Darius Rucker Shares Valuable Lesson His Mother Taught Him

"She was my biggest supporter, my biggest fan."

Darius Rucker owes a lot to his mom, so it seems appropriate he named his newest country album after her.

Rucker promoted the recently released album, Carolyn's Boy, on an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show this week.

"My mom was so special to me. She was such a great human being," the solo country artist and Hootie & the Blowfish member said. "She was my biggest supporter, my biggest fan."

"What do you think the biggest lesson you got from her was?" Clarkson asked in response. Rucker didn't have to think about it.

"Oh, believe in yourself," he said instantly. "Cause we grew up in a really poor neighborhood with not much, and you know there was no reason for me to believe I was gonna be here and make it. But she always instilled in me: Believe in yourself, you can do whatever you want."

Rucker added, "I instill that in my kids, and I believe it."

And that's not all she taught him. Rucker said she insisted her kids help people for the sake of being helpful. Once, his brother earned $10 for mowing a neighbor's lawn, and she made him return it.

Clarkson told her guest he'd been lucky to have such a good mom. Then she revealed a big surprise to both him and the audience: the Country Music Association had decided to honor Rucker with the Humanitarian of the Year Award for his "many, many charitable efforts over the years and for helping those who need help."

Rucker created the annual Darius and Friends charity auction, golf tournament, and concert for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 2010 and helped spearhead fundraising to build a children's hospital in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. According to his website, Rucker also advocates for charities supporting public education and junior golf programs through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation.

"Carolyn's Boy" appropriately features his mother's nursing school graduation photo on the cover. If it weren't for his mom, maybe we wouldn't have ever heard of Darius Rucker. We salute her and all the moms who teach their children to believe in themselves.

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