Sold-Out Ryman Auditorium and At-Home Mandolin Live Stream Audiences + Golf Tournament Participants Combine to Raise More Than $410,000 in 2021

All-Star Lineup Featured Jason Aldean, Brothers Osborne, John Daly, Keb’ Mo’, Runaway June and Elvie Shane

Nearly 15 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 to the mission, surpassing the $2.5 million mark in his fundraising efforts with this year’s 12th annual “Darius & Friends” benefit concert on Tuesday night, preceded by his corresponding golf tournament and silent auction on Monday morning. This year’s event alone raised more than $410,000, bringing together a sold-out audience at the historic Ryman Auditorium with at-home fans watching via the Mandolin live stream.

Reflecting on his first visit to the hospital in 2008 to the Tennessean ahead of this year’s show, 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, more than a decade later, that effort has become an annual tradition. The benefit concert, which typically serves as an unofficial kickoff to CMA Fest as fans descend on Music City each summer, was hosted virtually in 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic. In returning home to the iconic Ryman Auditorium this year, the live stream was also kept in place to allow fans at home to tune in alongside the sold-out audience who were treated to a surprise lineup of stars featuring Jason Aldean, Brothers Osborne, John Daly, Keb’ Mo’, Runaway June and Elvie Shane.

After a silent auction and live donation round, Rucker kicked off the musical festivities with a trio of hits – his Platinum-certified No. 1s “This” and “For the First Time” followed by current single “My Masterpiece” – before introducing the first friends of the evening.

“I’ve been in this town for 12 years and I’ve gotten to know a lot of people,” Rucker noted, “but some people you get to really know and they become family. These guys are family.” With that, the Ryman audience gave a rousing welcome to six-time GRAMMY nominees Brothers Osborne, who brought a high-energy performance of their hits “It Ain’t My Fault,” “I’m Not For Everyone” and “Shoot Me Straight.”

“You’ve got to drop the name and tell the story, right?” said Rucker as he returned to the stage, sharing the tale behind an Ed Sheeran cowrite that resulted in brand new song “Sara,” a where-are-they-now ode to Rucker’s fifth grade girlfriend. He then thrilled the crowd with his Double Platinum-certified No. 1 “Alright” before introducing newcomer Elvie Shane, making his Ryman debut with an emotional performance of current Top 10 single “My Boy,” which drew a standing ovation from the audience, and keeping the crowd on their feet with upbeat anthem “Keep On Strummin’.”

“I was working retail in the early Hootie days, selling records,” shared Rucker as he returned to the stage, “and this song by Nanci Griffith was playing one day. It blew my mind, and it started my love for Country music… Years later, my mom had a heart attack and went into a coma. I sat in that hospital room for eight hours and I sang this song over and over. This week Nanci died. She’s one of my great friends and I want to play this song because it means so much to me,” he noted, before performing an emotional rendition of “I Hope It Rains” in tribute to his late friend.

Rucker then invited yet another surprise guest to the stage, sending the audience into a frenzy as he introduced legendary golfer John Daly. Together, they performed a rousing rendition of “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” before Rucker continued with his hits “Homegrown Honey” and “If I Told You” as well as Hootie & the Blowfish classic “Hold My Hand.”

“I would do anything for him, and I know he’d do anything for me,” shared Rucker of his next guest, introducing three-peat ACM Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean. “He did me dirty making me follow a Hootie song,” joked Aldean, before noting “Darius really is one of the nicest, coolest guys in town and so it’s a pleasure to be here, especially for St. Jude.”

Sitting on a stool and accompanied by a single guitar player, Aldean thrilled the crowd with stripped-back versions of his 3x Platinum No. 1 hit “Big Green Tractor” and Gold-certified No. 1 “Any Ol’ Barstool.” Rucker then returned to the stage to perform “Radio” and Hootie hit “Only Wanna Be With You,” ahead of introducing the penultimate guest for the evening; five-time GRAMMY Award winner Keb’ Mo’, who wowed with “Rita” and “I Remember You” before inviting Rucker back for a duet of the Marvin Gaye classic “What’s Going On,” earning a sustained ovation from the crowd.

Rucker kept the Hootie & the Blowfish nostalgia coming as he performed “Let Her Cry” under a single spotlight, accompanied by a violin and the chorus of a sold out Mother Church audience, before continuing the singalong with his latest No. 1 hit, “Beers And Sunshine.” He then introduced the final surprise guests of the evening, bringing trio Runaway June to the stage for their Ryman debut. The CMT “Next Women of Country” thrilled with their Top 5 hit “Buy My Own Drinks” and gave fans a preview of brand new music out this Friday with “T-Shirt” before inviting the audience to sing along for their rendition of the Tom Petty classic, “American Girl.”

