As anticipation mounts ahead of his first solo album in six years, Carolyn’s Boy, three-time GRAMMY winner Darius Rucker is set to deliver an unforgettable show on NBC’s “TODAY” Citi Concert Series stage this Friday, Sept. 1 during the 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. hours. In addition to songs from his multi-time Diamond certified catalog of hits, fans will hear a preview of music off the forthcoming album, set for Oct. 6 release and available for preorder here.
“I wanted to name the record Carolyn’s Boy because Mom never got to see any of my success,” Rucker previously shared with “TODAY” host Craig Melvin of the project. “She died before any of this happened, so it’s just another homage to the greatest woman I’ve ever known.”
Featuring current single “Fires Don’t Start Themselves,” No. 1 hit “Beers And Sunshine,” recent release “Have A Good Time” and more, the 14-song tribute to a woman who embodied joy boasts Rucker as a songwriter on 11 tracks and includes a collaboration with rising trio Chapel Hart as well as Rucker’s powerful take on the Rihanna ballad “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
In addition to his musical offerings, the famed sports fan continues to expand his creative endeavors off the stage and onto the field. Rucker’s Fanatics apparel line recently launched its third season of NFL gear while expanding to include all 30 MLB teams and select NCAA markets. Rucker's passion for sports and music will also converge as he performs the national anthem at the USC vs UNC game this weekend to kick off the college football season, which he will play an important part of as the new voice of ESPN’s “College GameDay” theme song.
For more information on all things Darius Rucker, including his personally-curated Riverfront Revival Music Festival returning to Charleston on Oct. 7 & 8, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.
About Darius Rucker
Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide including their Double Diamond-certified (21x Platinum) debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart, including RIAA Platinum-certified Learn to Live and True Believers, plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits. Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012 and in 2014 he won his third career GRAMMY Award for Best Solo Country Performance with his Diamond-certified (11x Platinum) version of “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. He co-hosted the 54th annual CMA Awards in 2020 and topped the charts at Country radio once again with “Beers And Sunshine” in 2021. Rucker’s new single, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” is available everywhere now as a preview of his forthcoming album set for Oct. 6 release, Carolyn's Boy, as he performs new music for fans this summer on his Starting Fires Tour.
As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker co-chaired the capital campaign that generated $150 million to help build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. and has raised over $3.6 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament. In addition, Rucker has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tenn. Rucker is also an avid sports fan, with his Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics apparel line available at Fanatics.com, and he is part of the Music City Baseball investment group working to bring an MLB team to Tennessee in addition to serving as a partner at the MGC Sports & Entertainment agency.
