The title of Darius Rucker's first solo album since 2017 carries a special meaning: he is indeed Carolyn's Boy.
A nurse and single mother, Carolyn Rucker died in Nov. 1992 and inspired Hootie and the Blowfish songs "I'm Goin' Home" and "Not Even the Trees." Though she experienced the first six years of Hootie and the Blowfish's alt-rock climb, Carolyn passed away before her son left a mark on country music.
"I wanted to name the record Carolyn's Boy because Mom never got to see any of my success," Rucker told Today. "She died before any of this happened, so it's just another homage to the greatest woman I've ever known."
A release date of Oct. 6 was set on Friday (Aug. 4), with the album news accompanying the unveiling of new song "Have a Good Time." Current radio single "Fires Don't Start Themselves" also previews what'll be Rucker's sixth non-holiday album since he crossed over to country music with 2008's Learn to Live.
When asked why it's the right time to dedicate an album to his mother, Rucker replied, "years ago, I wasn't really sure what my place in country music was and I was trying to find it. Now I have found it -I know- and I think it's time to give that record."
Rucker's currently on the road for his Starting Fires Tour. The album release date falls on the eve of the Rucker-curated Riverfront Revival Music Festival, which will be held Oct. 7-8 in his hometown of Charleston, SC.
The tracklist blends familiar hits (country radio No. 1 "Beers and Sunshine") with fresh material, including Chapel Hart collaboration "Ol' Church Hymn." Rucker co-wrote 10 of the 14 tracks with such heavy-hitting lyricists as Hardy, Ed Sheeran and Lady A's Charles Kelley.
Carolyn's Boy Track List
1. "Beers And Sunshine" (Darius Rucker, JT Harding, Josh Osborne, Ross Copperman)2. "In This Together" (Darius Rucker, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick, Joy Williams)3. "Never Been Over" (Darius Rucker, Lee Thomas Miller, John Osborne)4. "Fires Don't Start Themselves" (Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice, Dan Isbell)5. "Ol' Church Hymn" feat. Chapel Hart (Darius Rucker, Greylan James, Ben Hayslip, Josh Miller)6. "7 Days" (Darius Rucker, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Charles Kelley)7. "Same Beer Different Problem" (Darius Rucker, Topher Brown, Sarah Buxton, Brad Tursi)8. "Sara" (Darius Rucker, Joel Crouse, Kyle Rife, Ed Sheeran)9. "Have A Good Time (Darius Rucker, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick)10. "Sure Would Have Loved Her" (Darius Rucker, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey)11. "Southern Comfort" (Chris LaCorte, Matt Rogers, Josh Osborne)12. "3am in Carolina" (Darius Rucker, Ross Copperman, Michael Hardy)13. "Lift Me Up" (Temilade Openiyi, Robyn Fenty, Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Goransson)14. "Stargazing" (Darius Rucker, Brinley Addington, Jess Cayne, Matt Morrisey)
