beathard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.cmt.com/2010-06-08/darius-rucker-sings-a-groovy-come-back-song/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711074446/http://blog.cmt.com/2010-06-08/darius-rucker-sings-a-groovy-come-back-song/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 11, 2010|title=Darius Rucker Sings a Groovy "Come Back Song"|last=Shelburne|first=Craig|date=June 8, 2010|work=CMT|access-date=August 22, 2010}}</ref> It was his fourth country number one as well as a No. 37 hit on the Hot 100.<ref name="country peaks" /><ref name="hot100 peaks" /> The album's second single was "[[This (Darius Rucker song)|This]]", which was released to radio in November 2010 and also reached No. 1 in the country chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/11/08/darius-rucker-this/|title=Darius Rucker — "This"|last=Cheung|first=Nadine|date=November 8, 2010|work=AOL Radio Blog|access-date=November 21, 2010|archive-date=November 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114013333/http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/11/08/darius-rucker-this/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Rucker wrote it with Rogers and [[Kara DioGuardi]]. "[[I Got Nothin']]" was the album's third single, peaking at No. 18. Also included on the album is a duet with [[Brad Paisley]] titled "I Don't Care".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/charleston-sc-1966-mw0002029076|title=''Charleston, SC 1966'' review|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|work=Allmusic|access-date=September 27, 2012}}</ref> ''Charleston, SC 1966'' received a gold certification.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Darius%20Rucker&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924155441/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Darius%20Rucker&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=Gold & Platinum Search |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] |access-date=March 4, 2011}}</ref>

====2012–2014: ''True Believers''====
On May 20, 2011, Rucker delivered the commencement address to the graduating class of the Medical University of South Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hettiger|first=Laura|url=http://www.counton2.com/story/21147151/darius-rucker-celebrates-muscs-graduation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180311/https://www.counton2.com/story/21147151/darius-rucker-celebrates-muscs-graduation|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2019|title=Darius Rucker celebrates MUSC's graduation|date=May 20, 2011|access-date=May 23, 2015}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Moraski" /> The album's lead-off single, "[[True Believers (song)|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 (Darius Rucker album)|True Believers]]''.<ref name="broadwayselectricbarnyard1">{{cite web|title=Broadway's Electric Barnyard |url=http://broadwayselectricbarnyard.com/2012/10/15/darius-rucker-sets-album-release-date-unveils-title/ |publisher=Broadwayselecttricbarnyard.com |access-date=May 21, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214655/http://broadwayselectricbarnyard.com/2012/10/15/darius-rucker-sets-album-release-date-unveils-title/ |archive-date=February 1, 2014}}</ref> "True Believers" peaked at No. 18. Its second single is a cover of [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Ketch Secor]]'s "[[Wagon Wheel (song)|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 (Darius Rucker song)|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.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=West |first=Kay |url=https://people.com/celebrity/brad-paisley-surprises-darius-rucker-with-grand-ole-opry-honor/|title=Brad Paisley Surprises Darius Rucker – with Grand Ole Opry Honor|magazine=People.com |date=January 14, 2013 |access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref>

Rucker was a featured performer at the [[C2C: Country to Country]] festival in [[London]] on March 17, 2013, which was headlined by [[Carrie Underwood]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tasteofcountry.com/country-to-country-music-festival-london-2013/ |title=Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood Set to Headline London's First-Ever Country to Country Music Festival |publisher=Taste of Country |date=December 10, 2012 |access-date=December 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212054430/http://tasteofcountry.com/country-to-country-music-festival-london-2013/ |archive-date=December 12, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On News Year's Day 2013. he sang the [[The Star-Spangled Banner|national anthem]] at the [[Outback Bowl]] in [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Florida]].

On May 11, 2013, Rucker was the speaker at the commencement ceremony for the [[University of South Carolina]] in [[Columbia, South Carolina|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 [[Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance|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.

