Darius Rucker 'Gets to See the World' as He Embarks on His 'Starting Fires' Tour (Exclusive)

Darius Rucker.Photo: CourtesyDarius Ruckeris spending his summer on the road.The 57-year-old country singer has just embarked on his ​​Starting Fires Tour, and while he is looking forward to all of the shows he’s got planned in the next four months, Rucker is especially excited about his return to Chicago next month.“Windy City Smokeoutis just a flat-out party,” Rucker tells PEOPLE about the Chicago-based music festival. “I like to go around there and eat barbecue and then hang out with people during the day before my show just because it’s such a fun festival.

Darius Rucker Honored by Musicians on Call, Sam Hunt Says He Is 'Redeemed Spiritually on a Regular Basis by Songs'

Darius Rucker.Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Sam Hunt,Jon Pardi,Charles Estenand The War & Treaty were among the country singers who descended on Nashville, Tennessee’s famed Lower Broadway recently to celebrateDarius Rucker, music industry executive Leigh Parr Malleus andMusicians on Callat the Millions of Moments special event at the Wildhorse Saloon. Musicians on Call is a nonprofit group that brings live and recorded music to patients, families and caregivers in healthcare settings. The organization was founded in 1999.

Darius Rucker Opens Up About Ex Kate Quigley's Suspected Overdose: 'She's Doing Great'

Photo: David Becker/GettyDarius Ruckeris supporting his ex-girlfriendKate Quigleyafter her near-fatal overdose.“You know, she’s doing great. She’s coming out of that,” he told PEOPLE at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on Friday. “I’m glad that she’s doing that.“Quigley was hospitalized earlier this month after asuspected group fentanyl overdose. Three others — comedians Fuquan “Fu” Johnson and Enrico Colangeli, as well as friend Natalie Williamson — all died after allegedly using cocaine that had been laced with fentanyl at a party in Venice, California.

Darius Rucker Reflects on the Lesson of 'Compassion' His Late Mother Taught Him as a Nurse

Photo: David McClister for Southern LivingThe pandemic has allowedDarius Ruckerto reflect on the lessons his mother taught him.In anew interview withSouthern Livingas he was named Southerner of the Year, the country star, 54, opened up about the lessons his late mother — who was a nurse — taught him during her life. (She died in 1992 of a heart attack.)“My mom was a nurse my whole life. It was not just her job.

Darius Rucker Remembers the First Time He Saw a 'F—k Hootie' Bumper Sticker: 'Laughed My Ass Off'

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagicDarius Ruckerwas unfazed when he saw a mean sticker while driving down the road.Speaking on the latest episode of PEOPLE’sPEOPLE in the ‘90spodcast this week, the Hootie and the Blowfish frontman, 55, shared what it was like to see a ‘F— Hootie’ sticker back in the day, saying he “absolutely” saw it while driving once.“That’s a problem you have when things get so big, when you get something that’s selling a million records a week, people have to hate it.