CMA surprises Rucker with Humanitarian Award

The award was a surprise to Rucker.

Rucker spoke about his late mother, Carolyn Rucker, and explained how the namesake of his new album, "Carolyn's Boy," directly inspired his passion for giving back.

"When I was a kid, she instilled in us that you help people – not people that are less fortunate; you help people that need help," Rucker said.

"We grew up in a really poor neighborhood with not much and, you know, there was no reason for me to believe that I was gonna be here and make it. But she always instilled in me 'believe in yourself, you can do whatever you want.'"

The CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award recognizes an individual who has served as a humanitarian through community leadership, financial support, personal volunteerism and advocacy. The individual honored has evidenced commitment to worthwhile causes that are important to the Country Music Association and the Country Music community.

Rucker pledged his support to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital after a firsthand visit 15 years ago and, as a result, created the "Darius and Friends" charity auction, golf tournament and concert in 2010. The event has now surpassed the $3.6 million mark, raising funds to benefit the research hospital leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Rucker also co-chaired the capital campaign that generated $150 million to help build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, S.C., an effort directly inspired by his mom's career as a MUSC nurse. He also has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation while also serving as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.