====2014–2015: ''Southern Style'' and ''Home for the Holidays''====
On August 25, 2014, Rucker released a new single titled "[[Homegrown Honey]]" to country radio and to digital retailers. It served as the lead single to his fourth country studio album, ''[[Southern Style]],'' released on March 31, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stefano|first1=Angela|title=Darius Rucker Reveals New Album Details, 2015 Southern Style Tour Plans|url=http://theboot.com/darius-rucker-southern-style-album-2015-tour/|access-date=January 13, 2015|work=The Boot|date=January 13, 2015}}</ref> It reached No. 2 on the Country Airplay chart in April 2015. The album's second single, the title track, released to country radio on May 4, 2015.

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]]".<ref name="rollingstone9-15-2014">{{cite magazine|last1=Hudak|first1=Joseph|title=Darius Rucker To Release Christmas Album|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/darius-rucker-christmas-album-20140915|access-date=September 22, 2014|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=September 15, 2014|archive-date=September 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923191756/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/darius-rucker-christmas-album-20140915|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/SisterHazel/videos/vb.11691449991/10154401117409992/?type=2&theater|title=Sister Hazel|website=[[Facebook]]}}</ref>

====2016–present: ''When Was the Last Time'' and ''Carolyn's Boy''====
On January 6, 2016, Rucker announced that he was working on his fifth country album. The album's lead single, "If I Told You", was released to country radio on July 5, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.countryaircheck.com/pdfs/current062716.pdf|title=Country Aircheck|date=June 27, 2016|website=Countryaircheck.com|access-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref> It reached number one in the Country Airplay chart nearly a year later, and peaked at number four on the Hot Country Chart. Rucker also returned to the [[C2C: Country to Country]] festival in the UK in March 2017, where he was second on the bill to [[Reba McEntire]].

On May 29, 2016, Rucker performed the national anthem prior to the [[2016 Indianapolis 500|100th running of the Indianapolis 500]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rare.us/story/darius-rucker-just-turned-in-a-stunning-indy-500-rendition-of-the-star-spangled-banner/|title=Darius Rucker just turned in a stunning, Indy 500 rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner"|website=rare.us|publisher=Cox Media Group|last1=Despres|first1=Tricia|access-date=May 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827141343/http://rare.us/story/darius-rucker-just-turned-in-a-stunning-indy-500-rendition-of-the-star-spangled-banner/|archive-date=August 27, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 (defensive end)|Bruce Smith]], whose jersey was being retired that night.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills/index.ssf/2016/09/darius_rucker_to_sing_national_anthem_for_bills-jets_thursday_night_football.html|title=Darius Rucker to sing national anthem for Bills-Jets Thursday Night Football|website=Newyorkupstate.com|date=September 14, 2016|access-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref> He sang the national anthem again ahead of the [[New Orleans Saints|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 (Willie Nelson song)|On the Road Again]]" and "[[I Will Always Love You]]", which celebrates 50 years of the [[CMA Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/scenes-cmas-historic-music-video-featuring-30-country/story?id=42129062|title=30 Country Music Stars Join Forces for Historic CMA Music Video|date=September 22, 2016|website=ABC News|access-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref> 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 [[The Voice (American season 17)|seventeenth season]] of ''[[The Voice (American TV series)|The Voice]]'' for [[Blake Shelton|Team Blake]].<ref>[https://headlineplanet.com/home/2019/09/05/special-look-normani-usher-darius-rucker-will-i-am-join-the-voice-as-battle-advisors/ Special Look: Normani, Usher, Darius Rucker, will.i.am Join "The Voice" as Battle Advisors], Headline Planet, September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2019.</ref> Rucker released Beers and Sunshine<ref>[https://audiodorks.com/music/1524826285/beers-and-sunshine-darius-rucker Beers and Sunshine], AudioDorks, August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.</ref> in August 2020 under Capitol Records, and released a "summer mix" version of the song in 2021.<ref>{{cite news | title="Beers and Sunshine" Summer Mix - Out Now | website=Darius Rucker | date=July 9, 2021 | url=https://www.dariusrucker.com/news/-beers-and-sunshine-the-summer-mix-out-now | access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> In 2021, Rucker contributed a cover of the Metallica song "[[Nothing Else Matters]]" to the charity tribute album ''[[The Metallica Blacklist]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=He|first=Richard S.|date=September 10, 2021|title=Every Metallica Blacklist cover ranked from worst to best|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/every-metallica-blacklist-cover-ranked-from-worst-to-best|access-date=October 24, 2021|website=loudersound|language=en}}</ref>

