The 50th annual CMA Fest (formerly known as Fan Fair) kicked off on Thursday (June 8th), and the entertainment was everywhere in downtown Nashville.

The official kick-off took place at the Riverfront Stage with Lainey Wilson and continued throughout the day, ending up with a party at Nissan Stadium with performances and/or appearances by Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Tyler Hubbard, Darius Rucker, Elle King, Luke Combs, Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay and a surprise appearance by Vince Gill.

More than 90,000 people are estimated to participate during CMA Fest, a 12% growth over 2022. The stadium alone saw a 10% increase in attendance year over year. Fans from all 50 states and a record-breaking 51 countries filled Music City in anticipation of seeing more than 300 acts taking part in CMA Fest.

Dierks, who is co-hosting next month’s ABC-TV special CMA Fest with Elle King and Lainey Wilson and performed Sunday night (June 11th) at Nissan Stadium, says he’s not only a country artist, but a fan of the format as well. “This is a great weekend for me, ‘cause I get to go from the Station Inn to the Stadium. I mean, I get to run my whole life in that little, you know, I started off going to watch a band play at the Station Inn back in 1994 with dreams of one day trying to make it as a country artist and nothing says country artist like playing the Stadium here in Nashville. So, it’s kind of a look back at my life in a short six-day period,” says Dierks. “So it’s really, for me it’s a magical week of reflection and being a fan. I’m playing, but also just like total fan mode. I’ve always said I’m a fan of country music first and foremost, and this weekend is a great place to be a fan. It’s just the best of the best.”

“this is your captain speaking!” — @DierksBentley pic.twitter.com/dokdcpdaxg

— Nissan Stadium (@NissanStadium) June 12, 2023

Vince was a special surprise guest during Luke Combs’ set, to which the newly-anointed country superstar called his “absolute hero.” The pair teamed up on Vince’s 1993 hit “One More Last Chance.” Vince says he’s grateful to be a part of CMA Fest. “This is a genre of music unlike anything that I’ve ever experienced. It’s a grateful artist base. It’s grateful for the people that give us the opportunity to do what we do, you know, whether it’s at the Fairgrounds or whether it’s a bigger place. I don’t know if it ever really mattered,” says Vince. All those people out there that buy a ticket to come and do this whether they stand in line to get somebody’s autograph or go to a show or whatever. They’re just here because they like what we do, you know? And it feels good to let them know they’re appreciated and not be standoffish and not be that way. So, I’ve always enjoyed it.”

Backstage prior to his first Nissan Stadium performance, Jordan Davis said he came to Nashville to be a songwriter and never dreamed he’d get to perform at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest. “Long story short, I moved to town to write songs. I had never played with a band; I’d never played a show,” says the Louisiana native. “I was trying to get a publishing deal and trying to get other artists to cut my songs. I truly started playing music and trying to go after being an artist, because I didn’t know if that was going to happen. So, I figured I was already this far down the road, so I might as well start trying to make some money gigging around and here we are. I kind of fell backwards into it, but I’m very grateful I did. I truly never, never dreamed that I would be playing on the stage that I’m getting to play on tonight.”

Having performed his two No. 1 songs as a solo artist — “5 Foot 9” and “Dancin’ In The Country” — Tyler Hubbard is overwhelmed by the reaction the fans have had for his recent self-titled album. “It means a ton to me to have these songs connect the way they have, it’s been really special,” he says. “It’s inspired me, it’s motivated me, and it makes me want to keep doing it, and it’s given me a lot of life. These songs are special, and they mean a lot and to watch the fans sing ‘em back to me at the shows and to hear their stories and to see their videos that they’re making to my music, it’s fulfilling as a songwriter, as an artist. It’s just what I love, and like I said, it just motivates me to keep doing this thing. I just love the connection, and that’s what music does. It brings us together and so that’s why I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Thanks for all the love yesterday, CMA Fest. Playing Nissan Stadium solo for the first time is an experience I’ll never forget. pic.twitter.com/bnrGdmeUC2

— Tyler Hubbard (@tylerhubbard) June 9, 2023

Night two pulled in performances by Tanya Tucker, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson. Reba McEntire surprised the crowd at Nissan Stadium during Cody Johnson’s set. The pair performed her hit “Whoever’s In New England,” before Cody presented her with a gold plaque for their hit duet “Dear Rodeo.” Also performing on Friday (June 9th) were Miranda Lambert, HARDY and Keith Urban (who had the crowd mesmerized).

