Darius Rucker Reveals "Fires Don't Start Themselves" Video with CMT Premiere, Following TODAY Citi Concert Series & ESPN College GameDay Appearances

Three-time GRAMMY Award-winning superstar Darius Rucker unveiled the official music video for his current single, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves,” with an exclusive CMT world premiere this morning across all platforms, including CMT, CMT Music, the CMT Equal Play channel on Pluto TV, CMT.com and Paramount billboards in Times Square. The cinematic video casts Rucker as a detective hot on the trail of a young couple whose passionate love is setting their town ablaze, both literally and figuratively. Watch HERE.
 
The song, praised by Billboard for Rucker’s “effective use of the impressive vocal control and power in his lower register,” is featured on his highly anticipated new album, 
Carolyn's Boy, set for Oct. 6 release and named for his late mother as an “homage to the greatest woman I’ve ever known.” Preorder HERE.
 
“It’s been six years… We had so much to write about, so I took my time, got with some great guys, got some great songs and I’m really excited for people to hear it,” Rucker shared from the “TODAY” Citi Concert Series stage on Friday, Sept. 1 as he offered a preview of the project with rousing performances of “Fires Don’t Start Themselves,” No. 1 hit “Beers And Sunshine” and recent release “Have A Good Time,” in addition to treating viewers to his Diamond-certified fan-favorite “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time.
 
From there, Rucker also made a stop in Charlotte over the weekend to cheer on his beloved USC Gamecocks as the guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay, debuting his starring role on the show’s new theme song for the season, before performing the National Anthem and serving as an honorary captain for the USC vs. UNC coin toss. Fans across the country can celebrate the start of football season with year three of his Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics line, with an expansion to select NCAA teams for the first time, in addition to new NFL offerings and the debut of a full line of MLB apparel.
 
Next, Rucker returns to the road on his Starting Fires Tour ahead of the album’s release next month, which will also be celebrated during the second year of his personally curated Riverfront Revival Music Festival set for Oct. 7-8 in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. In addition to Rucker himself, fans will be treated to performances by Turnpike Troubadours, Lainey Wilson, Band of Horses and more. Limited tickets remain at 
RiverfrontRevival.com.
 
For more information on all things Darius Rucker, 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 with his forthcoming album, Carolyn’s Boy, set for Oct. 6 release as he performs the 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.  

Darius Rucker to Preview New Album 'Carolyn's Boy' with Performances of "Fires Don't Start Themselves" & More This Friday on TODAY

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.  

Darius Rucker Returns to Country Radio With "Fires Don't Start Themselves," Out Now

DARIUS RUCKER RETURNS TO COUNTRY RADIO WITH
FIRES DON’T START THEMSELVES,” OUT NOW

Starting Fires Tour Kicks Off This June; Tickets On Sale Now via DariusRucker.com

Rucker to Join Forces With The Black Crowes for Special CMT Music Awards Performance This Sunday, April 2

Multi-time Diamond-certified star Darius Rucker returns to Country radio with a new preview of his forthcoming album, Carolyn’s Boy, as “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” debuts across all platforms today, March 31. Listen Below.
 
Written by Dan Isbell, Ben Hayslip and Jacob Rice, the sensual song showcases Rucker’s smooth baritone celebrated by Billboard as “one of the most distinctive voices of the modern country era” and by The New Yorker as “extraordinary: rich, round, and full of nuance.”
 
“When I first heard ‘Fires Don’t Start Themselves,’ the hook immediately got me,” reflects Rucker. “The beginning of the chorus, ‘Let’s drink what’s left of this…’ is classic ‘90s Country. I love it!”
 
The new release precedes a special performance from Rucker on the CMT Music Awards, where he will join forces with The Black Crowes for a duet of “She Talks to Angels.” Tune in to CBS or Paramount+ this Sunday, April 2 at 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. ET/PT to see the collaboration.
 
