HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH BRING CLASSIC HIT “ONLY WANNA BE WITH YOU” TO ABC’s “GOOD MORNING AMERICA” AS "SUMMER CAMP WITH TRUCKS" TOUR ROLLS TO FENWAY PARK

Generation-Defining Band Surprised With Plaque Celebrating RIAA 22x Platinum Certification of Cracked Rear View Top 10 Best-Selling Album in Music History

Also Performed Iconic Hits “Hold My Hand” and “Let Her Cry” on “GMA3: What You Need To Know”

This morning, June 20, iconic band Hootie & the Blowfish electrified audiences nationwide with a live performance of their timeless hit “Only Wanna Be With You” on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” The performance marked a highlight in their ongoing Summer Camp with Trucks Tour, set to make its next stop at Boston’s famed Fenway Park tomorrow, June 21, and running through the fall.

During the broadcast, the band received a special surprise: a commemorative plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) celebrating their debut album, Cracked Rear View, achieving 22x Platinum certification, further extending its Double Diamond-certified status. This monumental accomplishment solidifies Cracked Rear View as one of the top 10 best-selling albums in music history, a testament to the band’s enduring appeal and the album’s lasting impact on the music industry.

Photo Credit: ABC/Paula Lobo

Hootie & the Blowfish, formed by members Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber and Jim “Soni” Sonefeld during their time as students at the University of South Carolina, also treated fans to their hits “Hold My Hand” and “Let Her Cry” on “GMA3:What You Need To Know.”

WATCH: Hootie & the Blowfish Perform “Let Her Cry” on “GMA3: What You Need To Know”

WATCH: Hootie & the Blowfish Perform “Hold My Hand” on “GMA3: What You Need To Know”

Fans can hear those classic hits and more on the ongoing Summer Camp with Trucks Tour, produced by Live Nation and featuring special guests Collective Soul and Edwin McCain. Visiting arenas, amphitheaters and select stadiums such as tomorrow’s stop at Fenway Park (with special guests Barenaked Ladies), the tour also includes a homecoming to Columbia, S.C.’s Colonial Life Arena for the Gamecock alumni as well as a headlining appearance at Rucker’s own Riverfront Revival Music Festival in their home state in October. Tickets to all shows are on sale now via Hootie.com.

In addition, a celebration of the band's decades-long career that brings their classic sound to fans across the country, they also recently released their rendition of “For What It's Worth.” The timeless anthem originally penned by Stephen Stills in 1966 was recorded by Hootie & the Blowfish in 2017 during their studio sessions for Imperfect Circle. Listen HERE.

For more information, visit Hootie.com and follow on Facebook @hootieandtheblowfish, Instagram @hootieoffcial and Twitter/X @hootietweets.

Remaining Summer Camp with Trucks Tour Dates

June 21 | Boston, Mass. | Fenway Park
June 27 | Bethel, N.Y. | Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
June 28 | Hershey, Pa. | Hersheypark Stadium
June 29 | Burgettstown, Pa. | The Pavilion at Star Lake
July 10 | Denver, Colo. | Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
July 11 | Salt Lake City, Utah | USANA Amphitheatre
July 13 | Phoenix, Ariz. | Footprint Center
July 16 | Anaheim, Calif. | Honda Center
July 17 | Mountain View, Calif. | Shoreline Amphitheatre
July 19 | Portland, Ore. | RV Inn Styles Amphitheater
July 20 | Seattle, Wash. | White River Amphitheatre
July 26 | Birmingham, Ala. | Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
July 27 | Nashville, Tenn. | Bridgestone Arena
Aug. 1 | Hartford, Conn. | The XFINITY Theatre
Aug. 2 | Holmdel, N.J. | PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug. 3 | Columbia, Md. | Merriweather Post Pavilion
Aug. 8 | Somerset, Wisc. | Somerset Amphitheater
Aug. 9 | Chicago, Ill. | Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Aug. 10 | East Troy, Wisc. | Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Aug. 15 | Cleveland, Ohio | Blossom Music Center
Aug. 16 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Aug. 17 | Bristow, Va. | Jiffy Lube Live
Aug. 23 | Las Vegas, Nev. | Fountainebleau Las Vegas
Aug. 24 | Las Vegas, Nev. | Fountainebleau Las Vegas
Aug. 29 | Columbia, S.C. | Colonial Life Arena
Aug. 30 | Columbia, S.C. | Colonial Life Arena
Sept. 5 | Wantagh, N.Y. | Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Sept. 6 | Syracuse, N.Y. | Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview
Sept. 7 | Toronto, Ontario | Budweiser Stage
Sept. 12 | Knoxville, Tenn. | Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
Sept. 13 | Raleigh, N.C. | Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Sept. 14 | Virginia Beach, Va. | Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Sept. 19 | Charlotte, N.C. | PNC Music Pavilion
Sept. 20 | Alpharetta, Ga. | Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Sept. 21 | Greenville, S.C. | Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Sept. 26 | Tampa, Fla. | MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sept. 27 | Jacksonville, Fla. | VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Sept. 28 | West Palm Beach, Fla. | iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Oct. 12 | North Charleston, S.C. | Riverfront Revival Music Festival

#COUNTRYGIVESBACK - 15TH ANNUAL “DARIUS & FRIENDS” BENEFIT CONCERT RETURNS TO NASHVILLE’S RYMAN AUDITORIUM MONDAY, JUNE 3

Tickets On Sale This Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m. CT via AXS.com

Rucker’s New Duet With Jennifer Nettles, “Never Been Over,” Available Everywhere Ahead of May 28 “Life’s Too Short” Memoir Release

Multi-time Diamond-certified superstar Darius Rucker returns to the historic Ryman Auditorium on Monday, June 3 for his 15th annual “Darius & Friends” concert benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The event, which unofficially kicks off the week of CMA Fest in downtown Nashville and has raised more than $3.6 million to date, will feature a surprise all-star roster of friends as has become tradition at the annual celebration.

Rucker, who was honored as the 2023 CMA Humanitarian of the Year for always prioritizing philanthropic work throughout his career, made a commitment to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital nearly two decades ago after taking an inspiring tour of the hospital. Through this meaningful experience, Rucker learned how St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Reflecting on his 2008 visit to the hospital to the Tennessean, Rucker noted, “You see these kids who are sick, and they’re so happy to be there, because their caregivers are so loving and giving to them. And then you find out that nobody ever gets a bill. That blew me away. I was just like, ‘We’ll figure out some way to help you guys as much as I can.’”

Now, a decade and a half later, that effort has become an annual tradition. Friends performing with Rucker in past years have included Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Jelly Roll, Charles Kelley of Lady A, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Megan Moroney, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers and Tommy Thayer of KISS, among many others.

