Darius Rucker Receives Veterans Voice Award at 2026 AMAs for His Ongoing Support of Service Members and Their Families
“We got to make sure that they feel appreciated, not just on big days like Memorial Day, but every day we should be doing this,” Rucker said in his heartfelt acceptance speech
Darius Rucker at AMAs; Photo by CBS
Darius Rucker was honored with the Veterans Voice Award presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action during the American Music Awards (AMAs) on Monday night, recognizing the meaningful impact he has made in the veteran community through his advocacy and charitable efforts.
Last year’s award went to Zac Brown, and this year Rucker was recognized on stage for his continued support of those who served and their families. Over the years, the South Carolina native has worked with organizations like Military Warriors Support Foundation, which had a hand in supplying more than 20 mortgage-free homes to veterans. He’s also performed at multiple USO tours overseas and at events supporting programs like the DoD Warrior Games.
The award is part of USAA’s Honor Through Action initiative, a five-year, $500 million commitment to the military community, focused on careers, financial security, and overall well-being for veterans and their families.
After accepting the honor from one of the night’s presenters, Russell Dickerson, Rucker made sure to shine a light on the sacrifices made by military members and their families, encouraging the audience to show gratitude and support far beyond Memorial Day weekend.
“It’s called the Veterans Voice Award and I take that to heart big time because all of us can use our voice to support these brave men and women who are serving our country. We got to make sure that they feel appreciated, not just on big days like Memorial Day, but every day we should be doing this,” he emphasized.
He went on to reflect on past conversations and visits he’s had with service members, and the life lessons he’s learned from hearing their stories.
“One of the biggest things they’ve given me is perspective because these people have been through things that we could never imagine ever,” Rucker explained. “And you learn real quick what resilience looks like when you’re sitting talking to the military families, because the sacrifice isn’t just the person in uniform. It’s their spouse, it’s their kids, it’s their parents, it’s their cousin, it’s their brother, it’s their sisters, their friends, and they all feel this way together, y’all.”
The speech came to a close with the country music hitmaker calling attention to one particular interaction he once had with a veteran, using it as a reminder for the crowd about the importance of living in a way that honors their sacrifice.
“He said to me that when somebody says to them, ‘Thank you for his service,’ he says, ‘Thank you for living the life, we’re serving.’ And that’s what we all should be doing right now. We should be striving to live, to become a community and become a country that we deserve what they sacrifice. So tonight I want us all to be as loud as we can and yell and use our voices to let these folks know that we love them and we appreciate them and we thank them.”
Prior to the special presentation, Rucker joined Hootie & the Blowfish for a nostalgic medley of some of their biggest hits, revisiting the songs that first earned them the Pop/Rock New Artist trophy at the 1996 AMAs. Three decades later, the band returned to the stage to celebrate the same music that launched that milestone moment, performing fan favorites including “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You.”
2026 American Music Awards
The 52nd annual American Music Awards aired live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Memorial Day, marking the largest venue in the show’s history. Hosted by Queen Latifah, the three-hour celebration honored the year’s biggest artists, chart-topping songs and unforgettable performances across multiple genres and generations.
Taylor Swift entered the night leading the charge with eight nominations, while Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and SOMBR followed closely behind with seven nominations each.
Country music was also strongly represented throughout the night with nominations for artists including Ella Langley, Shaboozey, Jelly Roll, BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman, Russell Dickerson, Megan Moroney, Luke Combs, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Brooks & Dunn, Old Dominion, Treaty Oak Revival, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, Sam Barber, Tucker Wetmore and Zach Top.
In addition to a special appearance from Hootie & the Blowfish, the night’s performance lineup also featured Riley Green and Keith Urban, while Russell Dickerson took the stage as a presenter.
The world’s largest fan-voted awards show aired live coast-to-coast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 25 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. This marked the second American Music Awards telecast since returning from a two-and-a-half-year hiatus.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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