Rucker closed out the main entertainment of the evening with his Platinum-certified No. 1 “Come Back Song” before returning to the stage for an encore that included a cover of “Valerie,” with Rucker backed by the powerful vocals of his keys player’s wife, Tiffany Turner, and an upbeat performance of album cut “Hands On Me.” The evening then ended according to tradition, with Rucker joined by the sold-out Ryman crowd for a “Wagon Wheel” singalong, 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, Brooks & Dunn, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Sheryl Crow, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers and Paul Stanley of KISS, among many others.

The annual fundraising event, made possible with support from generous sponsors PGA TOUR, CDW, Hendrix Enterprises, UMG, CAA, A. O. Smith, AMD, Arrow and Intel, helps ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is 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 & Friends” HERE and photos from the event are available HERE.

Full “Darius & Friends” 2021 Set List:
Darius Rucker: “This,” “For the First Time,” “My Masterpiece”
Brothers Osborne: “It Ain’t My Fault,” “I’m Not For Everyone,” “Shoot Me Straight”
Darius Rucker: “Sara,” “Alright”
Elvie Shane: “My Boy,” “Keep On Strummin’”
Darius Rucker: “I Hope It Rains”
John Daly & Darius Rucker: “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
Darius Rucker: “Homegrown Honey,” “If I Told You,” “Hold My Hand”
Jason Aldean: “Big Green Tractor,” “Any Ol’ Barstool”
Darius Rucker: “Radio,” “Only Wanna Be With You”
Keb’ Mo’: “Rita,” “I Remember You, “What’s Going On” (with Darius Rucker)
Darius Rucker: “Let Her Cry,” “Beers And Sunshine”
Runaway June: “Buy My Own Drinks,” “T-Shirt,” “American Girl”
Darius Rucker: “Come Back Song”
Encore – Darius Rucker: “Valerie” (with Tiffany Turner), “Hands On Me,” “Wagon Wheel”

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 25M albums worldwide including their Diamond-certified 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 ten No. 1 singles at Country radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits. In 2014, Rucker won his third career GRAMMY Award for Best Solo Country Performance with his 9x Platinum version of Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. He recently co-hosted the 54th annual CMA Awards and topped the charts at Country radio once again with “Beers And Sunshine” in February. Follow up single “My Masterpiece” is available everywhere now as Rucker puts the finishing touches on a forthcoming album.

As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker supports the MUSC Children’s Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina and has also raised millions of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through his annual “Darius & Friends” benefit concert and golf tournament. Rucker has also 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.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

Three-time Grammy® winner and superstar Tim McGraw recently released his first music video since 2018 for his single “7500 OBO” from his critically acclaimed album HERE ON EARTH which was released last summer via Big Machine Records – Watch HERE. The premiere is followed by a YouTube Premium-exclusive afterparty starring Tim and the video’s two directors, Alexa and Stephen Kinigopoulos talking about the video. Making her acting debut starring in her first music video is Tim and wife Faith Hill’s daughter Audrey McGraw.

HERE ON EARTH, McGraw’s 16^th studio album, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country album chart, marking his 4^th straight decade with a #1 album on the Billboard Country Album chart. The album was his 19^th worldwide #1 and his 17^th U.S. #1, tying him for second most #1 albums in the U.S., just behind George Strait.  The album was also re-released in spring with an additional set of songs as the HERE ON EARTH Ultimate Edition to add to the musical tapestry of life presented in the original album.

ABOUT TIM­ MCGRAW
Tim McGraw’s unparalleled career includes sales of over 80 million records worldwide, 44 number one radio singles, 19 number one albums and countless industry awards and accolades. His unique chart achievements include having three singles in the Top 20 of the radio charts on multiple occasions, as well as having two singles spend over 10 weeks at number one.  His last solo project spawned one of the biggest hit singles of all-time, “Humble and Kind,” whose message continues to impact fans around the world including a Spanish version sung by McGraw. He has routinely been cited as one of the biggest touring artists in the history of country music. As part of the host committee, McGraw welcomed the largest outdoor crowd ever to his Nashville performance at the 2019 NFL Draft. He also appeared in the NFL Tailgate Party for Super Bowl LII and the College Football Playoffs 2020. McGraw’s current single with Tyler Hubbard, “Undivided” was the Billboard No. 1 selling Country Single its debut week and was featured in the 2021 Inauguration performance, “Celebrating America” seen across the world.