Tickets to the 15th annual “Darius & Friends” benefit concert start at $69 with VIP package options up to $249, available via AXS.com. Pre-sale access begins tomorrow, April 30 at 10 a.m. CT, with tickets on sale to the general public this Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m. CT. The event is made possible with support from generous sponsors AMD, CDW and The Law Office of Jennifer McCoy.

The announcement of this year’s “Darius & Friends” event adds to an exciting season for the three-time GRAMMY winner, who on Friday released a reimagined duet version of his Carolyn’s Boy album standout “Never Been Over” featuring Jennifer Nettles and on May 28 will release his first book, a memoir titled “Life’s Too Short” that explores the story of his life through the lens of the music that defined it. Rucker also returns to the road with his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates in May for the Summer Camp with Trucks Tour. Tickets are on sale now HERE.

For more information, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

DARIUS RUCKER AND JENNIFER NETTLES UNITE ON REIMAGINED VERSION OF RUCKER’S "CAROLYN’S BOY" ALBUM STANDOUT : “NEVER BEEN OVER”

 

Already an emotional cornerstone of recent album Carolyn’s Boy from three-time GRAMMY Award-winner Darius Rucker, standout song “Never Been Over” now arrives as a duet with the captivating vocals of GRAMMY Award-winning entertainment powerhouse Jennifer Nettles adding a new dimension to the emotional ballad.

Penned by Rucker alongside Lee Thomas Miller and Brothers Osborne’s John Osborne, the original release of “Never Been Over” was celebrated by Billboard as a flipped perspective to Rucker’s chart-topping “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” with the reflective song “looking back on a couple’s love nearly two decades later, chronicling years of emotional zeniths and low points, a duration spent raising kids and building a life together one day at a time”

We’ve been good and bad, hot and cold

And fightin’ mad, solid gold

Been sunny days, straight-line winds

Been drivin’ slow and guilty as sin

Been back roads lost and blue lights found

Dead of quiet, rockstar loud

Been up and down like we’re built on springs

We’ve been a lot of things

But we’ve never been

Splittin’ up friends, splittin’ up records

Puttin’ up walls, burnin’ down letters

Grass is greener ‘cause there’s something better

Waitin’ down the line

We’ve never been a headlights weaving, taillights fadin’

So long, move on, goodbye waitin’

Never been one last long look across your shoulder

We’ve been a lot of things, but we’ve never been over

“Writing that was very cathartic,” Rucker shared with Garden & Gun of the song. “It was almost like therapy for me. It’s so honest and one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written.”

“Now, to have Jennifer add her incredible voice to such an emotional song, you feel even more of what this couple is facing; unravelling the life they’ve built together,” reflects Rucker. “I’m so grateful she agreed to sing on it with me.”

“I’ve wanted to collaborate with Darius for such a long time! And when I heard the song, I loved its story,” adds Nettles. “But in addition to its theme of lifelong love, it feels so perfect for Darius and I to sing it together. Both of our careers have grown and changed so dramatically since we each started out. And, as the hook sings, ‘We’ve been a lot of things, but we’ve never been over.’ This song is a beautiful example and extension of that constant evolution.”


Currently on the road in Europe for a run of solo shows ahead of this summer’s Hootie & the Blowfish Summer Camp with Trucks Tour, Rucker is also preparing to share his first book with fans, a memoir titled “Life’s Too Short.” Set for release May 28, the memoir sees Rucker share the story of his life through the music that has defined it, offering readers an intimate glimpse into his journey from music enthusiast to music icon. Pre-order HERE.

For more information, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

#COUNTRYREWIND - DARIUS RUCKER PERFORMS “HAVE A GOOD TIME” ON “THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT” AS CAROLYN’S BOY CONNECTS

 

Photo Credit: Scott Kowalchyk

With the Tennessean highlighting “his best comprehensive country music work” on brand new album Carolyn’s Boy, Darius Rucker celebrated its release with a rousing performance of “Have A Good Time” on last night’s episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” 

Rucker considers the album, his sixth country project and first since 2017, to be his most personal to date, something he credits to taking the past six years to hone the songs and, in turn, reestablishing his passion for making music.

“The album’s meat involves Rucker finally getting to the core of country’s stereotypical three chords and the truth,” acknowledges the Tennessean of that process, with Rucker explaining, “I had a lot of therapy with myself on this record, which allows me to show the world how much I view making music, internally, as a therapeutic outlet for saying what I feel and think.”

“For Carolyn’s Boy, I talked to some of the best songwriters in town about so many of my authentically lived experiences,” he continues. “I feel like I’m finally comfortable doing what I’m supposed to do as a country music artist.”

Named for his late mother, Carolyn, who encouraged his love of country music from a young age, the album pays tribute to the woman whom Rucker told Willie Geist on this week’s “Sunday TODAY” is the reason for everything he is; “She taught us to be nice, she taught us to care, she taught us to give back, she taught us to always be the best person you can be.”

“Now that I’m a dad, three times over with grown kids, I just wanted to pay tribute to my mom who never got to see any of this stuff, any of this success,” he explained to the Associated Press, noting that – while there are somber moments – he hopes the project as a whole epitomizes her joyful personality: “it should sound like a celebration.”

“The thing I love is seeing her picture,” Rucker noted to Forbes of the album’s cover. “She’s 25 in that photo and it’s my favorite picture of her. Having my record named after her, and having her photo all over social media, I love it. I know she’s somewhere laughing and saying, ‘Boy, stop!’”

From recent No. 1 hit “Beers And Sunshine,” his 10th to top the Country charts, to current single “Fires Don’t Start Themselves,” lauded by Billboard for “the impressive vocal control and power in his lower register,” and his latest release, “Southern Comfort,” described by Garden & Gun as “evok[ing] a wistful nostalgia that has become one of Rucker’s calling cards,” the project honoring Carolyn Rucker features 14 tracks, 11 of which boast Rucker as a cowriter.

Some of the notable cowriters joining him on the project include global superstar Ed Sheeran for the reflective “Sara,” penned during a trip to London and celebrated by People as “a mid-tempo rumination on the hopes of seeking friendship and comfort in a long-lost connection;” reigning ACM Artist/Songwriter of the Year HARDY for the longing “3am in Carolina;” longtime friend and Lady A vocalist Charles Kelley for the despairing “7 days;” and Brothers Osborne’s John Osborne on “Never Been Over,” with Billboard noting Rucker “sings expertly on this track… bolstered by discreet, serene pedal steel and mandolin.”

In addition, the album sees Rucker join forces with Chapel Hart for the collaborative “Ol’ Church Hymn” while also offering his take on Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” from blockbuster film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, with MusicRow summarizing his rendition as “beautifully produced, spiritually uplifting and soul stirring. It builds to anthem-level intensity before receding into an intimate prayer. Essential.”

