Darius Rucker will receive the Veterans Voice Award, presented by USAA's Honor Through Action, at the 52nd American Music Awards, CBS and Dick Clark Productions announced on May 19. The award recognizes artists who use their platforms for lasting change in the lives of veterans, and it went to Zac Brown last year. Rucker will also perform during the broadcast alongside his Hootie and the Blowfish bandmates, on a show airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, hosted by Queen Latifah.
USAA Chief Marketing Officer Chris Curtin said "Darius Rucker has long stood beside the military community, not just in words but through action," citing the singer's support of organizations like the Military Warriors Support Foundation, which he has helped provide more than 20 mortgage-free homes to veterans through. Rucker has also performed on multiple overseas USO tours and at events including the Department of Defense Warrior Games. The recognition sits among the honors tracked on award watch this season.
Rucker first found fame as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the Grammy-winning band Hootie and the Blowfish, whose Double Diamond-certified debut Cracked Rear View has sold more than 25 million copies and remains among the top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Since turning to country music in 2008, he has scored four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart and 10 No. 1 singles at country radio, was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012, and won his third Grammy Award in 2014 for a Diamond-certified version of "Wagon Wheel," one of the top five best-selling country songs of all time.
His latest album, Carolyn's Boy, is out now, alongside his memoir "Life's Too Short." Rucker has also raised more than $5.1 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his Darius and Friends benefit concert and golf tournament, and he co-chaired a campaign that generated $150 million for a new children's hospital in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina.
The Memorial Day broadcast will also honor Karol G with the International Artist Award of Excellence and Billy Idol with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while USAA's Poppy Wall of Honor returns to the National Mall for a seventh year, its more than 600,000 poppies marking every American life lost in the line of duty since World War I. Dick Clark Productions said more presenters for the show would be announced in the coming week.
The facts
- Receives the Veterans Voice Award, presented by USAA's Honor Through Action, at the 52nd AMAs
- Has helped provide more than 20 mortgage-free homes to veterans through the Military Warriors Support Foundation
- Sold 25 million-plus albums as Hootie and the Blowfish's singer; debut Cracked Rear View is Double Diamond-certified
- Scored four No. 1 country albums and 10 No. 1 country radio singles since 2008; won a third Grammy for "Wagon Wheel"
- Raised over $5.1 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his Darius and Friends benefit
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