Darius Rucker welcomed a packed-out crowd to Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium on Monday, June 2, returning for the 16th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. With a lineup that included rising stars Austin Williams, Tyler Braden, Kashus Culpepper, Lanie Gardner, and country powerhouses Luke Bryan and Morgan Wallen, this year’s show delivered a night of unforgettable music and meaningful moments.
Known for blending high-energy performances with his passion for giving back, the multi-time Diamond-certified artist once again turned the stage into something incredibly impactful. Just as he’s done in years past, the full lineup wasn’t revealed in advance—keeping ticket holders guessing until the start of the show. But Rucker’s promise of a stellar evening was fulfilled as his friends brought the house down one performance at a time.
Before getting the music started, a live auction and donation round took place, adding thousands to the night’s fundraising tally. Then, the evening’s host, Darius Rucker himself, was the first act to grace the stage.
“How y’all doing?” he asked the excited audience, who was eager to get the show started.
He continued, “I decided to come up today and say thank you to all you guys out there who have been supporting us for all this time and coming here to these shows…thank you guys so much. None of this matters if you guys don’t come out to support us and St. Jude.”
Rucker Delivered A Mix Of New Songs And Career-Defining Hits
In honor of all those who came out, he explained that he decided he wanted to do something “special” by showcasing a look into his forthcoming record that he’s “really excited” about. The humble, slow-tempo tune sent the powerful message not to give up on yourself despite any obstacles that may come.
Rucker then switched up the mood and officially got the party started with his beloved carefree anthems, “Beers and Sunshine” and “Radio.”
Austin Williams Took The Stage
One of Rucker’s favorite parts of the night, as he shared with fans, is getting to spotlight rising talent and first up was Tennessee native Austin Williams. After a quick hug, Rucker gave him the stage, and Williams didn’t waste a second. He brought the energy up with his latest single, “Crazy Over You,” and proved his range with a crowd-pleasing mashup of genre-blending ’90s hits.
Throughout the night, Rucker worked in a mix of new material from his upcoming album along with fan favorites like “When Was the Last Time,” “Come Back Song,” “Homegrown Honey” and “Alright,” plus a few throwbacks from his Hootie & The Blowfish days, including “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You,” that had the Ryman crowd on their feet.
Kashus Culpepper Earned A Standing Ovation
Introducing his next guest, Rucker called him “something special,” and it didn’t take long to see why. Kashus Culpepper launched into his tune, “Pour Me Out,” followed by another powerful original titled “Southern Man,” and capped off his set with a standout cover of The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See,” earning a standing ovation.
“Such a blessing to be here at Darius Rucker & friends and do it for the great cause of St. Jude, so thank you for coming out to this,” Culpepper set at the top of his set.
Rucker Praises Lanie Gardner
When it came time to introduce Lanie Gardner, Rucker didn’t hold back his praise. “When I got sent her music I was like, what a voice. I am proud to have her on stage right now,” he said.
Gardner took the mic and delivered what she described as one of her “most treasured” songs, “Six Feet Deep.” She followed with “Cry,” a vulnerable moment inspired by real heartbreak, and then closed things out with her upcoming release, “Taking the Slow Ride,” due out this month.
Midway through the show, Darius Rucker raised a celebratory shot and gave a quick shoutout to his band members before taking fans on a musical detour. The genre-defying medley included everything from Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love It” to Bell Biv DeVoe’s “Poison” and TLC’s “Waterfalls.”
Tyler Braden Puts Powerful Songwriting On Display
Next, it was Tyler Braden’s turn to put his talent on display. He took a moment to share the special meaning behind his song off his debut album that just dropped. “
I feel like everyone can relate to this at some point in your life, there is some point where you look at someone…and you compare yourself. I think that steals all of your joy you can never compare yourself to people around you. You have your path, they have theirs that’s what this song’s about. It’s called ‘Right On Track.’”
He stepped outside of his catolog to sing “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon before rounding out his set with his heart pounding tune, “Devil You Know.”
Luke Bryan Brings Humor And Hits
Fans were next greeted by one of country music’s biggest stars—and one of Darius Rucker’s longtime friends. “When I moved here during the pandemic, this guy took me in. His wife fed me and my boy,” Rucker shared with the crowd. “Please welcome country superstar, Mr. Luke Bryan!”
As soon as Bryan took the mic, he turned the praise right back on Rucker. “It’s an honor to be here for Darius, and an honor to be here at the Ryman,” he said. “Just a little tidbit about Darius, so we’ve hosted a charity event at my house for five years, and I don’t think he’s ever missed one. He’s always supported me when I needed him, and I’m just glad to be here supporting him.”
Bryan kept the good vibes going with a string of hits, including “Country Song Came On,” “Play It Again,” and “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day.” Of course, he also brought his signature humor and charm, cracking jokes between songs and keeping the crowd laughing.
Morgan Wallen Makes Final Guest Appearance
To close out the night, Rucker welcomed one final guest – the one and only, Morgan Wallen. The superstar walked out humbly and made his short set count. He kicked things off with the buzzed-about track, “20 Cigarettes” from his newly released I’m The Problem album. He then admitted that lately, whenever he picks up a guitar, he ends up singing “More Than My Hometown.” So naturally, he played that one, too.
Finally, Rucker returned to the stage to end the night on a high note with his rendition of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie.” He then brought several of the night’s performers—Lanie Gardner, Kashus Culpepper, and Austin Williams—back out to join him for a lively delivery of his signature hit, “Wagon Wheel.” Fans were on their feet, singing along word for word, making for another unforgettable night of “Darius Rucker & Friends” inside the Mother Church of Country Music.
The Impact Of ‘Darius & Friends’ Concert And Golf Tournament
The event unofficially kicked off the week of CMA Fest in downtown Nashville. It has raised more than $4.3 million to date, and that number rose this week with contributions from both “Darius & Friends” concert and golf tournament.
Named the 2023 CMA Humanitarian of the Year, Darius Rucker has made giving back a vital part of his career. His commitment to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital began nearly two decades ago after a life-changing visit to the hospital in 2008. That experience opened his eyes to the groundbreaking work St. Jude is doing to treat and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Since then, Rucker has turned that inspiration into an annual tradition with his “Darius and Friends” benefit concert. Over the years, he’s been joined by a long list of country music stars and surprise guests, including Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Dan + Shay, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, Jelly Roll, Charles Kelley of Lady A, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Megan Moroney, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers, and Tommy Thayer of KISS, and many more.
As the final notes echoed through the Ryman Auditorium on Monday, June 2, it became abundantly clear that “Darius & Friends” is more than a concert. It’s a night where music makes a powerful impact and offers a reminder of the good that can happen when artists come together for a great cause.
Darius Rucker is currently working on new music and is gearing up for his Darius Rucker Live tour kicking off in July. He will take the stage this Thursday, June 5 at Nissan Stadium as part of the 2025 CMA Fest.
The post Luke Bryan, Morgan Wallen & More Join Darius Rucker For 16th Annual ‘Darius & Friends’ Concert Benefitting St. Jude appeared first on Country Now.