Darius Rucker Raises $715K For St. Jude At 2024 Ryman Benefit

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Darius Rucker performs at the 15th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert. Photo: Keith Griner

Darius Rucker‘s annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert on Monday night (June 3) at the Ryman Auditorium raised an all-time high of $715,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Dan + Shay perform at the 15th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert. Photo: Keith Griner

The show featured dozens of hits and beloved covers by Rucker as well as his surprise guests Ingrid Andress, Dan + Shay, Jamey Johnson, Chase Matthew and Shane Profitt. Rucker was also joined by his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmate Mark Bryan, who was fresh off opening weekend of the group’s “Summer Camp with Trucks Tour.”

Rucker kicked off the main event with a trio of his hits—“Have A Good Time” from his new album Carolyn’s Boy, his 10th and most recent No. 1 “Beers and Sunshine” and the chart-topping “For The First Time.” In between sets from the myriad of guests, Rucker also returned to the stage, treating fans to hits ranging from his Platinum country breakout “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” and double-Platinum No. 1 “Alright” to his current single “Never Been Over.”

Ingrid Andress performs at the 15th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert. Photo: Keith Griner

The multi-genre star also branched out from his own catalog for rousing covers of Bell Biv Devoe’s “Poison,” Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love It” and TLC’s “Waterfalls.” Hootie & the Blowfish bandmate Bryan also joined him for fan-favorites “Only Wanna Be With You” and “Hold My Hand,” offering a taste of what to expect on the road this summer.

With this year’s concert, the corresponding celebrity golf tournament on June 4 and a live auction and donation round which added thousands to the fundraising tally, Rucker has surpassed the $4.3 million mark in monies raised to aid the patients and families at St. Jude.

This year’s “Darius and Friends” event adds to an exciting season for the multi-Diamond-certified superstar, who recently released a reimagined duet version of his Carolyn’s Boy album track “Never Been Over” featuring Jennifer Nettles. On May 28 he also released his memoir Life’s Too Short,  exploring the story of his life through the lens of the music that defined it.

Jamey Johnson performs at the 15th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert. Photo: Keith Griner

Chase Matthew performs at the 15th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert. Photo: Keith Griner

Darius Rucker performs at the 15th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert. Photo: Keith Griner

Lorie Hollabaugh
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