‘Darius & Friends’ Surpasses $3.6 Million Raised For St. Jude

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Darius Rucker performs at “Darius & Friends.” Photo: Austin Friedline

Three-time Grammy winner Darius Rucker pledged his support to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 15 years ago and continues to give back, now surpassing the $3.6 million mark. The 14th Annual “Darius & Friends” benefit concert on Monday night (June 5), paired with a golf tournament and a silent auction on Tuesday (June 6), raised an all-time event 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. “Thank y’all for coming out. Thank you for supporting St. Jude.”

Hardy performs at “Darius & Friends.” Photo: Austin Friedline

The annual event is renowned for its surprise lineup of stars and sold out well in advance. The 2023 edition of “Darius & Friends” included performances of over 30 hit songs throughout the night, including Rucker’s “Alright,” “Radio,” and “Southern State of Mind” as well as beloved favorites and covers from surprise guests Hardy, Jake Owen, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Vince Gill.

“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,” Owen shared 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.”

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.”

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.

Caela Griffin
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