NASHVILLE (CelebrityAccess) – Multi-Diamond-certified superstar Darius Rucker returns to the historic Ryman Auditorium on Monday (June 5) for his 14th Annual Darius and Friends concert benefiting St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The event, which unofficially kicks off the week of Country Music Association (CMA) Fest in downtown Nashville and has raised more than $3 million to date, will feature an all-star roster of friends to be announced in the coming month.
“This is one of my favorite nights every year,” says Rucker. “The work St. Jude does for children and their families, and the medical advances they are constantly making – it all continues to amaze me. It’s a huge honor to bring together some of my best friends in Nashville each summer to do what we can to support them through this event.”
Rucker, who has always prioritized philanthropic work throughout his career, committed to supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 15 years ago after taking an inspiring tour of the hospital. Through this meaningful experience, Rucker learned how St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Reflecting on his 2008 visit to the hospital to the Tennessean, Rucker noted, “You see these kids who are sick, and they’re so happy to be there because their caregivers are so loving and giving to them. And then you find out that nobody ever gets a bill. That blew me away. I was just like, ‘We’ll figure out some way to help you guys as much as I can.’”
A decade and a half later, that effort has become an annual tradition. Friends performing with Rucker in past years have included Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Charles Kelley (Lady A), Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean (Backstreet Boys), Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers and Tommy Thayer (KISS), among many others. The lineup for this year’s event will be announced soon.
Tickets to the benefit concert start at $69 with VIP package options up to $249, available via AXS. Pre-sale access begins Tuesday, (April 18) at 10 am CST, with tickets on sale to the general public this Friday (April 21) at 10 am CST.