Additional performers at Nissan Stadium included Little Big Town, Jon Pardi, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Josh Turner, Tim McGraw, Jelly Roll, Old Dominion, Ashley McBryde, Tracy Lawrence, as well as hot newcomers on the Platform Stage including Dalton Dover, Ashley Cooke, Megan Moroney, Ian Munsic, Nate Smith, Alana Springsteen and Haley Whitters.

More highlights and performances will be featured during the CMA Fest ABC-TV special, hosted by Dierks Bentley, Elle King and Lainey Wilson. Catch all the action at 8pm ET on July 19th.

Fifteen years after first visiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® where he was immediately inspired to pledge his support, three-time GRAMMY Award winner Darius Rucker continues to give back, surpassing the $3.6 million mark in his fundraising efforts with this year’s 14th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert on Monday night, June 5, which was paired with a corresponding golf tournament and silent auction on Tuesday, June 6. This year’s event alone raised an all-time high of $560,000 for the cause.

https://twitter.com/dariusrucker/status/1666921930836914179

“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 as fans descend on Music City each summer. “Thank y’all for coming out. Thank you for supporting St. Jude.”

Now, more than a decade later, the annual event is renowned for its surprise lineup of stars and this year was no different. Sold out well in advance despite the famous friends not being revealed until they took the stage, the event praised by the Tennessean for “showcase[ing] generations of country stardom” featured more than 30 hit songs and beloved covers by Rucker, whom American Songwriter celebrated as “an engaging performer and affable host throughout the evening,”alongside his surprise guests HARDY, Jake Owen, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Vince Gill.

After a live auction and donation round which added thousands to the fundraising tally, Rucker kicked off the main event with a trio of hits – with his Double Platinum-certified No. 1 “Alright,” top ten hit “Radio” and “Southern State of Mind” – before introducing the first friend of the evening as ACM Award-winner Jake Owen took the stage to perform a feel-good collection of songs including his Platinum-certified “Down to the Honkytonk” and “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” plus a timeless cover of Hank Williams Jr.’s classic “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound.”

“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,” shared Owen 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.”

Rucker then returned to the stage, thrilling the crowd with his Platinum-certified breakout country hit “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” chart-topping “For The First Time” and brand-new single “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” before introducing rising star Megan Moroney, who performed a trio of songs off her recently-released debut album, Lucky: “I’m Not Pretty,” “Girl in the Mirror” and current top five hit “Tennessee Orange.”

“In Georgia, they call it a sin,” she sang of wearing Tennessee Volunteers orange, with famous Gamecock fan Rucker responding cheekily on social media that evening, “it’s a sin in South Carolina, too!”

The evening’s host continued the show with his Platinum-certified hits “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” and “This” before inviting 22-time GRAMMY Award winner Vince Gill to the stage. Performing solo with only an acoustic guitar, Gill’s showstopping set included “Whenever You Come Around,” “When I Call Your Name” and “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” written for his late brother.

“I’ll play a church song here at the Mother Church,” he shared of the poignant song to close his set.

Rucker then returned to the stage, with his feel-good recent No. 1 hit “Beers and Sunshine” and 2017 chart-topper “If I Told You” before thrilling fans with his Hootie & the Blowfish favorite “Hold My Hand,” bringing the full house to their feet for a singalong of the classic – which wouldn’t be the last of the night as beloved ballad “Let Her Cry” also made a set list appearance.

Still clad in his jersey from the Folds of Honor celebrity softball tournament earlier in the evening, Jelly Roll took the stage next for two songs off his brand-new album, Whitsitt Chapel, released less than a week ago. From his first No. 1 at country radio, “Son of a Sinner,” to current top 15 single “Need a Favor,” Jelly Roll’s fourth appearance on the Ryman stage in less than a week highlighted the earnest truth-telling that has made him beloved to so many fans.

“I only talk to God when I need a favor,” Rucker sang as he returned to the stage following the performance. “What a great line!”

Rucker kept the Hootie & the Blowfish nostalgia coming through his next trio of songs as he performed “Only Wanna Be With You” as well as his solo hits “Homegrown Honey” and “Comeback Song” before introducing the final surprise guest of the evening, HARDY, who highlighted both his songwriting prowess with “A Rock” and his rowdy showmanship with “Unapologetically Country as Hell.”

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,” the feel-good energy throughout the auditorium symbolic of the night as a whole.

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.

The annual fundraising event, made possible with support from generous sponsors CDW, AMD, Amazon Web Services, IBM, Arrow Electronics, and Hendrix Enterprises, helps ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – so they can focus on helping their child live.

For more information, visit www.DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker. Fans can also continue to donate to St. Jude in honor of “Darius and Friends” HERE and photos from the event are available HERE.

