Darius Rucker Explores His Rise to Fame and Personal Struggles in New Documentary

Darius Rucker is reflecting on the experiences, challenges and relationships that shaped his life and career in a new documentary, Darius Rucker: They Called Me Hootie.

The feature-length film looks back on the GRAMMY winner’s entire life journey, from growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, to finding worldwide success with Hootie & the Blowfish and later building a successful solo career in country music. Viewers will get a closer look into many of the milestones and struggles that came throughout his four-decade long career through personal interviews, archival footage and never-before-seen moments.

The footage will also explore some of the more challenging chapters of Rucker’s life, including his struggles with drugs and alcohol, the end of his marriage and several near-death experiences. Interviews with friends, family members and longtime collaborators will be woven throughout, along with recent footage of Rucker on the road and in the studio working on his upcoming album.

“When I look back on my life and career, I never could have imagined the road I’d take or where it would lead me,” reflects Rucker. “I’ve had opportunities beyond anything I dreamed of, but there have also been times when I had to take a chance, bet on myself and trust that I could do things my own way.”

Rucker isn’t the only one sharing memories in the documentary. Family members, friends and longtime members of his team also offer their perspectives as they reflect on the experiences they shared with him and the moments they witnessed throughout his rise to fame.

He continued, “But I’ve never walked that road alone. The love and support of my family, my road family and the people I’ve been fortunate enough to work alongside have been at the heart of everything we’ve accomplished. With ‘They Called Me Hootie,’ I get to reflect on that journey, the people and experiences that shaped me, and share a side of my story that people may not know.”

Those featured include actor Woody Harrelson; Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, Mark Bryan and Dean Felber; country music stars Brad Paisley and Lady A; former manager Doc McGhee; and record producer Frank Rogers, among others. Their stories offer a revealing portrait of the man behind the music.

 “I crossed paths with Darius 30 years ago, when I was with ESPN and Hootie & the Blowfish first appeared on ‘College GameDay,’” said Roberts. “I’ve enjoyed following and covering his career ever since, but I’ve never seen Darius quite like this. This documentary reveals a side of Darius that is raw, vulnerable and unexpected. It’s a deeply personal story, and I think audiences will be surprised by what they discover about this exceptionally talented man.”

Executive produced by Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts and directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Jason Bergh, Darius Rucker: They Called Me Hootie premieres Monday, Nov. 16, on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ in select international markets.