Country star Darius Rucker has paid an emotional tribute to his longtime bodyguard, Eugene "Buddy" Wright, following his death at the age of 66. Rucker, best known as the frontman of Hootie & the Blowfish, described Wright as far more than an employee, calling him his friend, brother, best friend and, at times, his therapist. The tribute highlights the close personal bond formed over years of touring, underscoring how the people behind the scenes of a music career often become integral to an artist's life.

Rucker shared the news alongside a photograph of Wright on Facebook, thanking him for "changing my life." Fans and fellow musicians also paid tribute, recalling Wright's warmth and humour, while singer Chris Holly revealed that he had been fighting cancer for around eight years, having first been diagnosed backstage at Credit One Stadium. Holly described him as "tough as nails," noting he had endured a period of remission before ultimately losing his fight with the illness.