“I’ve been a fan of The Black Crowes for decades, and I’m grateful that we’ve also become good friends over the years. The first time I heard ‘She Talks to Angels;’ I remember being so moved by the lyrics that I went around Columbia, South Carolina asking every single bar to play it. I went home that night and put on Bonnie Raitt’s Home Plate, and decided I was going to try to write ‘She Talks to Angels’ for her. ‘Let Her Cry’ was what poured out of me. These guys have been so impactful on my career and I can’t wait to share the CMT stage with them.”

Rucker will also kick off his Starting Fires Tour on June 15, visiting 21 cities across the U.S. and Canada throughout the summer.  Joining the three-time GRAMMY winner as direct support across most dates is popular Americana band Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, with rising star Drew Green as direct support on select dates. Tickets are on sale now via DariusRucker.com.
 
He also recently announced the lineup for his second annual Riverfront Revival Music Festival, taking place October 7-8 in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. Joining Rucker to perform are fellow headliners Turnpike Troubadours, plus Lainey Wilson, Band of Horses, Greensky Bluegrass, Niko Moon, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Drivin N’ Cryin, Megan Moroney, Elvie Shane and more. Full lineup details and tickets are available via RiverfrontRevival.com.
 
Additionally, Rucker will return to the stage this spring with his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates, taking over the picturesque stretch of white sand beach at Moon Palace Cancún for the second annual HootieFest: The Big Splash, a four-day celebration of all things rock. Set for April 26-29, the destination event will feature three headlining performances on the beach by the GRAMMY Award-winning band, plus daily pool parties, intimate oceanfront performances from Goo Goo Dolls, Barenaked Ladies, Collective Soul, Gin Blossoms, Everclear, Edwin McCain, Lit and Cowboy Mouth, as well as a special Hootie & the Blowfish sunset show. Limited ticket/travel packages remain via HootieFest.com.
 
For more information on all things Darius Rucker, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.
 
“Fires Don’t Start Themselves” Lyrics Available for Download HERE
 
Starting Fires Tour Dates
* denotes Drew Green as direct support (all other dates are Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors)
June 15            Roanoke, Va.  ||  Elmwood Park Amphitheatre*
June 22            Washington, D.C.  ||  The Anthem
June 24            Canandaigua, N.Y.  ||  Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
July 13            Dubuque, Iowa  ||  Q Casino – Back Waters Stage*
July 20            Jacksonville, Fla.  ||  Daily’s Place
July 21            Wilmington, N.C.  ||  Live Oak Bank Pavilion
July 22            Alpharetta, Ga.  ||  Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Aug. 3             Niagara Falls, Ontario  ||  Fallsview Casino
Aug. 4             Bridgeport, Conn.  ||  Hartford HealthCare Amphitheatre
Aug. 5             Farmingville, N.Y.  ||  Catholic Health Amphitheater at Bald Hill
Aug. 10           Sterling Heights, Mich.  ||  Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
Aug. 11           Milwaukee, Wis.  ||  BMO Pavilion
Aug. 12           Maryland Heights, Mo.  ||  Saint Louis Music Park
Aug. 18           Irvine, Calif.  ||  FivePoint Amphitheatre
Aug. 19           Stateline, Nev.  ||  Lake Tahoe Harveys Outdoor Arena
Aug. 23           Los Angeles, Calif.  ||  The Greek Theatre
Aug. 25           San Diego, Calif.  ||  Gallagher Square at Petco Park
Aug. 26           Highland, Calif.  ||  Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
Sept. 8             Durant, Okla.  ||  Choctaw Casino & Resort – Grand Theater
Sept. 9             Durant, Okla.  ||  Choctaw Casino & Resort – Grand Theater
Oct. 14            Nashville, Tenn.  ||  Ascend Amphitheater
 
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. New songs “Same Beer Different Problem” and “Ol’ Church Hymn” (featuring Chapel Hart) are available everywhere now as Rucker puts the finishing touches on his forthcoming album, Carolyn’s Boy.
 
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 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, offering his own NFL x Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics apparel line at NFLshop.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.