Darius Rucker Shares Wild Party Stories and Friendship with Tiger Woods in New Memoir 'Life's Too Short'

Darius Rucker Details Nonstop Partying in Memoir

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Darius Rucker shared the story of his life through 23 significant songs in his new memoir Life’s Too Short. In the book, he reflects on how these songs shaped his journey, starting from his humble beginnings in a simple yet happy home. Despite facing challenges, he always found solace in music, which served as his escape and sanctuary. Rucker, now 58, expressed how these songs were his personal soundtrack, guiding him to places beyond his wildest dreams.

From his early years to founding Hootie & the Blowfish while at the University of South Carolina, Darius Rucker shared a candid reflection on his life so far. And who can forget the tale of Woody Harrelson rescuing him from a close call or his bond with Tiger Woods?

Stay tuned for the key highlights from Life’s Too Short:

His Close Bond with Woody Harrelson

Rucker shared in his first chapter about his close friendship with Harrelson. Although he couldn't recall how they first crossed paths, the 62-year-old singer and actor quickly hit it off. Their bond grew stronger when Rucker stayed at Harrelson's Hawaii residence for two weeks in the late 1990s, where they experienced a near-drowning incident.

The current was strong, feeling like a giant squid wrapping its tentacles around Rucker, pulling him under. He struggled, gasping for air, fighting against the rip current. After what felt like an eternity, he heard a voice - Woody, not far away.

Harrelson stayed by Rucker's side as he felt himself drifting away. Rucker eventually whispered to Harrelson, "This is it," describing a bright light and visions of his late mother. With the help of another friend, they managed to bring Rucker safely to shore.

Challenging Family Relationships

Rucker shared a close bond with his mother until her passing in November 1992. However, there were two family members that he struggled to connect with — his older brother Ricky and his father, known as Blue.

Ricky was described by Rucker as being very thin, restless, highly energetic, and prone to seizures due to his epilepsy. Additionally, Ricky had a history of drug abuse.

According to Rucker, Ricky was not known for giving to others, including family members. Rucker mentioned that their family had little to offer, but Ricky showed little concern for this. Ricky was known to take whatever he wanted, regardless of ownership, and was involved in drug use. Despite being only eleven years old, Rucker observed that Ricky struggled to maintain employment.

Rucker mentioned that during his college days, he gave Ricky some money before deciding to part ways. One night, Ricky, who was intoxicated and having a seizure, fell, hit his head, and tragically bled to death.

In terms of his father, Rucker only saw him once when he was young, and they did not meet again for 15 years. It was not until Rucker's father came backstage at a Hootie & the Blowfish show that they were able to reconnect.

My father has become a stranger to me. He made the choice to remove me from his life, remarried, and started a new family. I am overwhelmed with emotions, feeling like I have been pushed aside. Despite the hurt, I decide not to shut him out like he did to me. Instead, I choose to be the bigger person and leave a door slightly open for him. I may not be able to forgive him, but I am willing to give him a chance.

After Rucker found success, his father reached out and asked for $50,000, which ultimately led to the end of their relationship.

How Dave Letterman Helped Hootie

Darius Rucker Details Nonstop Partying in Memoir

Rucker's memoir mainly focuses on his time with Hootie & The Blowfish, a band he formed with Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim Sonefeld during their sophomore year at the University of South Carolina. Initially, they played at smaller venues until a turning point occurred when David Letterman heard one of their songs on the radio during his drive from New York to Connecticut after filming his show.

"He strains to hear the name of the band. The DJ says it. It's a bit of a joke name. Dave finds it funny and he knows he will always remember that name," Rucker shared, mentioning that Letterman later invited them to perform on his late-night show.

"What we didn't realize at that time was that starting the following Monday and every night for the next year, David Letterman would randomly mention, for fun, for a good reason, or for no reason at all — Hootie & The Blowfish," Rucker reminisced. "This went on for the next year."