Rucker released a new single titled "Same Beer Different Problems" in April 2022.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thecountrydaily.com/2022/04/29/darius-ruckers-new-song-is-same-beer-different-problems-is-out-now/ | title=Darius Rucker's New Song is "Same Beer Different Problems" is Out Now | newspaper=The Country Daily | date=April 29, 2022 | access-date=September 7, 2022}}</ref> Later in the year, he confirmed that he would be releasing a new album which would feature a collaboration with [[Chapel Hart]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.southernliving.com/news/chapel-hart-darius-rucker-new-album | title=Chapel Hart Set to Appear on Darius Rucker's New Album | publisher=[[Southern Living]] | date=July 26, 2022 | access-date=September 7, 2022}}</ref> Rucker subsequently announced that his seventh solo album, ''[[Carolyn's Boy]]'', named after his mother, would be released in 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://musicrow.com/2022/11/darius-rucker-announces-new-album-carolyns-boy/| title=Darius Rucker Announces New Album, 'Carolyn's Boy' | publisher=[[MusicRow]] | date=November 4, 2022 | access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> He featured on the single "[[To Be a Man (song)|To Be a Man]]" by [[Dax (rapper)|Dax]] in October 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nashville.com/watch-dax-to-be-a-man-featuring-darius-rucker/|title=WATCH: Dax, "To Be A Man" Featuring Darius Rucker|first=Jerry|last=Holthouse|work=Nashville.com|date=October 30, 2023|access-date=November 8, 2023}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= Daykin| first= James| title=The Opry unveils 100th birthday plans including a show in London |url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2024/10/14/the-opry-unveils-100th-birthday-plans-including-a-show-in-london/ |access-date=2025-03-20|website=Entertainment Focus |date=October 14, 2024|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Piner |first=Chris |date=May 21, 2025 |title=The Grand Ole Opry Taking Over London's Royal Albert Hall for 100th Anniversary |url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-grand-ole-opry-taking-over-londons-royal-albert-hall-for-100th-anniversary/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=American Songwriter |language=en}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{cite web|title=Howl Owl Howl drops "My Cologne"|url=https://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=15426|date=October 31, 2025|website=Country Standard Time}}</ref>

==Golf==
On November 7, 2016, Rucker told [[ESPN]] that he had become a partner in MGC Sports, a [[sports agent|sports agency]] that currently represents golfers (among them [[Steve Stricker]] and [[Kenny Perry]]), football players, and coaches. He added that he was planning to reduce his performance commitments from 100 dates per year to about 30, and that he thought his experience in the entertainment business would be an asset to potential clients. Rucker will be able to work without restrictions for golfers, but because he is not registered with the [[National Football League Players Association|NFL players' union]], he initially will only be able to meet with [[National Football League|NFL]] players under very limited circumstances.<ref name="Rovell" />

Rucker has hosted the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate at Long Cove Club in [[Hilton Head Island, South Carolina|Hilton Head]] since 2012.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gillespie |first1=Robert |title=South Carolina Golf |date=2021 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-1-4671-4549-7 |page=148 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ebYTEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA148 |access-date=7 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The three-day tournament annually hosts some of the top women's intercollegiate golf teams in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=PREVIEW and TV TIMES: 11th Annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate |url=https://www.amateurgolf.com/golf-tournament-news/29594/PREVIEW-and-TV-TIMES--11th-Annual-Darius-Rucker-Intercollegiate |website=AmateurGolf.com |access-date=7 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Rucker is an ardent [[South Carolina Gamecocks]] fan as well as a [[Miami Dolphins]] and [[Cincinnati Reds]] fan.<ref>Rucker, Darius (March 23, 1995), "Raves". ''Rolling Stone''. (704):40</ref>

