Darius Rucker’s Parents, Wife, Children, Age, Biography, Wiki, Net Worth, Height, and more
Darius Rucker is a name that many music fans recognize. He is a singer, songwriter, and musician who has achieved success in various genres, from rock to country to R&B. He is best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the Grammy-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, as well as a solo artist who has topped the country charts with hits like “Wagon Wheel” and “Alright”. But who is the man behind the music?
Darius Carlos Rucker Wiki/Bio
| Name | Darius Carlos Rucker |
|---|---|
| Birth date | May 13, 1966 |
| Birth place | Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Genres | Rock, pop, country, R&B, blues, alternative rock |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Atlantic, Hidden Beach, Capitol Nashville |
| Associated acts | Hootie & the Blowfish, Lady A, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Old Crow Medicine Show |
| Spouse | Beth Leonard (m. 2000; div. 2020) |
| Children | Caroline Rucker, Daniella Rose Rucker, Jack Rucker |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christian |
| Awards | Grammy Awards (3), Country Music Association Awards (2), Academy of Country Music Awards (2), British Country Music Association Awards (2), CMT Music Awards (1), American Music Awards (1) |
Profile
Family, Birthday, Siblings
Darius Rucker was born on May 13, 1966 (age: 57 years, as of 2023), in Charleston, South Carolina. He was raised by his single mother, Carolyn, who worked as a nurse at the Medical University of South Carolina. He had two brothers and three sisters, one of whom is L’Corine Rucker, a singer and songwriter. According to Rucker, his father was rarely around, and he only saw him before church on Sundays. His father was a member of a gospel band called The Traveling Echoes.
Rucker grew up in poverty, and at one point, his mother, her two sisters, his grandmother, and 14 children lived in a three-bedroom house. Despite the hardships, Rucker had a happy childhood and developed a love for music. He sang in the church choir and listened to various artists, such as Al Green, Otis Redding, and The Beatles.
Rucker attended Middleton High School, where he met his future bandmates Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim Sonefeld. They formed a friendship and a musical bond, and later enrolled at the University of South Carolina. There, they started a band called Hootie & the Blowfish, which would become one of the most popular rock bands of the 1990s.
Career with Hootie & the Blowfish
Hootie & the Blowfish released their first EP, Kootchypop, in 1993, and soon attracted the attention of Atlantic Records, who signed them to a major-label deal. Their debut album, Cracked Rear View, came out in 1994, and was an instant success. It sold over 16 million copies in the US, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. It also spawned six top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Hold My Hand”, “Let Her Cry”, and “Only Wanna Be with You”. The band won two Grammy Awards in 1996, for Best New Artist and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. They also received positive reviews from critics, who praised their catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and Rucker’s soulful voice.
The band followed up their debut with four more studio albums: Fairweather Johnson (1996), Musical Chairs (1998), Hootie & the Blowfish (2003), and Looking for Lucky (2005). They also released a compilation album, The Best of Hootie & the Blowfish: 1993–2003, in 2004. Although their subsequent albums did not match the commercial success of their first one, they still sold millions of copies and produced several hit singles, such as “Old Man and Me”, “I Will Wait”, and “One Love”. The band also toured extensively, playing in venues around the world and collaborating with other artists, such as Nanci Griffith, Edwin McCain, and Blues Traveler.
In 2008, the band announced a hiatus, as Rucker decided to pursue a solo career in country music. However, they did not break up, and continued to perform together occasionally, especially for charity events and causes. In 2019, they reunited for a new album, Imperfect Circle, and a tour to celebrate their 25th anniversary. The album received positive feedback from fans and critics, who welcomed their return and appreciated their mature and diverse sound. The album also featured a duet with Sheryl Crow, called “Hold On”.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 ft 10 in or 178 cm
- Weight: 75 kg or 165.5 lbs
- Eye color: Dark brown
- Body measurements: Not available
- Skin color: Black
Kate Quigley mocks Darius Rucker after his drug bust: ‘Karma’
Kate Quigley, the comedian and former girlfriend of Darius Rucker, did not hold back her feelings after the country star was arrested on drug charges. She took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to shade her ex and celebrate his misfortune.
“Yes. I’ve heard. All I can say is Karma,” Quigley tweeted on Thursday, shortly after the news of Rucker’s arrest broke. She followed up with another tweet, featuring a photo of herself in a bikini, winking and sticking out her tongue. “Mood when u hear your d-bag ex got arrested. #Karma,” she wrote.
Rucker, 57, was charged with two counts of simple possession/casual exchange of a controlled substance and one count of a violation of the state’s vehicle registration law. He was released on a $10,500 bond. His lawyer said he was cooperating with the authorities.
