Country singer Darius Rucker has told The Dan Patrick Show that he expects to retire from touring in around two years, citing the toll of a heavy schedule that saw him play 110 shows last year. Rucker, best known as the frontman of Hootie & The Blowfish and for his solo country career, said he still enjoys recording and performing but increasingly values time at home, prompting him to consider one last major run before stepping back. His comments echo a wider moment of reflection in country music, coming weeks after Alan Jackson played what was billed as his final major headline concert in Nashville.

Rucker suggested that any farewell would take the form of "one more big Hootie thing," ideally a reunion show with Hootie & The Blowfish at Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina. In the meantime, fans need not worry about missing him immediately: he is currently on his Songs Of Summer Tour, which began in early June and has upcoming dates in cities including Boston, Phoenix and Albuquerque, with support from acts such as Robert Randolph and Old Crow Medicine Show. The remarks come after a busy stretch for Rucker, who toured the UK and Canada last year and got engaged to his girlfriend, Emily Deahl, in October 2025.