Hootie & the Blowfish Singer Darius Rucker Breaks Silence On Drug-Related Arrest: ‘I’ve Never Seen The Inside Of A Jail Cell’
Hootie & the Blowfish Singer Darius Rucker Breaks Silence On Drug-Related Arrest: ‘I’ve Never Seen The Inside Of A Jail Cell’
Grammy-winning artist Darius Rucker has opened up about his February arrest on misdemeanor drug charges.
In an interview with Craig Melvin on TODAY (May 28), the 58-year-old singer explained the circumstances leading to the arrest. He said:
“I went down and we handled it … my lawyers are taking care of it. It is what it is.”
Darius Rucker proceeded to describe the situation before the traffic stop by authorities:
“It was funny because I was going to a friend’s house, they were moving and asked me to take some stuff, and I did and got pulled, got stopped. And the crazy thing was, they let me go.”
He further elaborated,
“And it was a year later that I get a phone call that said there was a warrant for my arrest. So I went down. Fifty-seven years, I’ve never seen the inside of a jail cell.”
The arrest, which took place in Williamson County, Tennessee, occurred a year after Darius Rucker was pulled over due to an expired tag. Reportedly, during the stop, police discovered what they believed was a THC pen and 14 unmarked purple pills. Rucker was ultimately released by police, pending identification of the mystery pills, which were tested and reportedly said to be psilocin.
A warrant for his arrest was issued in December 2023. The “Alright” artist was later booked on two counts of simple possession/casual exchange of a controlled substance (marijuana and psychedelic pills) and one count of a violation of the state’s vehicle registration law.
Rucker stated that while the charges are pending, he is fully cooperating with authorities and his lawyer is handling the matter.
In addition to addressing the legal issues, Rucker also spoke about his new memoir, Life’s Too Short, which was released on May 28. The memoir details his experiences on the road with his band, Hootie & the Blowfish, and his past struggles with drug use.
Reflecting on his decision to quit drugs, Rucker said,
“When I quit, I quit … It was one of those things where one day I was just told that I had to quit, so I walked away from it. And it was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Rucker went on to share that his ex-wife, Beth Leonard, played a crucial role in helping him quit drugs.
While facing his legal challenges, Rucker remains focused on his music, new memoir, and preparing for an upcoming 50-date tour with Hootie & the Blowfish.
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