The album also features vulnerably insightful songs such as “Sure Would Have Loved Her,” “Stargazing,” while offering uplifting reminders to a divided world on tracks such as “In This Together,” “Same Beer Different Problem” and “Have A Good Time.”

Having shared the new music with fans across the country all summer on his Starting Fires Tour, which concludes its North American stretch tomorrow evening in Nashville, Rucker is also gearing up to take his wide-ranging catalog of hits across the pond with a recently announced run of European tour dates in early 2024.

For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming shows, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

Carolyn’s Boy Track List:

(songwriters in parentheses)

1. Beers And Sunshine (Darius Rucker, JT Harding, Josh Osborne, Ross Copperman)

2. In This Together (Darius Rucker, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick, Joy Williams)

3. Never Been Over (Darius Rucker, Lee Thomas Miller, John Osborne)

4. Fires Don’t Start Themselves (Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice, Dan Isbell)

5. Ol’ Church Hymn feat. Chapel Hart (Darius Rucker, Greylan James, Ben Hayslip, Josh Miller)

6. 7 Days (Darius Rucker, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Charles Kelley)

7. Same Beer Different Problem (Darius Rucker, Tofer Brown, Sarah Buxton, Brad Tursi)

8. Sara (Darius Rucker, Joel Crouse, Kyle Rife, Ed Sheeran)

9. Have A Good Time (Darius Rucker, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick)

10. Sure Would Have Loved Her (Darius Rucker, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey)

11. Southern Comfort (Chris LaCorte, Matt Rogers, Josh Osborne)

12. 3am in Carolina (Darius Rucker, Ross Copperman, Michael Hardy)

13. Lift Me Up (Temilade Openiyi, Robyn Fenty, Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Goransson)

14. Stargazing (Darius Rucker, Brinley Addington, Jess Cayne, Matt Morrisey)

Photo Credit: Jim Wright

#CONCERTREVIEW - "THE COTTAGE AT THE CRYSTAL COAST" ROCKS BEERS AND SUNSHINE WITH DARIUS RUCKER AND MAGGIE ROSE AND THAT'S ALRIGHT BY ME

Artists: Darius Rucker / Maggie Rose

Event Date: 7/30/2023

Venue: The Cottage at The Crystal Coast - Atlantic Beach, NC

Reviewer: Jennifer Smith

Follow Jennifer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Photo Credit: Jennifer Smith / Lovin' Lyrics

As the sun was setting on the North Carolina coast on Sunday, July 30, the stage lights began to rise and one of the best nights of music I've experienced in a long time was about to begin.

The crowd was ready for a night of musical memories, good times on the beach with friends and making new connections. The buzz in the security line was full of stories about growing up with "Hootie", sunshine and sunburns, friends who were reconnecting from college, family reunions and how this night was going to be one for the memory books. They weren't kidding.

The show was held at a relatively new wedding and event venue, "The Cottage at The Crystal Coast". The great thing about this venue is how intimate and absolutely beautiful it is and that sits right on the the beauty of Atlantic Beach, NC. It's a 3 story beach house that can hold up to 225 guests inside the house itself, with open air decks that can comfortably accommodate small bands or wedding parties, a bar, various rooms for gatherings, a walkway to the sand and water and a fenced in 5,793 square foot luxury ocean front lawn with a stage set up for a full band that can accommodate even more guests.  This is truly a unique venue and one of the best I've ever been to. The staff was great too! Even better, it's less than a 10 minute drive from my house. Oh! I have to give hardcore kudos and accolades to the tour bus drivers on their perfect navigation of our tiny, narrow and difficult beach neighborhood streets and being able to park those behemoths beautifully. Hats off to y'all and high fives all around!

Now, let's talk about this show. Holy Pirate Ship! (Ha, Eastern NC is ECU Pirate Nation, the home of Blackbeard and the wreck of his ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge is 12 miles off the coast so ya see what I did there instead of cursing and making it accomodating? LOL) So, ahoy mateys, this show was UH-MAZING and when it comes to the state of music these days, I don't use that description as much as I used to. 

Let's start with the crazy good vocals of Maggie Rose. You might remember her as Margaret Durante from several years back, but the key words here are "You" and "Remember" because her voice is definitely one you do not forget. This girl can hit notes you never knew existed and she can carry a note for days without wavering. I can say with no hesitation that she has one of the absolute best female voices in music and, as a side note, dear radio, you suck for not giving her the airplay she should have. She took the stage with her band (Kyle Lewis - guitar / Judd Fuller - Bass / Timothy Burkhead - Drums / Kaitlyn Connor - Keys) and slayed it right out of the gate when she launched into "Dead Weight". I took a minute to look around and every eye was on her and you could her whispers of "Dang she's good", "How have I not heard of this girl?" and similar things. Needless to say, she done good. LOL!

The rest of her set was outstanding and I actually hated to hear her sing the last note. I hate I didn't get to finally meet her in person after talking about her to y'all for so many years but I did get to hug on her awesome tour manager, Max, who is a longtime friend from Raleigh that left and went to hit the road with her. Seriously, if you are looking for some really good new music to add to your playlists (and I'm not just talking to the streaming users, I'm talking to you radio), add her music and keep an ear out for more new stuff on the way.

SET LIST

DEAD WEIGHT

DO RIGHT BY MY LOVE

DON'T DO IT

FAKE FLOWERS

BODY ON FIRE

I'M NOT A SAINT

WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR

UNDERESTIMATE ME

IT'S YOU

SMOOTH

Now ... the man, the myth (not really because he definitely exists), the legend - HOOOOOTIE! I mean Darius Ruckkkkkker! I can't even tell you how excited I was for this. Darius has long been a bucket list check mark for me. I grew up in the era of the Blowfish and have been a longtime fan of every single solo album he's put out. I have a "It's Darius, Y'all" playlist with every song possible on there. No, really. There is just something about him that pulls you in. I think it's the dance moves, the smooth moves of the feet and the smile that did not leave his face this entire show. Oh, he sings pretty good too. 

The music started and Darius came up the stairs from side stage and walked into a chorus of appreciative applause and screams, a few drunken "hell yeahs" and quite a few cat calls from the ladies. You knew this was just gonna be a good night. He started the night telling us that he was gonna play some real country and also take us back to the 90's. The crowd went nuts. What I truly appreciated about this night, from both artists, was the chance to put away social media, turn off the tv, silence the news and shut out the world outside the fence and keep politics quiet for a few hours. Darius and Maggie made the night about the music and the fans who love it, not about what's going on other than in that moment. 

