A new documentary about Hootie and the Blowfish frotnman Darius Rucker is on the way. Darius Rucker: They Called Me Hootie arrives on Nov. 16 via Hulu/Disney+ in the United States and limited international markets.
They Called Me Hootie will explore Rucker’s life from his beginnings in Charleston, SC to rock superstardom while reflecting on darker moments in his career including his divorce, near-death experiences, and drug addiction.
The documentary features never-before-seen footage of Hootie and the Blowfish and the trailer promises interviews with Hootie bandmates Jim Sonefeld, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, close friend Woody Harrelson, Brad Paisley, and more.
“The underlying story of my life [is] every time I want to do something somebody tells me I can’t do it,” Rucker says in the trailer’s opening lines.
“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 said in a statement. “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.”
He continued: “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.”
“I crossed paths with Darius 30 years ago, when I was with ESPN and Hootie & the Blowfish first appeared on College GameDay,” executive producer and Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts said. “This documentary reveals a side of Darius that is raw, vulnerable and unexpected.”
Hootie and the Blowfish released their most recent album, Imperfect Circle, in 2019. Rucker released his memoir Life’s Too Short in 2024 and earlier this summer waxed poetic on Eighties pro-wrestlers for Rolling Stone‘s American Icons special issue.
