Darius Rucker (born May 13, 1966) is an American musician. He is known for his role as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, of which he has been a member since the band's inception in 1986 and his work as a solo artist.

Along with his work in Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker has recorded two solo albums. The first, Back to Then, was released in 2002 on Hidden Beach Recordings. An album of country music entitled Learn to Live followed in 2008 on Capitol Records Nashville. Its first three singles — "Don't Think I Don't Think About It", "It Won't Be Like This for Long" and "Alright" — have all reached Number One on the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart.

Rucker was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, and his family history there goes back generations. His single mother Carolyn, who was a nurse, raised him with his five siblings: three sisters and two brothers. According to Rucker, his father was "never around" and Rucker only saw him before church on Sundays; his father was in a gospel band called The Rolling Stones. Rucker has said that he had a "typical Southern, African-American upbringing." His family attended church every Sunday, were economically poor and, at one point, his mom, her two sisters, his grandmother and 14 children were all living in a three-bedroom home. However, he says that he looks back on his childhood "with very fond memories." His sister, L'Corine, recalled that singing "was always his dream."