He kicked off the night with 3 songs that fit perfectly for this night, his brand new single, "Have a Good Time", which was released today (August 4) and is the first single from his upcoming album "Carolyn's Boy",  "Beers and Sunshine" and "All I Want".  I think he chose these songs to let us know that was the reason he was there, for us to just have a good time. Thank you for that, Darius. He didn't just do his own stuff, he threw in some unexpected surprises with his own renditions of  John Mellencamp's "Little Pink Houses", Tim McGraw's hit song "I Like It I Love It", TLC'S "Waterfalls" and Bell Biv Devoe's "Poison". Man, it was great to take a trip back to the days before social media and when we didn't worry about what was going on in the world. I will not apologize for my really bad, loud singing. Can we do more of that please? The tears flowed during the songs I knew were gonna make me cry -  "It Won't Be Like This For Long:, "If I Told You" and "Don't Think I Don't Think About It". He brought the Hootie out with the classics, "Let Her Cry", "Hold My Hand" and I Only Wanna Be With You". He mixed in some other great songs like "Alright", "Homegrown Honey" and a few others before wrapping up the best night ever with the one he couldn't get out of there without doing, "Wagon Wheel".  I have to give the highest of props to his band - probably one of the most entertaining and talented group of musicians out there - Quinton Gibson - guitar / Garry Murray - Every instrument ever made / Lee Turner - Keys, Acoustic Guitar / John Mason - Bass / Jeff Marino - Drums / "Sasha" Ostrovsky - Dobro, Steel guitar, Banjo, etc). Y'all were the best! That dance near the end, though - hysterical!

SET LIST

HAVE A GOOD TIME

BEERS & SUNSHINE

ALL I WANT

PINK HOUSES

FIRES DON'T START THEMSELVES

IT WON'T BE LIKE THIS FOR LONG

FOR THE FIRST TIME

RADIO

LET HER CRY

I LIKE IT, I LOVE IT

WATERFALLS

POISON

COME BACK SONG

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

TRUE BELIEVERS

IF I TOLD YOU

DON'T THINK I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT

HOLD MY HAND

ALRIGHT

ONLY WANNA BE WITH YOU

HOMEGROWN HONEY

VALERIE

HANDS ON ME

WAGON WHEEL

Darius and Maggie, seriously, THANK YOU for the best night. Thank you for not just standing up there and singing, but for truly engaging and connecting and for showing that you were having as good a time as we were. I know needed it and know those around me did as well. I had some great conversations before and after the show with some people who said this was getting them out of the negativity around them and giving them a night of peace and a reason to smile. You both are the best. I am so thankful I was able to be a part of this night. What a welcome relief from the stress of what has become the new "normal". Thank you to The Cottage for hosting this fantastic show. Can't wait to do it again.

Be sure to stream/download music from both artists, check out their websites and follow them on social media!

All Photos Credit: Jennifer Smith / Lovin' Lyrics

#COUNTRYGIVESBACK - DARIUS RUCKER SURPASSES $3.6 MILLION RAISED FOR ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL WITH 14TH ANNUAL “DARIUS AND FRIENDS”

Sold-Out Ryman Auditorium Audience and Golf Tournament Participants

Combine to Raise Record-Setting $560,000 in 2023

Surprise Lineup Featured HARDY, Jake Owen, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Vince Gill

Fifteen years after first visiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® where he was immediately inspired to pledge his support, three-time GRAMMY Award winner Darius Rucker continues to give back, surpassing the $3.6 million mark in his fundraising efforts with this year’s 14th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert on Monday night, June 5, which was paired with a corresponding golf tournament and silent auction on Tuesday, June 6. This year’s event alone raised an all-time high of $560,000 for the cause.

“We started this to be the first thing at CMA Fest and you guys have now made it a tradition,” Rucker shared with fans at the sold-out Ryman Auditorium as he opened the night that indeed has come to serve as an unofficial kickoff to CMA Fest as fans descend on Music City each summer. “Thank y’all for coming out. Thank you for supporting St. Jude.”

Now, more than a decade later, the annual event is renowned for its surprise lineup of stars and this year was no different. Sold out well in advance despite the famous friends not being revealed until they took the stage, the event praised by the Tennessean for “showcase[ing] generations of country stardom” featured more than 30 hit songs and beloved covers by Rucker, whom American Songwriter celebrated as “an engaging performer and affable host throughout the evening,”alongside his surprise guests HARDY, Jake Owen, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Vince Gill.

After a live auction and donation round which added thousands to the fundraising tally, Rucker kicked off the main event with a trio of hits – with his Double Platinum-certified No. 1 “Alright,” top ten hit “Radio” and “Southern State of Mind” – before introducing the first friend of the evening as ACM Award-winner Jake Owen took the stage to perform a feel-good collection of songs including his Platinum-certified “Down to the Honkytonk” and “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” plus a timeless cover of Hank Williams Jr.’s classic “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound.”

“I’m really grateful for my friend Darius. He’s a great dude and what he’s done for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a big, big thing and that’s something that’s really near and dear to our hearts as country artists,” shared Owen during his set. “It’s ingrained in artists like myself throughout the years to use our platforms and Darius has done an incredible job with that. I’m super happy to be here.”

Rucker then returned to the stage, thrilling the crowd with his Platinum-certified breakout country hit “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” chart-topping “For The First Time” and brand-new single “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” before introducing rising star Megan Moroney, who performed a trio of songs off her recently-released debut album, Lucky: “I’m Not Pretty,” “Girl in the Mirror” and current top five hit “Tennessee Orange.”

“In Georgia, they call it a sin,” she sang of wearing Tennessee Volunteers orange, with famous Gamecock fan Rucker responding cheekily on social media that evening, “it’s a sin in South Carolina, too!”

The evening’s host continued the show with his Platinum-certified hits “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” and “This” before inviting 22-time GRAMMY Award winner Vince Gill to the stage. Performing solo with only an acoustic guitar, Gill’s showstopping set included “Whenever You Come Around,” “When I Call Your Name” and “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” written for his late brother.

“I’ll play a church song here at the Mother Church,” he shared of the poignant song to close his set.

Rucker then returned to the stage, with his feel-good recent No. 1 hit “Beers and Sunshine” and 2017 chart-topper “If I Told You” before thrilling fans with his Hootie & the Blowfish favorite “Hold My Hand,” bringing the full house to their feet for a singalong of the classic – which wouldn’t be the last of the night as beloved ballad “Let Her Cry” also made a set list appearance.

Still clad in his jersey from the Folds of Honor celebrity softball tournament earlier in the evening, Jelly Roll took the stage next for two songs off his brand-new album, Whitsitt Chapel, released less than a week ago. From his first No. 1 at country radio, “Son of a Sinner,” to current top 15 single “Need a Favor,” Jelly Roll’s fourth appearance on the Ryman stage in less than a week highlighted the earnest truth-telling that has made him beloved to so many fans.

“I only talk to God when I need a favor,” Rucker sang as he returned to the stage following the performance. “What a great line!”