Quigley, 42, and Rucker dated for less than a year in 2020, after he split from his wife of 20 years, Beth Leonard. Their relationship ended by September 2021, when Quigley was involved in a tragic overdose that killed three of her friends. Rucker commented on her condition at the time, saying she was “doing great”. Quigley slammed him for speaking on her behalf, since he had not called her to check on her.
This is not the first time Quigley has used X to express her disdain for Rucker. She also joked that he was probably writing a song about her called “Let Her Die”, referencing one of his hits with his band Hootie & the Blowfish. She also said his statement about their breakup “stung”.
Rucker has not responded to Quigley’s latest tweets. He is currently working on his eighth country album, which is expected to be released later this year.
Solo Career and Country Music
Rucker had always been a fan of country music, and he released his first solo album, Back to Then, in 2002. The album was an R&B record, and it featured guest appearances by Jill Scott, Snoop Dogg, and India.Arie. The album peaked at number 127 on the Billboard 200, and received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Rucker’s vocals but criticized his songwriting and production.
Rucker did not release another solo album until 2008, when he signed with Capitol Nashville and switched to country music. His second album, Learn to Live, was a huge success, and marked his breakthrough as a country artist. The album debuted at number one on the Top Country Albums chart, and sold over one million copies in the US. It also produced four number one singles on the Hot Country Songs chart: “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It”, “It Won’t Be Like This for Long”, “Alright”, and “History in the Making”. Rucker became the first Black artist to top the country chart since Charley Pride in 1983, and the first Black artist to win the Country Music Association Award for New Artist of the Year in 2009. He also received a nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards in 2010.
Rucker continued his success with his third country album, Charleston, SC 1966, which was released in 2010. The album was named after his hometown and the year of his birth, and it paid tribute to his musical influences, such as Radney Foster, Steve Cropper, and Buck Owens. The album reached number two on the Billboard 200, and spawned two more number one country singles: “Come Back Song” and “This”. The album also featured collaborations with Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss, and Vince Gill.
Rucker’s fourth country album, True Believers, came out in 2013, and it was his first album to be produced by Frank Rogers, who had worked with artists like Josh Turner, Darius Rucker, and Trace Adkins. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, and sold over 500,000 copies in the US. It also included Rucker’s biggest hit to date, a cover of Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel”, which featured backing vocals by Lady A. The song reached number one on both the Hot Country Songs and the Country Airplay charts, and won Rucker his first solo Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance in 2014. The song also became the third most-downloaded country song of all time, with over eight million downloads. The album also produced the singles “True Believers”, “Radio”, and “Miss You”.
Rucker released his first Christmas album, Home for the Holidays, in 2014. The album featured both original and classic songs, such as “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”, “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow”, and “What God Wants for Christmas”. The album peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200, and number seven on the Top Country Albums chart.
Rucker’s fifth country album, Southern Style, was released in 2015. The album was influenced by Rucker’s Southern roots, and it showcased his diverse musical tastes, from rock to soul to gospel. The album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, and number two on the Top Country Albums chart. It also generated the singles “Homegrown Honey”, “Southern Style”, and “If I Told You”.
Rucker’s sixth country album, When Was the Last Time, came out in 2017. The album was co-produced by Rucker and Ross Copperman, and it featured guest appearances by Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Charles Kelley. The album reached number eight on the Billboard 200, and number two on the Top Country Albums chart. It also spawned the singles “For the First Time”, “If I Told You”, and “Straight to Hell”, the latter of which was a cover of a Drivin N Cryin song, and featured Aldean, Bryan, and Kelley.
Rucker’s seventh country album, Carolyn’s Boy, was released in 2023. The album was named after his mother, who passed away in 2021. The album was a tribute to her and to his family, and it featured songs that reflected his personal life, his faith, and his gratitude. The album debuted at number one on the Top Country Albums chart, and number three on the Billboard 200. It also produced the singles “Beers and Sunshine”, “My Masterpiece”, and “Carolyn’s Boy”, the latter of which was a heartfelt ballad dedicated to his mother.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $12 million |
| 2023 | $13.2 million |
| 2024 | $16 million |
Marriage, Kids, Spouse, Divorce
Rucker married Beth Leonard, a former VH1 executive, in 2000. They have three children together: a daughter, Daniella Rose Rucker, Jack Rucker, and Caroline Rucker (stepdaughter). Rucker also has another daughter, Caroline, born in 1995, from his previous relationship with Elizabeth Ann Phillips. Rucker and Leonard announced their separation in 2020, after 20 years of marriage. They said they remained close friends and co-parents, and asked for privacy and respect. Rucker is a philanthropist and a supporter of various causes and charities. He is a partner of the