Rucker's mother died in November 1992 of a heart attack.<ref name="Gray" /><ref name="Kennedy" /> His grief inspired two Hootie & the Blowfish songs: "I'm Goin' Home" and "Not Even the Trees."<ref name="Farley" /><ref name="Kennedy" /> On April 21, 1995, his girlfriend, Elizabeth Ann Phillips, gave birth to Rucker's first child, a daughter, Carolyn Pearl Phillips.<ref name="Puterbaugh" /> Rucker married Beth Leonard in 2000.<ref name="split">{{Cite news|title=Darius Rucker and Wife Beth Split After 20 Years: 'Our Priority Will Always Be Our Beautiful Family'|last=Slater|first=Georgia|url=https://people.com/country/darius-rucker-wife-beth-split-after-20-years/|access-date=November 2, 2020|newspaper=People|language=EN}}</ref> Their first child, daughter Daniela Rose, was born on May 16, 2001,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Byrd|first1=Veronica|url=http://people.com/archive/passages-vol-55-no-22/|website=People.com|publisher=People Magazine|access-date=August 2, 2017|date=June 4, 2001|title=Passages}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Farley" /> His country single "Alright" was inspired by his marriage.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Conaway|first=Alanna|date=September 7, 2009|title="Opposite" Song Delivers Smash|journal=[[Country Weekly]]|volume=16|issue=30|page=21}}</ref> Rucker and his wife announced their divorce in 2020.<ref name="split" />

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|his father's]] funeral.<ref>Dyball, Rennie (September 8, 2008). "Catching Up With... Darius Rucker". ''People''. '''70''' (10):56</ref> 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.<ref name="Rovell">{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/17995791/darius-rucker-hootie-blowfish-now-partner-sports-agency |title=Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish joins sports agency |first=Darren |last=Rovell |work=[[ESPN.com]] |date=November 7, 2016 |access-date=November 7, 2016}}</ref>

For the ''[[Undercover Boss (American TV series)|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.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/entertainment/2017/05/08/darius-rucker-scouts-la-man-undercover-boss/101442074/ |title= Darius Rucker scouts La. man on 'Undercover Boss' |author= Bonnie Bolden |date= May 8, 2017 |work= The News-Star |access-date= May 12, 2017}}</ref>

On February 1, 2024, Rucker was arrested in [[Williamson County, Tennessee]], on two misdemeanor drug charges and one misdemeanor vehicle registration violation.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/country-star-darius-rucker-arrested-drug-charges-tennessee-rcna136923 |title=Country star Darius Rucker arrested on drug charges in Tennessee |publisher= NBC News |date=2024-02-02 |access-date=2024-02-02}}</ref> He was released after posting $10,500 bail.<ref name=bailandcooperation /> 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."<ref name=bailandcooperation>{{cite news|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2024/02/02/darius-rucker-arrest-tennessee-what-is-simple-possession-casual-exchange/72449170007/|title=Darius Rucker was charged with simple possession in Tennessee. What does that charge mean?|first=Joyce|last=Orlando|publisher=[[The Tennessean]]|date=February 2, 2024|accessdate=February 2, 2024}}</ref>

In 2024 his memoir, ''Life's Too Short: A Memoir'', written with Alan Eisenstock, was published by [[Dey Street]]/[[HarperCollins]].<ref>https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/darius-rucker/lifes-too-short-2/</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oyer |first=Kalyn |date=January 31, 2025 |title=Darius Rucker moves to London. Here's why the Charleston music icon chose to live across the pond. |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/charleston_scene/darius-rucker-moves-london-hootie-sc/article_f59eb0a8-dfeb-11ef-aa2a-3f4ef6f9b5cb.html |website=Post and Courier}}</ref>