Rucker kept the Hootie & the Blowfish nostalgia coming through his next trio of songs as he performed “Only Wanna Be With You” as well as his solo hits “Homegrown Honey” and “Comeback Song” before introducing the final surprise guest of the evening, HARDY, who highlighted both his songwriting prowess with “A Rock” and his rowdy showmanship with “Unapologetically Country as Hell.”

Closing out the memorable evening, the night’s host returned to the stage one final time for rousing covers of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie,” Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places,” Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” and Prince’s “Purple Rain,” as well as his own “Hands On Me” and, according to tradition, a sold-out Ryman singalong for “Wagon Wheel,” the feel-good energy throughout the auditorium symbolic of the night as a whole.

This year’s milestone fundraising event adds yet another successful page to the decade-plus history of “Darius & Friends.” Prior guests have included Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Charles Kelley of Lady A, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers and Tommy Thayer of KISS, among many others.

The annual fundraising event, made possible with support from generous sponsors CDW, AMD, Amazon Web Services, IBM, Arrow Electronics, and Hendrix Enterprises, helps ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – so they can focus on helping their child live.

Full 14th Annual “Darius & Friends” Set List:

Darius Rucker: “Alright,” “Radio,” “Southern State of Mind”

Jake Owen: “Down to the Honkytonk,” “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound”

Darius Rucker: “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “For The First Time,” “Fires Don’t Start Themselves”

Megan Moroney: “I’m Not Pretty,” “Tennessee Orange,” “Girl in the Mirror”

Darius Rucker: “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” “This”

Vince Gill: “Whenever You Come Around,” “When I Call Your Name,” “Go Rest High on That Mountain”

Darius Rucker: “Beers and Sunshine,” “If I Told You,” “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry”
Jelly Roll: “Son of a Sinner,” “Need a Favor”

Darius Rucker: “Homegrown Honey,” “Only Wanna Be With You,” “Comeback Song”

HARDY: “A Rock,” “Unapologetically Country as Hell”

Encore – Darius Rucker: “Valerie,” “Hands On Me,” “Friends in Low Places,” “No Diggity,” “Wagon Wheel,” “Purple Rain”

For more information, visit www.DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker. Fans can also continue to donate to St. Jude in honor of “Darius and Friends”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ESSENTIAL BROADCAST MEDIA

DARIUS RUCKER RELEASES POWERFUL RENDITION OF “LIFT ME UP,” AVAILABLE NOW

Three-Time GRAMMY Winner Offers Poignant Cover of the Oscar-Nominated Ballad Originally Recorded by Rihanna for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Soundtrack

Showcasing the rich baritone celebrated by Billboard as “one of the most distinctive voices of country’s modern era,” Diamond-certified star Darius Rucker offers a powerful take on Rihanna’s Oscar-nominated “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” theme song, “Lift Me Up,” with his version of the anthemic ballad available everywhere now. 

Written by Rihanna together with filmmaker Ryan Coogler, composer Ludwig Göransson and Nigerian singer Tems as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, who starred in the original “Black Panther,” the song plays over the end credits of the film, which is where Rucker first fell in love with its message.

“I’ve been a huge fan of comics since I was a kid, and I love all of the Marvel movies, so I couldn’t wait to see ‘Wakanda Forever’ when it came out a few months ago,” explains Rucker. “I was so moved by this song playing at the end of the movie and I felt inspired to try my hand at singing it. I hope y’all love this version we created as much as I do.”

The release comes as Rucker puts the finishing touches on his forthcoming album, Carolyn’s Boy, and follows the news earlier this week that his Riverfront Revival Music Festival will return to Charleston this fall for its second year, with lineups for the October 7-8 event to be announced soon. Early access tickets are available now via RiverfrontRevival.com.

For more information, visit www.dariusrucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

DARIUS RUCKER JOINS NBC’S “TODAY” TO CELEBRATE MAJOR MILESTONES & PREVIEW FORTHCOMING ALBUM: CAROLYN’S BOY

“Wagon Wheel” Earns Distinction as Only the Fourth Country Song to Achieve RIAA Diamond Certification as Rucker Celebrates 10 No. 1 Country Singles & 10 Years 

as a Grand Ole Opry Member

“At the end of the day, I’m really still just Carolyn’s Boy,” three-time GRAMMY Award winner Darius Rucker shares following this morning’s interview with “TODAY” anchor Craig Melvin, during which he exclusively revealed the title of a new solo album planned for 2023 along with the meaningful cover image, a portrait of his late mother Carolyn.

“I wanted to name the record Carolyn’s Boy because Mom never got to see any of my success,” he explained. “She died before any of this happened, so it’s just another homage to the greatest woman I’ve ever known.”

When asked why now is the right time to honor her, Rucker was reflective, conceding, “years ago, I wasn’t really sure what my place in Country music was and I was trying to find it. Now I have found it – I know – and I think it’s time to give that record.”

In addition to looking ahead to the forthcoming album, Rucker also marked several major milestones during the conversation, including his 10-year anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and his recent 10th No. 1 single at Country radio with “Beers And Sunshine.” Melvin was also on hand for the celebration of a milestone only three other artists have ever achieved in Country music, as “Wagon Wheel” earned RIAA Diamond certification as an 11x Platinum hit.

“Coming into Nashville, to expect anything like that wasn’t even in the cards,” Rucker noted when asked about his reaction to achieving that level of success in Country music. “Here we are now – 15, 16, years in – it’s been a fun run.”

Together with producer Frank Rogers, Rucker also shared an exclusive look at the isolated vocal track of “Wagon Wheel” in addition to previewing new music he is working on now for the project planned for release in 2023. Fans can also get a sneak peek at the new Carolyn’s Boy album with Rucker’s recent releases, “Same Beer Different Problem” and “Ol' Church Hymn” (featuring Chapel Hart), available everywhere now.

For more information, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

DARIUS RUCKER’S “OL’ CHURCH HYMN” FEATURING CHAPEL HART IS AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE NOW

 

LISTEN HERE

Multi-Platinum star and three-time GRAMMY Award winner Darius Rucker continues to reveal new music with today’s release of redemptive ballad “Ol’ Church Hymn” featuring rising trio Chapel Hart. The song comes on the heels of another collaboration from Rucker and the group, who joined forces for a performance of Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About” during the “America’s Got Talent” season finale earlier this month on NBC. Watch the electrifying performance HERE 

Written by Rucker together with Ben Hayslip, Josh Miller and Greylan James, the gospel-inspired love song features Rucker’s rich baritone vocals, praised by Billboard as “one of the most distinctive voices of country’s modern era,” joined by the three-part harmony of Chapel Hart to profess a born-again love in the joyful chorus:

You soothe my soul like an ol’ church hymn

Found in a book in the back of a pew

Born again love I’m a new person

Hand in the air hallelujah

Amen, Amen, Amen

Amen, Amen, Amen

You soothe my soul like an ol’ church hymn

The new duet follows recent releases “My Masterpiece” and “Same Beer Different Problem” as Rucker crafts his forthcoming solo project. Fans can also see Rucker perform new music live as he brings the inaugural Riverfront Revival festival to his hometown of Charleston, S.C. on Oct. 8 and 9, with Jimmie Allen, Brothers Osborne, Charley Crockett, SUSTO and more joining him on the lineup. Limited tickets remain available for purchase at RiverfrontRevival.com.