Full 14th Annual “Darius & Friends” Set List:
Darius Rucker: “Alright,” “Radio,” “Southern State of Mind”
Jake Owen: “Down to the Honkytonk,” “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound”
Darius Rucker: “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “For The First Time,” “Fires Don’t Start Themselves”
Megan Moroney: “I’m Not Pretty,” “Tennessee Orange,” “Girl in the Mirror”
Darius Rucker: “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” “This”
Vince Gill: “Whenever You Come Around,” “When I Call Your Name,” “Go Rest High on That Mountain”
Darius Rucker: “Beers and Sunshine,” “If I Told You,” “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry”
Jelly Roll: “Son of a Sinner,” “Need a Favor”
Darius Rucker: “Homegrown Honey,” “Only Wanna Be With You,” “Comeback Song”
HARDY: “A Rock,” “Unapologetically Country as Hell”
Encore – Darius Rucker: “Valerie,” “Hands On Me,” “Friends in Low Places,” “No Diggity,” “Wagon Wheel,” “Purple Rain”

As his Double Platinum-certified album True Believers celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its release, Darius Rucker will now make the record available on vinyl for the first time. In addition to the standard black vinyl available for preorder now, 500 commemorative signed copies are also available for preorder via DariusRucker.com.

In addition to singles including the title track and Top 10 hit “Radio,” the album most notable features Rucker’s Diamond-certified (11x Platinum) chart-topper “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time.

“This album changed so much for me musically and for our live show,” says the three-time GRAMMY winner. “As a kid who worked as a clerk in a record store, there’s a part of me that has always wanted this album to live on vinyl, so this is a great way to commemorate 10 years of Believers.”

The vinyl release precedes new music from Rucker, with his studio album Carolyn’s Boy set for release later this year with single “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” impacting Country radio now. Fans will hear the new music and his expansive catalog of hits on the road this summer during the Starting Fires Tour, with tickets on sale now via DariusRucker.com.

Rucker also returns to Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on Monday, June 5 for his 14th Annual Darius and Friends concert benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and will headline the second year of his personally curated Riverfront Revival Music Festival taking place in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. on October 7 and 8. Festival passes are now available along with more information at RiverfrontRevival.com.

For more information on music and upcoming events, please visit www.DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

True Believers Track Listing:
1.    True Believers
2.    Miss You
3.    Wagon Wheel
4.    Love Without You (feat. Sheryl Crow)
5.    Radio
6.    Lost in You
7.    I Will Love You Still (feat. Mallory Hope)
8.    Take Me Home
9.    Shine
10.  Heartbreak Road
11.  Leavin’ the Light On
12.  Lie to Me

His new single, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” is available everywhere now as Rucker puts the finishing touches on his forthcoming album, Carolyn’s Boy.

Carrie Underwood celebrated her 15th Anniversary as a proud Grand Ole Opry member on Saturday (May 13th) with a two-show performance. The Opry presented her backstage with a special commemorative print and a specially-designed cake, by IveyCake, to commemorate the milestone. Carrie made her unforgettable Grand Ole Opry performance debut on June 10th, 2005, just two weeks after winning American Idol. Her love for the Opry started as a child as she grew up watching and listening to the show, dreaming of one day performing there and even becoming a member herself. The multi-GRAMMY® /CMA/ACM award winner was officially inducted into the Opry family on May 10th, 2008 by fellow Oklahoman and fellow Opry member Garth Brooks. Cute note: She also got to meet the iconic daytime star Susan Lucci backstage. Carrie will return to the Grand Ole Opry for a special two-show Tuesday night Opry on June 6 (7 pm and 9:30 pm), which “unofficially” kicks off the milestone 50^th CMA Fest week.

Happy anniversary to me!!! It’s been a magical 15 years of being an @opry member! It remains one of the greatest accomplishments of my career!!! Thanks to all who came out to celebrate! I truly feel honored…and loved!

Also, I met Susan Lucci tonight!!! What a sweet and… pic.twitter.com/cUXIdYi0Td

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) May 14, 2023

Don’t forget to tune in to CMT Crossroads on Tuesday (May 16th) to catch Darius Rucker and The Black Crowes swap vocals on each other’s songs.  “CMT Crossroads: The Black Crowes & Darius Rucker” premieres with a special one-hour presentation on Tuesday at 10p/9c, with an immediate encore at 11p/10c, and on Friday (May 19th) at 12a/11c. It will also go live on Wednesday (May 17th) on CMT.com, CMT VOD and the MTV app (CMT Crossroads), with subsequent premieres on CMT MUSIC and MTV LIVE.