American Idol Standout Makes Highly Anticipated Debut – Listen Now

While fans nationwide may have come to know and love LACI KAYE BOOTH on the American Idol stage, the Nashville-by-way-of-Texas newcomer is reintroducing herself with a self-titled debut out today via BMLG Records. The 8-track collection blends her raspy yet velvet alto with the echoes of her Country influences from Merle Haggard to The Chicks and Shania Twain. LISTEN NOW: https://LKB.lnk.to/SelfTitledPR

“My whole life, I prayed, and I wished for this to happen.  I prayed for it every night, and every time I’d blow out my candles on my birthday cake, I’d wish for it,” Laci recalls. “In my heart of hearts, this is exactly what I always wanted.”

Growing a dedicated fanbase, she was thrust into the spotlight as a season favorite on Season 17 of American Idol and her unique “dreamy Country” sound is exactly what drew multiple record labels around town to the young artist, likening her to the Lana Del Rey of Country. However, after meeting with Big Machine Label Group heavyweights Scott Borchetta and Jimmy Harnen, Laci knew a perfect match in their team alongside 19 Recordings and producer Dann Huff.

The musical family continued to build as Nathan Chapman, James Slater, Charles Kelley, Sam Ellis, Laura Veltz, Jimmy Robbins, Liz Rose, and so many more joined the fold. Treasured Nashville songwriters who welcomed Booth completely with open arms. Through word of mouth in the Nashville songwriting community she quickly proved herself and became a sought-after artist for collaborating. Co-writing every track on this collection, each one is every bit as unmistakable, unforgettable and uninhibited as her pure tone and whisper-tinged vocals.

Track List:
1. “Used To You” | Laci Kaye Booth, Sam Ellis, Sara Haze                                                        
2. “On The Fence” | Laci Kaye Booth, Todd Clark, Sara Haze, Jason Cole Saenz                         
3. “Treasure” | Laci Kaye Booth, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
4. “Broken Heart Still Beats” (featuring Charles Kelley) | Laci Kaye Booth, Charles Kelley, Paul DiGiovanni, Adam Hambrick
5. “Shuffle” | Laci Kaye Booth, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland                                                 
6. “If He Would’ve Stayed” | Laci Kaye Booth, Carlo Colasacco, James Slater                        
7. “Visions” | Laci Kaye Booth, Jamie Kenney                                                      
8. “Heart Of Texas” | Laci Kaye Booth, Nathan Chapman, Emily Fox Landis

Like the gold shimmer she exudes, Laci offers “Treasure” as her first single at Country radio on September 13. The 25-year-old will soon be an identifiable voice in the genre – one that makes you turn the volume all the way up, because you’ve simply never heard anyone like her before.

Laci will celebrate the release today with a listening party with fans at 1pm CT on Vertigo – tune in here. For more information and upcoming tour dates, visit LaciKayeBooth.com and follow along with more of Laci’s journey via Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Country Artist Lindsay Ell to Open Show at Nissan Stadium

Nashville-based pop/rock singer-songwriter Ben Rector will headline a free concert outside Nissan Stadium to kick off the Sept. 5 World Cup Qualifying match as Nashville hosts USA-Canada, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp announced today. Country artist Lindsay Ell will open the show at 4:15 p.m., and Rector will take the stage at 5:15 p.m. prior to the 7 p.m. match. #WorldCup #Nash2026

This will be U.S. Soccer’s first home match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign and serves as a preview with Nashville in contention to serve as a host city for the 2026 World Cup. The U.S. team has had some recent significant wins, beating rival Mexico on Aug. 1 in the Gold Cup, after defeating them June 6 in the Concacaf National League final, resulting in two trophies for the U.S. Men’s National Team.

The concert is free and open to the public, including those without game tickets. Game tickets are on sale. Nashville country trio Runaway June will perform the national anthem. Both Rector and Ell are based in Nashville. Ell, who is Canadian, represented Nashville Soccer Club as part of the league’s 25^th Season Celebration and helped them unveil their MLS away jersey, called the Nashville Vibe. More details at visitmusiccity.com/worldcupqualifier.

“We see this as a dress rehearsal to World Cup 2026, and having live music is essential to showing FIFA how we stand out from other destinations,” said Butch Spyridon, president and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “With Nashville’s deep base of talent, we thought it would be fitting and fun to add a native Canadian with our Nashville headliner to add to the spirit of the game.”