With the NFL season underway, Rucker also continues to blend his passion for music and sports, returning for a second year of the NFL x Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics, expanding from 22 to 27 items due to popular demand. The 2022 collection includes something for every fan, including t-shirts and outerwear, shorts and pants and more. Fans can shop the new line today at Fanatics.com and NFLShop.com.

For more information on upcoming shows and new music, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

DARIUS RUCKER BRINGS NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL TO HIS CHARLESTON, S.C. HOMETOWN THIS FALL

Riverfront Revival Set for October 8 and 9 at Riverfront Park

Multi-Platinum entertainer Darius Rucker has partnered with one of the Southeast’s leading entertainment agencies, SRE Entertainment, to fulfill his longtime dream of bringing a unique music festival to his beloved hometown of Charleston, S.C. Set to take place Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9 at North Charleston’s beautiful Riverfront Park, the family-friendly Riverfront Revival music festival presented by Discover South Carolina will feature curated offerings of the Lowcountry’s best food, libations, art and culture along with music performances mixing the best of country and rock.

In addition to a headlining performance from Rucker himself, the two days of entertainment will also include performances by Brothers Osborne, Trampled By Turtles, Jimmie Allen, Charley Crockett, SUSTO and more across two stages from 1-11 p.m. daily.

“Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Charleston,” shares Rucker. “For years now, I’ve had this bucket list dream of bringing together a bunch of friends to perform in a way that also showcases this incredible city and all it has to offer. I can’t wait to see it become a reality this fall – and I hope the fans are as excited as we are!”

“Riverfront Revival will be the perfect culmination of feel-good music across genres set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cooper River,” adds SRE Entertainment Partner Rob Lamble. “We’re thrilled to bring a new fall music tradition to the Holy City, and are honored to be doing so with Darius Rucker and his team.”

“Darius is a home-grown star with a genuine love for his state, making him an incredible ambassador for South Carolina,” notes Duane Parrish, Director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. “We are all looking forward to celebrating South Carolina’s Lowcountry and welcoming thousands of visitors to this one-of-kind music festival in October.”

General admission tickets start at $124.50 per person (plus fees), with payment plans starting at just $25 down. VIP tickets start at $399.50 per person (plus fees), with payment plans starting at $50 down. VIP ticket holders will have access to a dedicated entrance lane, priority viewing areas at both stages, VIP lounge areas, premium restrooms, a dedicated bar and more.

Part of Rucker’s passion for his hometown includes an innate desire to give back to the community, instilled by his late mother who was a nurse at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). He has raised millions of dollars for the hospital throughout his career and will continue to do so via Riverfront Revival, with $1 of each ticket sold supporting the MUSC Arts in Healing program. MUSC’s board-certified and registered Arts in Healing therapists work with children and adults to identify, explore and transform emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual difficulties through Clinical Art and Music Therapy.

“There is a national children’s mental health crisis and South Carolina is no exception,” shares Mark Scheurer, M.D., Chief, Children’s & Women's Integrated Center of Clinical Excellence at MUSC. “The MUSC Arts in Healing program provides a safe and tangible method for our patients and families to address underlying fears, anxieties and concerns in the clinical environment. The joy and healing the therapy team helps create is possible because of our community and philanthropic-minded people like Mr. Rucker.”

Tickets will be available in three phases, each starting at 10 a.m. ET via RiverfrontRevival.com:
Darius Rucker exclusive fan pre-sale starting Monday, May 2.
Riverfront Revival pre-sale starting Tuesday, May 3.
General admission on-sale starting Wednesday, May 4.

For more details, visit RiverfrontRevival.com and follow @riverfrontrevival on Facebook and Instagram.

#TOURINGNEWS - DARIUS RUCKER ANNOUNCES SUMMER CONCERT RUN

Tyler Booth, Daves Highway, Lindsay Ell, Larry Fleet, Caylee Hammack, 

Ryan Hurd, Jameson Rodgers, Elvie Shane and Tenille Townes 

Join Rucker Across 14 Shows

Tickets Available via DariusRucker.com This Friday, April 22 at 10 a.m. Local Time

Darius Rucker has announced plans for a summer run of shows, bringing a who’s who of rising Nashville stars along on 14 dates while also appearing at several fairs, festivals and special events. Together with Tyler Booth, Daves Highway, Larry Fleet, Caylee Hammack, Ryan Hurd, Jameson Rodgers, Elvie Shane and Tenille Townes, Rucker will visit cities across the U.S. and Canada from July through September.

Tickets to several dates are on sale now, with tickets to most newly announced dates on sale to the general public beginning this Friday, April 22 at 10 a.m. local time via DariusRucker.com and on sale dates for remaining shows to follow, as noted below.

The announcement follows Rucker’s recently concluded spring theater tour, which brought the three-time GRAMMY winner to iconic venues across the country he had never previously played, earning rave reviews along the way and setting the stage for a lively summer of music.

“With a six-piece band, he delivered a simple, straightforward, delightful 90 minutes of country and pop, with songs from his solo repertoire and from Hootie & the Blowfish,” noted the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of his show at the city’s Fox Theater. At Detroit’s venue of the same name, the Oakland Press remarked that his “potent” performance was “genuinely special,” while The Boot celebrated his “charm and enthusiasm” on display at New York City’s Beacon Theater while “showcasing his mastery of country music” with his “sheer vocal power” and “roguish charm.”

