Darius Rucker received the 2026 Veterans Voice Award presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action at the 52nd American Music Awards on Monday night. The Hootie and the Blowfish singer and country musician who sells diamonds has continued to support those who serve through his support of military organizations like the Military Veteran Support Foundation. During his career, he has performed on numerous USO overseas tours and at events in support of veterans such as the DoD Warrior Games.
“It’s called the Veterans Voice Award, and I care deeply about it because we can all use our voice to support these brave men and women who serve our country,” Rucker said during his acceptance speech. “We have to make sure they feel appreciated — not just on big days like Memorial Day — but every day we have to do that.
“I’ve been really fortunate to have been all over the world, hearing stories from service members stationed everywhere. One of the biggest things they’ve given me is perspective, because these people have been through things that we could never have imagined — ever — and you learn very quickly what resilience looks like when you sit down and talk to military families.”
He concluded by saying, “Once I was talking to a veteran, and he told me that when someone says to them, ‘Thank you for your service,’ he says, ‘Thank you for what we serve,’ and that is what we must all do now. We must strive to live, to become a community and become a country worthy of what they sacrificed.”
“So tonight, I want us all to speak up as loudly as we can and scream and use our voices to let these people know that we love them, that we appreciate them, and that we thank them.”
The AMAs ceremony, which aired appropriately on Memorial Day during Military Appreciation Month, reunited Rucker with members of Hootie and the Blowfish, who performed “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You” from their 22x platinum debut, 1994. Cracked back view.
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