How Rucker Met His Wife

Rucker first met his now-estranged wife, Beth Leonard, at an event in the late 1990s. They started off as friends and as their friendship grew stronger, Rucker decided to ask her out on a date. After their first night out together, Rucker had a strong feeling that he would eventually marry Leonard.

Struggles with Substance Abuse

After twenty years of marriage, Beth and I decided to part ways in 2020. Throughout our marriage, I witnessed her strength, determination, and dedication to our children and our relationship. However, our journey together also included struggles with substance abuse.

After becoming famous in the band, Rucker had unlimited access to drugs and alcohol. His preferred drink was Jim Beam.

He once wrote, “I'm up for anything. Booze. Drugs. We had it all - anything you can think of, in large amounts. We drank, smoked, sniffed, and hoarded substances.”

In another part of the memoir, Rucker mentioned how they would constantly be working day and night without any breaks.

Rucker also acknowledged Leonard for being the one to help him quit partying by warning him that she would make his life difficult.

His Friendship With Tiger Woods

Darius Rucker Details Nonstop Partying in Memoir

Tiger Woods with Darius Rucker and Notah Begay III Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Rucker met the golfer after playing a show in Michigan.

Experiencing Racism

"We stay in touch and quickly become close friends," Rucker shared. "Hootie & The Blowfish perform at his wedding, I sing at Tiger's thirtieth birthday, I sing at his fortieth birthday, I sing at his father's funeral. Over time, he faces many challenges in life. He goes through a lot, physically, mentally, emotionally, and yet manages to persevere. I remain by his side, through thick and thin."

Growing up in the south as a Black person, Rucker faced racism all through his childhood. However, things took a turn for the worse when he began pursuing a career in music.

Reflecting on the early days of his music journey, Rucker shared, “I’m only human. When someone hurls racial slurs at me during a performance, it takes everything in me not to react with anger. Thankfully, I usually have a few drinks before going on stage, which helps me cope with such situations.”

The Success of ‘Wagon Wheel’

He went on to write songs like “Drowning” and “I Don’t Understand” addressing issues of race. Despite being told that the country music industry would not embrace a Black country singer, Rucker defied the odds and launched a successful country music career.

Darius Rucker Details Nonstop Partying in Memoir

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While attending a school event for his daughter Carolyn, the teachers played his 2013 country hit “Wagon Wheel”. Rucker decided to cover the song, which ended up becoming his “biggest-selling single ever” and earned him a Grammy Award.

In a moment of realization, he expressed his joy by saying, “I’ve made it. I am a country singer. I am a card-carrying member of the country music club.” He felt honored to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by Vince Gill, especially after being invited by Brad Paisley. It was a dream come true for him.

Did Hootie & The Blowfish Break Up?

Hootie & The Blowfish may have stopped playing together, but according to Rucker, the band did not officially or unofficially break up. He mentioned, "We don't call it quits. We don't say goodbye. We leave every door open."

Editor's P/S:

Darius Rucker's memoir, "Life's Too Short," is a candid account of his remarkable journey, filled with both triumph and adversity. From his humble beginnings to his success with Hootie & the Blowfish and his subsequent solo career, Rucker shares the challenges and triumphs that have shaped his life. The book highlights his close friendship with Woody Harrelson, who saved him from a near-drowning incident, as well as his struggles with family relationships and substance abuse. Rucker also reflects on his experiences with racism and how he overcame the obstacles he faced as a Black man pursuing a career in country music.

One of the most poignant aspects of the memoir is Rucker's unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. Despite facing racism and personal setbacks, he never gave up on his dreams. His determination to succeed, coupled with the support of his friends and family, ultimately led him to achieve his goals. Rucker's story serves as a powerful reminder that anything is possible with perseverance and belief in oneself. It offers hope and inspiration to anyone facing challenges, encouraging them to embrace their dreams and never let obstacles stand in their way.