Rucker also recently announced the 13th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert set for Monday, June 6 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The perennially popular event serves as an unofficial kickoff to the week of CMA Fest in Music City and has raised over $2.5 million to date for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

For more information, visit www.DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

Upcoming Darius Rucker Tour Dates

* denotes newly announced dates on sale April 22
^ denotes newly announced dates on sale May 6
# denotes newly announced date with on sale information TBA

June 6 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium (Darius and Friends)

June 9 - Nashville, TN - Nissan Stadium (CMA Fest)

June 18 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena (Brooks & Dunn Reboot Tour 2022)

June 23 - Cleveland, OH - Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica (Tyler Booth) *

June 24 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heights (Tyler Booth) *

June 25 - Interlochen, MI - Interlochen Center for the Arts (Tyler Booth)

June 29 - Anchorage, AK - Backyard Country BBQ

July 8 - Cavendish, Prince Edward Island - - Cavendish Beach Music Festival

July 15 - Memphis, TN - Venue TBA #

July 16 - Rogers,  AR - Walmart AMP (Ryan Hurd / Elvie Shane) *

July 21 - Paso Robles, CA - California Mid-State Fair (Lindsay Ell)

July 22 - Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Federal Theatre (Caylee Hammack) *

July 28 - Bend, OR - Hayden Homes Amphitheater (Tenille Townes / Caylee Hammack) *

July 30 -Cowichan, British Columbia - Sunset Music Festival

July 31 - Merritt, British Columbia - Rockin’ River Music Festival

August 25 - Tryon, NC - Night in the Country Carolinas

August 26 - Wilmington, NC - Live Oak Bank Pavilion (Larry Fleet / Tyler Booth) *

August 27 - Doswell, VA - Meadow Event Park (Larry Fleet /Tyler Booth) *

September 2 - Bridgeport, CT - Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater (Jameson Rodgers / Elvie Shane) *

September 3 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (Jameson Rodgers / Elvie Shane) *

September 4 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (Jameson Rodgers / Elvie Shane) *

September 9 - Tulsa, OK - Paradise Cove at River Spirit Casino Resort (Tyler Booth) ^

September 10 - Camdenton, MO - Lake Ozarks Amphitheater (Tyler Booth) ^

13TH ANNUAL “DARIUS AND FRIENDS” BENEFIT CONCERT RETURNS TO NASHVILLE’S RYMAN AUDITORIUM MONDAY, JUNE 6

Tickets On Sale Starting Friday, April 8 Here

Multi-Platinum superstar Darius Rucker will return to the historic Ryman Auditorium on Monday, June 6 for his 13th Annual Darius and Friends concert benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The event, which unofficially kicks off the week of CMA Fest in downtown Nashville and has raised more than $2.5 million to date, will feature an all-star roster of friends to be announced in the coming weeks.

“I can’t wait to be back at the Ryman with all of our friends from St. Jude,” shares the three-time GRAMMY Award winner. “This show is always a highlight of the year for me, because it not only raises funds for a very important cause, but it also allows me to bring together some of my best friends in Nashville for a fun night of incredible music.”

Rucker, who has always prioritized philanthropic work, made a commitment to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital nearly 15 years ago after taking an inspiring tour of the hospital. Through this meaningful experience, Rucker learned how St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Reflecting on his 2008 visit to the hospital to the Tennessean ahead of last year’s show, Rucker noted, “You see these kids who are sick, and they’re so happy to be there, because their caregivers are so loving and giving to them. And then you find out that nobody ever gets a bill. That blew me away. I was just like, ‘We’ll figure out some way to help you guys as much as I can.’”

Now, more than a decade later, that effort has become an annual tradition. Friends performing with Rucker in past years have included Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, John Daly, Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers and Tommy Thayer of KISS, among many others. The lineup for this year’s event will be announced soon.

Tickets to the 13th Annual Darius & Friends benefit concert start at $50 with VIP options up to $150, available via AXS.com. Pre-sale access begins tomorrow, April 6 at 10 a.m. CT, with tickets on sale to the general public this Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m. CT.

The event is made possible with support from generous sponsors AMD, Hendrix Enterprises, CDW, Intel, Fanatics, Hewlett-Packard, CAA and Arrow Electronics.

For more information, please visit www.DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

DARIUS RUCKER’S “WAGON WHEEL” CERTIFIED 8X PLATINUM

“Wagon Wheel” Cemented in TOP 5 Country Songs in 60+ Years of RIAA Gold and Platinum Award History

Rucker is Only Solo Male Country Act to Achieve 8x+ Multi-Platinum Song in Program History

Darius Rucker celebrates the 8x Platinum certification of "Wagon Wheel" at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 

(L to R: Maverick's Chris Parr, RIAA's Jackie Jones, Darius Rucker, UMG Nashville's Mike Dungan) 

Photo Credit: Strange Bird Media

Darius Rucker was surprised with a plaque celebrating the RIAA’s recent 8x-Platinum certification of his hit song “Wagon Wheel” during a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum yesterday, February 12. Since topping the charts for back-to-back weeks in 2013, “Wagon Wheel” has now become one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time and Rucker is now the only solo male country act to achieve the honor of an 8x-plus multi-Platinum song in RIAA’s history.

Lured under the pretense of seeing his exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Rucker was surprised when he rounded the corner to see his record label of 14+ years, UMG Nashville, holding a plaque. “What are y’all doing here?!” Rucker remarked, taking in the presence of label heads and esteemed industry guests from the RIAA gathered around his exhibit, which features the suit he wore in the “Wagon Wheel” music video alongside other memorabilia from his remarkable career. After hearing the news – and pausing to really read the plaque’s inscription – an in-awe Rucker added, “I don’t believe you. I don’t believe this! Wow, what a testament to the fans and their love of Country music.”

“Wagon Wheel,” originally released by Old Crow Medicine Show in 2004, was written by the band’s lead singer, Ketch Secor, and was based on a sketch by Bob Dylan, who is credited as a co-writer. The single was featured on Rucker’s Gold-certified, No.1 album True Believers and has since accumulated over 960 million global streams. “Wagon Wheel” also won a GRAMMY for Best Country Solo Performance at the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards, the third of Rucker’s career.

“Even in my wildest dreams for ‘Wagon Wheel,’ the singer was never me or Bob,” remarked Secor upon learning of the song’s new accolade. “It could have been a lot of different people who had the big hit with it. It could have been one of those perfect-smile guys with the made-for-TV personalities. That it was instead a salt of the earth singer like Darius is something divine I’ll leave to the theologians to figure out.”

Mike Dungan, UMGN Chairman & CEO, recalls the conversation he had with Rucker when he first decided to record the song: “Darius called my cell phone one night and told me that he was in the audience for the talent show at his daughter’s high school. He said, ‘Hey man, do you know that song ‘Wagon Wheel?’ I just watched a band full of kids perform it, and it reminded me of how great that song is, and I want to cut it.’ I said, ‘you’re crazy,’ to which he said, ‘well I’m cuttin’ it! I’ll talk to you later!’ We (the label) thought that this was going to either be huge… or a disaster. He was right, everybody’s happy, life is good!”

“On behalf of RIAA, we’re so pleased to mark such an amazing accomplishment,” said Jackie Jones, Vice President of Industry Relations at the Recording Industry Association of America. “A certification of this magnitude is incredibly rare—occurring only a few times in our organization’s history. Darius, his team and the entire UMG Nashville family should be very proud of this historic moment in music.”

#NEWMUSICFRIDAY - MONTGOMERY GENTRY "20 YEARS OF HITS" AVAILABLE NOW

To celebrate 20 years of making music and entertaining fans, Montgomery Gentry has released "Montgomery Gentry: 20 Years of Hits." This is a very special project (recorded during the "Here's To You" sessions) featuring brand new versions of the fans favorite songs, like "Lucky Man (feat. Darius Rucker)" and "Hell Yeah (feat. Jimmie Allen)."  Even more featured artists appear on the collection, including Brad Paisley, Colt Ford, Rodney Atkins, Granger Smith and Logan Mize. The album is available now in Walmart and on all digital outlets!