Rucker announced his engagement to Emily Deahl on October 8, 2025.<ref>{{cite web | last=Rowe | first=Jessica | title=She Said Yes! Darius Rucker Is Engaged | website=Taste of Country | date=October 8, 2025 | url=https://tasteofcountry.com/darius-rucker-engaged-emily-deahl-ring/ | access-date=October 8, 2025}}</ref>

== Philanthropy and impact ==
Rucker has regularly worked with charities that support sick and underprivileged children, via benefit concerts, volunteering, the World Golf Foundation's [[The First Tee]] Program, and the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation which has raised nearly $4.5 million to provide funding to public education systems throughout South Carolina.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamwindsor/2018/12/03/hootie-the-blowfish-announces-tour-and-new-album-in-2019/#1a9a1553af8a|title=Hootie & the Blowfish Announces Tour and New Album in 2019|access-date=December 1, 2018}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://imagine.musckids.org/our-supporters/co-chairs|title=Imagine What's Possible|last=Stooksberry|first=Emily|website=imagine.musckids.org|language=en|access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://wezl.iheart.com/content/2017-03-30-darius-rucker-gets-emotional-at-musc-childrens-hospital/|title=Darius Rucker Gets Emotional at MUSC Children's Hospital|publisher=103.5 WEZL|access-date=August 23, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2018/06/07/darius-rucker-friends-raise-more-than-400000-for-st-jude-through-2018-concert-golf-tourney/|title=Darius Rucker & Friends Raise More Than $400,000 for St. Jude Through 2018 Concert & Golf Tourney|date=June 7, 2018|work=Nash Country Daily|access-date=August 23, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Tours==
'''Headlining'''
*[[Southern Style Tour]] (2015)
*Good for a Good Time (2016)
*Starting Fires Tour (2023)

'''Co-headlining'''
*Summer Plays on Tour (2018) with [[Lady A|Lady Antebellum]]

'''Supporting'''
*{{Proper name|H<sub>2</sub>O II: Wetter and Wilder Tour}} with [[Brad Paisley]] (2012)
*Own the Night Tour with [[Lady Antebellum]] (2012)

==Discography==
{{main|Darius Rucker discography}}
;Studio albums
*''[[Back to Then]]'' (2002)
*''[[Learn to Live]]'' (2008)
*''[[Charleston, SC 1966]]'' (2010)
*''[[True Believers (Darius Rucker album)|True Believers]]'' (2013)
*''[[Home for the Holidays (Darius Rucker album)|Home for the Holidays]]'' (2014)
*''[[Southern Style]]'' (2015)
*''[[When Was the Last Time]]'' (2017)
*''[[Carolyn's Boy]]'' (2023)