Luke Bryan will perform his new single, “But I Got A Beer In My Hand,” live on ABC’s American Idol finale on Sunday (May 21st). The three-hour finale episode is set to air live from coast to coast starting at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

Your new summer anthem has arrived. This town doesn’t stand a chance with this one. “But I Got A Beer In My Hand” is out now! https://t.co/WcBc52N0pN pic.twitter.com/qeW4WDfT6L

— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan) May 5, 2023

Keith Urban will return to the season finale of ABC’s American Idol on Sunday (May 21st) to mentor the Top 3 finalists. Keith, who was a judge on the talent show between seasons 12 and 15, will also take the stage to perform as well.

https://twitter.com/AmericanIdol/status/1657053379703754753

In a new promo for the Tennessee Titans 2023-2024 schedule release, Keith Urban appears at the very end on stage at Nashville’s famed Robert’s Western World.

https://twitter.com/KeithUrban/status/1657182924507164672

CMT today revealed the newest installment of the iconic “CMT Crossroads” franchise featuring multi-platinum rock band The Black Crowes and 3x GRAMMY® award-winning singer-songwriter Darius Rucker. “CMT Crossroads: The Black Crowes & Darius Rucker” premieres with a special one-hour presentation on Tuesday, May 16th at 10p/9c, with an immediate encore at 11p/10c, and on Friday, May 19th at 12a/11c. It will also go live on Wednesday, May 17th on CMT.com, CMT VOD and the MTV app (CMT Crossroads), with subsequent premieres on CMT MUSIC and MTV LIVE.

“CMT Crossroads: The Black Crowes & Darius Rucker” pairs the legendary rockers with cross-genre superstar Rucker – known equally for his phenomenal country music career, as well as fronting the multi-platinum band, Hootie & the Blowfish. The episode has the longtime friends swapping stories and performing on each other’s most-celebrated songs, including can’t-miss renditions of The Black Crowes’ “Hard To Handle,” “She Talks to Angels,” and “Remedy,” Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel” and “Let Her Cry,” along with a rousing delivery of Drivin N Cryin’s quintessential Southern rock anthem “Straight To Hell.”

Shared Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes: “It was really cool getting to do Crossroads with Darius. We both come from similar music scenes in the south and we have a shared admiration for a lot of the same music. Darius has such a powerful voice and has written some great songs. I’m glad we finally got to share the stage with our friend!”

Said Darius Rucker: “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 sharing the stage with them was a blast.”

This episode of the critically-acclaimed music series was filmed outdoors in front of a live audience in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas as part of “CMT MUSIC AWARDS WEEK,” giving fans a one-of-a-kind opportunity to be a part of the magic. The crowd of thousands also found themselves in the presence of rock royalty as the pre-eminent Chuck Leavell (The Allman Brothers and The Rolling Stones) performed alongside The Black Crowes & Rucker on keyboards.

In advance of the May 16th “CMT Crossroads” debut, The Black Crowes and Rucker took the stage on April 2nd at Austin’s Moody Center to deliver a world premiere live performance of “She Talks to Angels” at the 2023 CMT MUSIC AWARDS. Watch the moving performance, with Leavell once again on keys, here.

Carrie Underwood visited the new SiriusXM Miami Studios this week after announcing her upcoming exclusive SiriusXM channel, CARRIE’S COUNTRY. While at SiriusXM, the global superstar sat down with Howard Stern for an in-depth interview and three-song performance on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show.

https://twitter.com/carrieunderwood/status/1654225699497025540

“We talked on the phone for a few months before our first date.” @CarrieUnderwood tells Howard how she started dating her now-husband, Mike Fisher. pic.twitter.com/dXUOhLDt6Y

— Stern Show (@sternshow) May 5, 2023

.@carrieunderwood put her own spin on @OzzyOsbourne's “Mama, I’m Coming Home” during her first-ever #SternShow interview. pic.twitter.com/Zvm42QPthP

— Stern Show (@sternshow) May 4, 2023

Before they performed together at Stagecoach Festival in 2022, @CarrieUnderwood had been performing @gunsnroses covers for years. She told Howard how she got @axlrose to join her on stage during her #SternShow interview. pic.twitter.com/SSLyvqOSAl

— Stern Show (@sternshow) May 5, 2023

Luke Bryan and Parker McCollum appear on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown from last weekend’s Stagecoach Festival. Check out all the action Saturday (May 6th) and Sunday (May 7th) beginning at 9am ET/8am CT.

