Welcome to Biscuits and Jam from Southern Living.

I'm your host, Sid Evans, and today I'm talking with one of the most influential country and rock artists of the last 30 years.

Darius Rucker gained fame in 1994 when David Letterman heard his band, Hootie and the Blowfish, on a local radio station and

insisted they play the late show later that week. The band's debut album, Cracked Rear View,

went on to sell over 20 million units worldwide and made them a household name. Despite all

that success, Darius was always drawn to the songs and stories of country music,

and for the last 16 years, that's been his true calling. Now he's got a new memoir called Life's Too Short,

a book that may surprise some of his fans with its honesty and directness about some very tough

issues, from estranged family to substance abuse.

We'll talk about all that, plus his relationship with Charlie Pride,

his hopes for the next generation of black country artists in the wake of Beyonce's new album,

and the upcoming 30th anniversary reunion tour of Hootie and the Blowfish, all in this

week's Biscuits and Jam.

Darius Rucker, welcome back to Biscuits and Jam.

How you doing, man?

Good to see you.

I'm great.

Last time you were on this podcast was a few years ago, might have even been during the pandemic.

Oh, wow. It's a long time ago right there. That seems like 10 years, man.

I know. Well, it's great to see you again. And congrats on your Gamecocks. I'm sure you're excited about that.

Very, very, that was the first national championship game I actually got to go to. I had to show the other two times we played. And yeah, that was great. I'm never missing another one, man. I'll tell you that much. That's so cool. Well, it's a great thing for South Carolina. And what a story. It was so great for women's college basketball. It was just awesome to be there. I know they appreciated you being there too.

Well, Darius, congrats on the new book.

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