The concert will take place on the South Plaza between Gates 8 and 9 at Nissan Stadium. Gates will open at 3 p.m. alongside U.S. Soccer’s official FanHQ event, a pregame fan activation created to extend the fan experience beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch. The event will include music, games, food and more.

“Hosting a World Cup Qualifier is more than just a match; it’s an event,” U.S. Soccer Chief Communications Officer Neil Buethe said. “We are thrilled to be offering fans a memorable experience beyond the field and to be showcasing the best a market can offer. What better way to do that in Music City than a free concert to build energy toward the game?”

With winning at home vital to any team’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup, venue selection is a critical component. U.S. Soccer recognizes Music City’s growing soccer culture and outstanding facilities as key factors in the selection. Nashville was named Best Sports City in 2019 by Sports Business Journal.

Currently home to Nashville SC, the city has developed a rich history of supporting the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team and drawing impressive crowds. The USA began its march to the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup title by playing to a 1-1 draw with Panama in front of 47,622 fans – then a record attendance mark for soccer in the state of Tennessee.

A year later, more than 40,000 fans witnessed a U.S. 1-0 shutout victory against regional rivals Mexico. Most recently, the U.S. team overcame Jamaica 3-1 in the semifinal of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. Overall, the USA has amassed a 4-2-1 record in Nashville.

 World Cup Qualifying

The match against Canada is part of the ‘triple date’ to open World Cup Qualifying during which the U.S. will play three matches in seven days. The campaign kicks off with the USMNT traveling to face El Salvador on Sept. 2 at the 53,000 seat Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador. Three days after the Canada game, the USMNT takes on Honduras in San Pedro Sula. Under the new qualifying format, a total of eight teams – increased from six in previous cycles – will compete in the Final Round, with the top three teams advancing to Qatar ’22. The fourth-place team will participate in an Intercontinental playoff for the last spot. The 10 matches in the Final Round had typically been played during the course of 18 months. Due to schedule changes related to the global pandemic and the new format, each team will play 14 matches in a seven-month period. ussoccer.com

Ben Rector

You love Ben Rector’s music… you just might not have realized it yet. Called “exactly what the world needs” by The Collegian and praised for a sound that “perfectly encapsulates all the warm feelings” by People magazine, this songwriting polymath has flown a hair’s breadth under the mainstream radar for over a decade. In that time he has amassed over a billion streams across all platforms; played live on a number of national television shows, including Jimmy Kimmel, Conan, The Today Show, and more; had his music featured in over 100 TV shows, ads, and films including Pretty Little Liars and Castle (his single “Brand New” is one of the most licensed songs for television and film in the last five years); hit the number one spot on Billboard’s U.S. Folk chart and the number nine spot on their top 200; mentored stars of tomorrow on ABC hit show American Idol; sold out three consecutive nights at the legendary Ryman Auditorium, as well as countless other theaters and arenas around the country; and that’s just the start – not bad for an artist that’s chosen to remain largely independent. There’s an understated magnetism to Rector and his “meticulously crafted, shamelessly romantic folky pop” (Chicago Tribune). He’s Nashville’s worst-kept, best-kept secret, and if you’ve never heard his name before, now you’ll never forget it. benrectormusic.com

Lindsay Ell

Lindsay Ell’s newest album heart theory was produced by the legendary Dann Huff, and its storytelling highlights Ell’s growth since her debut album on Stoney Creek Records, The Project, which debuted at No. 1 on the Country Album Sales Chart and was named Billboard’s “Best Country Album of 2017.” That album spawned her first Top 20 hit in the United States, as well as her first No.1 on the Canadian Country radio charts – making her the first female artist to top that chart in 10 years. Most recently, she scored her first No. 1 with “What Happens in a Small Town,” her duet with Brantley Gilbert – another milestone moment making her the first Canadian artist to hit No. 1 in the U.S. since Emerson Drive’s “Moments” in 2007, and the first Canadian woman to reach the top of the charts since Terri Clark with “I Just Wanna Be Mad” in 2003. Over the past three years, Ell has shared the stage with some of the biggest acts in the world touring with Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Sugarland. She has made multiple appearances on the CMA Awards stage, including playing with Carrie Underwood and performing with distinguished country group, Little Big Town, alongside other powerhouse female artists in one the biggest moments of the 2019 CMA Awards where she was also nominated for Musical Event of the Year. Ell’s nominations do not stop there, she is a 2-time 2020 ACM nominee for New Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year. lindsayell.com