https://twitter.com/cmtHot20/status/1653897363721707523

Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert have recorded a few new songs that will appear in the hit CBS show, Fire Country. Dierks posted a clip of the two in the studio on his socials and wrote, “Tune into the show for the next two weeks on CBS to hear them.” According to Billboard, the two have collaborated on three new songs, two of which — “Saved” and “Still Burning” — will appear in the May 12th episode; while “Something in the Water” will appear in the May 19th season finale. Additionally, Dierks co-wrote and sings “Barbed Wire Heart” that will also air in the finale. The show airs on Fridays beginning at 9pm ET/8pm CT on CBS.

https://twitter.com/DierksBentley/status/1654519915041128449

Darius Rucker will perform during the TODAY Show’s Citi Concert Series on September 1st.

https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/1654471713764065281

During the first of three sold-out shows of The Eras Tour at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on Friday (May 5th), Taylor Swift announced the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) with six extra songs from the vault on July 7th. She writes on her socials, “I first made Speak Now, completely self-written, between the ages of 18 and 20. The songs that came from this time in my life were marked by their brutal honesty, unfiltered diaristic confessions and wild wistfulness. I love this album because it tells a tale of growing up, flailing, flying and crashing… and living to speak about it.”

https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/1654697334012366849

Darius Rucker returns to the historic Ryman Auditorium on Monday, June 5 for his 14th Annual Darius and Friends concert benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The event, which unofficially kicks off the week of CMA Fest in downtown Nashville and has raised more than $3 million to date, will feature an all-star roster of friends to be announced in the coming months.

“This is one of my favorite nights every year,” shares the three-time GRAMMY Award winner. “The work St. Jude does for children and their families, and the medical advances they are constantly making – it all continues to amaze me. It’s a huge honor to bring together some of my best friends in Nashville each summer to do what we can to support them through this event.”

Rucker, who has always prioritized philanthropic work throughout his career, made a commitment to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 15 years ago after taking an inspiring tour of the hospital. Through this meaningful experience, Rucker learned how St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Reflecting on his 2008 visit to the hospital to the Tennessean, Rucker noted, “You see these kids who are sick, and they’re so happy to be there, because their caregivers are so loving and giving to them. And then you find out that nobody ever gets a bill. That blew me away. I was just like, ‘We’ll figure out some way to help you guys as much as I can.’”

Now, a decade and a half later, that effort has become an annual tradition. Friends performing with Rucker in past years 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. The lineup for this year’s event will be announced soon.

Tickets to the 14th Annual Darius & Friends benefit concert start at $69 with VIP package options up to $249, available via AXS.com. Pre-sale access begins tomorrow, April 18 at 10 a.m. CT, with tickets on sale to the general public this Friday, April 21 at 10 a.m. CT.

Darius recently hit the airwaves with his latest single, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves.”

For more information, please visit www.DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

During Sunday night’s CMT Music Awards, Darius Rucker joined forces with The Black Crowes for a performance of the rock band’s 1991 hit “She Talks To Angels.” The two iconic acts were previewing an upcoming collaboration for CMT Crossroads, which is set to air later this Spring.

The pair have a great chemistry together, and Darius says they even inspired him to write one of Hootie & The Blowfish’s biggest hits. “Their song, ‘She Talks To Angels,’ inspired me to write ‘Let Her Cry,’ so we’re gonna do a duet of those two and I’m just looking forward to it. I mean, I’ve known these guys a long time and I think they’re an amazing, an amazing band. I’ve seen ’em so many times. Chris changed the way I play music, and so getting to perform with them is pretty awesome.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lmvG7V0LoE&t=1s

About last night!! I love the @theblackcrowes. Good times at the #CMTawards!! (📷 Getty for @cmt) pic.twitter.com/bpJqKxWjdE

— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) April 3, 2023

Darius just hit the airwaves with his new single, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves,” and is set to launch his Starting Fires Tour June 15th in Roanoke, Virginia.

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 HERE.

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

*Audio below, but also click here for more audio liners.

Darius Rucker releases his new song, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves,” on Friday morning (March 31st). The song, produced by Dann Huff, was written by Ben Hayslip, Dan Isbell and Jacob Rice.

When asked exactly what the song is about (wink-wink), he says with a grin, “it’s a song about that time when you’re sitting at home with your significant other or girlfriend or wife or boyfriend or husband or whatever, and you know it’s time. It’s time to get down to business. That’s what that song’s all about.”

He’s been putting the finishing touches on his forthcoming seventh solo album, which he recently revealedwill be called Carolyn’s Boy in honor of his late mother. Fans have gotten an early preview of the music via recent releases “Same Beer Different Problem” and “Ol’ Church Hymn” (featuring Chapel Hart), with additional new music expected soon.

Darius returns to the road this summer with 21 dates across the U.S. and Canada on his Starting Fires Tour, kicking off June 15th in Virginia. Joining the multi-time Diamond-certified star 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.