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year 
! Title 
! Notes 
|-
| 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 <br /> with [[Earth, Wind and Fire]] in June 2017 <br /> with [[The Black Crowes]] in May 2023
|-
| rowspan=2| 2019
| ''[[The Voice (American TV series)|The Voice]]''
| [[The Voice (American season 17)|Season 17]] for [[Blake Shelton|Team Blake]]
|-
| ''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 (American TV series)|Big Sky]]''
| Episode: "Come Get Me". Plays the character of Possum<ref>{{cite web | last=Wang | first=K.L. Connie | title='Big Sky' Goes Country! Two Music Icons Joining the Cast in the Latest Episode | website=Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays | date=November 2, 2022 | url=https://parade.com/tv/big-sky-guest-stars-lyle-lovett-darius-rucker | access-date=November 5, 2022}}</ref>
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Accolades for Darius Rucker
|-
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Association
!scope="col"| Category
!scope="col"| Nominated work
!scope="col"| Result
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1995
| rowspan="2"| [[38th Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]]
|scope="row"| [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]]
| Hootie & The Blowfish
| {{Won}}<ref name="1995grammy">{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1995&genre=All|title=1995 Grammy Award Winners|publisher=Grammy.com|access-date=May 1, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923073524/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1995&genre=All | archive-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|scope="row"| [[Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]]
| "[[Let Her Cry (song)|Let Her Cry]]"
| {{Won}}{{r|1995grammy}}
|-
| rowspan="3"|2009
| [[Country Music Association Awards]]
|scope="row"| New Artist of the Year
| rowspan="3"| Darius Rucker
| {{Won}}<ref>{{cite web | title=2009 CMA Awards Winners | website=ACountry | date=November 12, 2009 | url=https://www.acountry.com/2009-cma-awards-winners/ | access-date=April 29, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| [[Academy of Country Music Awards]]
|scope="row"| Top Male Vocalist
| {{Nom}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=March 2, 2010|title=45th ACM Awards Nominees Announced|url=http://roughstock.com/news/2010/03/19868-45th-acm-awards-nominees-announced|access-date=July 17, 2020|website=RoughStock|archive-date=July 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717065445/http://roughstock.com/news/2010/03/19868-45th-acm-awards-nominees-announced|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[American Music Awards of 2009|American Music Awards]]
|scope="row"| [[American Music Award for Favorite Country Male Artist|Favorite Country Male Artist]]
| {{Nom}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/nominations |title=Nominations of 2009 American Music Awards |work=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] |access-date=November 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203030557/http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/nominations |archive-date=December 3, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2011
| [[CMT Music Awards]]
|scope="row"| CMT Performance of the Year
| "[[Need You Now (Lady Antebellum song)|Need You Now]]" <br /><small>(with [[Adele]])</small>
| {{Nom}}<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.cmtpress.com/program/2011-cmt-music-awards/page/nominees-recipients/ | website=CMT Press | title=Nominees & Recipients | access-date=April 29, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|2012
| [[Country Music Association Awards]]
|scope="row"| Musical Event of the Year
| "[[Stuck on You (Lionel Richie song)|Stuck on You]]" <br /><small>(with [[Lionel Richie]])</small>
| {{Nom}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/2012-cma-awards-winners/|title = 2012 CMA Awards Winners – Full List|website=Tasteofcountry.com| date=November 2, 2012 }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="5"|2013
| rowspan="3"| [[Academy of Country Music Awards]]
|scope="row"| Single Record of the Year
| rowspan="6"| "[[Wagon Wheel (song)|Wagon Wheel]]"
| {{Nom}}<ref name="acma2013">{{Cite press release|title=Nominations Announced For The 49th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® AWARDS Country Music's Party Of The Year®|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nominations-announced-for-the-49th-annual-academy-of-country-music-awards-country-musics-party-of-the-year-242599131.html|last=Music|first=Academy of Country|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=May 29, 2020}}</ref>
|-
|scope="row"| Song of the Year
| {{Nom}}{{r|acma2013}}
|-
|scope="row"| Vocal Event of the Year (with [[Lady Antebellum]])
| {{Nom}}{{r|acma2013}}
|-
| [[Country Music Association Awards]]
|scope="row"| Single of the Year
| {{Nom}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/2013-cma-awards-winners/|title = 2013 CMA Awards Winners - Full List|website=Tasteofcountry.com| date=November 7, 2013 }}</ref>
|-
| [[56th Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]]
|scope="row"| [[Best Country Solo Performance]]
| {{Won}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees |title=The Official Site of Music's Biggest Night |publisher=GRAMMY.com |access-date=January 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204023547/http://www.grammy.com/NOMINEES |archive-date=December 4, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2014
| rowspan="2"| [[2014 Billboard Music Awards|''Billboard'' Music Awards]]
|scope="row"| Top Country Song
| {{Nom}}<ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/bbma-2014/6042208/billboard-music-awards-finalists-2014-bbmas |title=Imagine Dragons, Lorde, Justin Timberlake Lead 2014 Billboard Music Awards Finalists |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 9, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|scope="row"| Top Country Artist
| Darius Rucker
| {{Nom}}{{r|billboard}}
|-
| 2015
| rowspan="2"| [[CMT Music Awards]]
|scope="row"| Video of the Year
| "[[Homegrown Honey]]"
| {{Nom}}<ref>{{cite web | last=Colurso | first=Mary | title=CMT Music Awards 2015: Nominees include Sam Hunt, Little Big Town, Band Perry, Zac Brown Band | website=al | date=May 15, 2015 | url=https://www.al.com/entertainment/2015/05/cmt_music_awards_2015_nominees.html | access-date=April 29, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 2016
|scope="row"| Performance of the Year
| "[[Alright (Darius Rucker song)|Alright]]"
| {{Nom}}<ref>{{cite web | title=CMT Music Awards 2016: Performance of the Year Nominees Revealed | website=PEOPLE.com | date=May 9, 2016 | url=https://people.com/country/cmt-music-awards-2016-performance-of-the-year-nominees-revealed/ | access-date=April 29, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 2017
| [[CMT Music Awards]]
|scope="row"| Performance of the Year
| "Pink Houses"<br /><small>(with [[John Mellencamp]])</small>
|{{nom}}<ref>{{cite web | last=Marquina | first=Sierra | title=CMT Awards 2017: Complete Winners List | website=Us Weekly | date=June 7, 2017 | url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/cmt-awards-2017-complete-list-of-nominees-and-winners-w486515/ | access-date=April 29, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 2018
| [[Academy of Country Music Awards]]
|scope="row"| Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award
| rowspan=2|Darius Rucker
| {{won}}<ref>{{cite web | title=ACM Honors Recipients Include Matraca Berg, Alan Jackson, Rob Potts, Darius Rucker | website=MusicRow.com | date=May 8, 2018 | url=https://musicrow.com/2018/05/acm-honors-recipients-include-matraca-berg-alan-jackson-rob-potts-darius-rucker/ | access-date=April 29, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 2023
| [[Country Music Association Awards]]
|scope="row"| CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award
| {{won}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://musicrow.com/2023/10/darius-rucker-presented-with-2023-cma-foundation-humanitarian-award/ | title=Darius Rucker Presented with 2023 CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award | date=October 24, 2023 }}</ref>
|}