DARIUS RUCKER HOSTS NINTH ANNUAL “DARIUS AND FRIENDS” BENEFIT CONCERT & GOLF TOURNAMENT SUPPORTING ST. JUDE - RAISES $400K DURING 2 DAY EVENT

Photo Credit: Steve Lowry

Almost a decade after first pledging his support to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and the thousands of children the healthcare institution treats, music superstar Darius Rucker hosted his sold-out ninth annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert on Monday night followed by his traditional golf tournament on Tuesday morning. This year’s concert, auction and golf tournament alone raised $404,000 for St. Jude, breaking the previous year’s record and bringing the cumulative total raised for all years to $1.6 million.

"As a parent I can’t imagine the emotional toll hearing your child has cancer takes, not to mention the financial stress,” said Rucker. “The support families with a child facing life-threating illness receive from St. Jude is just incredible. I’m proud to support St. Jude and I’m so grateful to all our friends who came out and donated their time to be on the show."

With thousands descending on Music City for 2018’s CMA Fest, the benefit concert has become an unofficial kick off to the week’s festivities. For its second year at the historic Ryman Auditorium, Rucker welcomed surprise guests Patrick Davis, Edwin McCain, A.J. McClean of the Backstreet Boys and Brad Paisley, along with stars Trace Adkins, Lauren Alaina, Bobby Bones, Ashley McBryde and Rachel Wammack and more than 2,400 fans to the sold-out event.

Rucker, the evening’s host and MC, kicked things off with a performance of “Alright” followed by his most recent No. 1 “For The First Time” before introducing singer/songwriter Lauren Alaina who kicked things off with “Road Less Traveled,” her first No. 1, followed by current hit "Doin' Fine" and her second No. 1, “What Ifs.”

Alaina was followed by iHeartMedia’s award-winning nationally syndicated radio host, Bobby Bones. He had the crowd in hysterics with his comical Bobby Bones and The Raging Idiots tune "Chick-Fil-A (...But It's Sunday)." He was then joined on stage by Rucker for a rousing cover of the Beastie Boys’ classic “Fight for Your Right.”

To the delight of attendees, “Darius and Friends” has become known for its surprise guests and this year was no exception. The first surprise of the evening came with Rucker introducing the Backstreet Boys’ A.J. McLean to roaring screams of approval. McClean launched into Backstreet Boys’ hit “I Want It That Way” with support from the crowd singing every word of the chorus.

Rucker then returned for the second of three sets throughout the evening; this time performing his hits “Hands On Me” and “Radio” before introducing RCA Nashville newcomer Rachel Wammack. The soulful songstress wowed the crowd with “No Love” and “Damage” off her debut EP.

Rucker described the evening’s next performer as one of his “favorite voices in country music and just an all-round great dude” before introducing country star and actor Trace Adkins, who delivered a crowd-pleasing performance of his hits “Ladies Love Country Boys” and “Just Fishin’.” “In my opinion there is no better cause than St. Jude,” Adkins said. “Children are innocent and they don’t deserve anything bad that happens to them. If something bad happens to me, I probably did something to deserve it,” Adkins added, drawing laughs form the crowd.

Rucker then returned with hits “Homegrown Honey” and "If I Told You" before introducing Edwin McCain as the night’s second surprise guest, who took the stage performing his hit “I’ll Be.” McCain’s soaring vocals could hardly be heard over the audience singing along to every word. He followed up the hit song with covers of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” and Seal’s “Crazy.”

Rucker returned to join both McCain and fellow South Carolina singer/songwriter Patrick Davis for a funky cover of Bill Wither’s “Use Me” before bringing out breakout country singer/songwriter Ashley McBryde, who immediately captured the rapt crowd’s attention with Top-30-and-climbing single “Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega.”

“Gosh it is good to be here at the Ryman. It never gets old being here,” she shared before playing her infectious “American Scandal” off debut album Girl Going Nowhere. McBryde told stories from her time at St. Jude last December and detailed the patients she met there, before declaring “Country Music has been there over 40 years for St. Jude and we will be there every single time.” An emotional highlight of the evening followed, with her mesmerizing take on Cyndi Lauper’s hit “Time After Time” drawing a standing ovation from the audience.

“He’s not my friend, he’s not my buddy, he’s my brother,” Rucker said before introducing the final performer and surprise guest, country music superstar Brad Paisley. Rucker joined Paisley for his first number and struck a somber note with a duet of Paisley’s hit “Letter To Me,” although the notoriously comical Paisley couldn't resist getting a few jokes in throughout the song, teasing Rucker with "You dated Bridget too?"

Rucker and Paisley have a long history as duet partners, having toured together in 2010. Paisley also invited Rucker to join the Opry nearly six years ago. They’ve also teamed up several times over the years for different charitable causes including a fundraiser hosted by Paisley's wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley just the night before.

Paisley then performed fan favorite “Ticks” before Rucker returned to join him for a boisterous duet of Paisley’s hit “Alcohol” and bringing the crowd to their feet with a rocking cover of Prince classic “Purple Rain.”

The crowd was not ready for the night to end and Rucker obliged with an encore of his Hootie & the Blowfish hit, “I Only Want to Be with You.”

The evening ended, as has become tradition, with a performance of Rucker’s hit “Wagon Wheel,” with Adkins and McBryde returning to the stage to join Rucker and the crowd for a raucous singalong.

The event has sold out year after year, raising funds through concert ticket sales, a silent auction and annual golf tournament, hosted by the free-swinging Rucker and his band. Friends performing with Rucker in the past have included Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Radney Foster, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, John Oates of legendary pop duo Hall & Oates, Michael Ray, Kenny Rogers and many more.

Rucker, a longtime philanthropist over his more than two decades as a hit-maker and singer-songwriter in the music industry, was recently named the ACM Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award winner for his devotion to improving lives through the power of music. He made a commitment to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® after touring the campus in 2008. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Unlike any other hospital, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from individual contributions. Events like this help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.   
 
The event is made possible through the support of generous sponsors CDW Healthcare, Intel, Pitney Bowles, Hendrix Enterprises, Arrow Electronics, AO Smith, AMD, Tom Shepherd’s Family Auto Group and Hutton Hotel.

Rucker recently achieved his ninth career No. 1 on the country charts with “For The First Time” and will co-headline the Summer Plays On Tour this summer with Lady Antebellum before heading overseas to the United Kingdom for a string of shows this fall.
     
For more information, please visit www.dariusrucker.com or follow on social media @DariusRucker.