In November 2023, it was announced that Rucker would get a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref name="wof">{{Cite web |url=https://walkoffame.com/press_releases/darius-rucker-to-be-honored-with-star-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame/ |title=DARIUS RUCKER TO BE HONORED WITH STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME |publisher=[[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] |date=2023-11-28 |accessdate=2023-11-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q445405|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|species=no|s=no}}
*{{official website}}
*{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p227711|label=Darius Rucker}}
*[http://realcountry.podomatic.com/entry/2013-10-09T13_00_00-07_00 Darius Rucker talks about True Believers] on [[Ben Sorensen's REAL Country]]

{{Darius Rucker|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Darius Rucker
|list =
{{CMA New Artist}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance}}
}}
{{Hootie & the Blowfish}}
{{Grand Ole Opry members}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rucker, Darius}}
[[Category:Darius Rucker| ]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:African-American country musicians]]
[[Category:African-American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:African-American rock musicians]]
[[Category:African-American guitarists]]
[[Category:American alternative rock musicians]]
[[Category:American baritones]]
[[Category:American contemporary R&B singers]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rock singers]]
[[Category:American rock songwriters]]
[[Category:American sports agents]]
[[Category:American guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records artists]]
[[Category:Capitol Records artists]]
[[Category:Country musicians from South Carolina]]
[[Category:Country pop musicians]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Grand Ole Opry members]]
[[Category:Hootie & the Blowfish members]]
[[Category:Howl Owl Howl members]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Charleston, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from South Carolina]]
[[Category:University of South Carolina alumni]]