“Darius Rucker: They Called Me Hootie” Coming Soon To Hulu & Disney+
Disney has announced details on a brand new documentary film called “Darius Rucker: They Called Me Hootie”, which is coming to Hulu and Disney+ later this month.
For more than four decades, Darius Rucker has defied expectations, rising to fame as a member of the two-time Grammy® Award-winning Hootie & the Blowfish before forging a groundbreaking career in country music that earned him another Grammy as a soloist. The new feature-length documentary “Darius Rucker: They Called Me Hootie” explores the triumphs and hardships that shaped Rucker’s life, from his childhood in Charleston, South Carolina, to music superstardom around the globe.
Rucker gets deeply personal about the cost of stardom, revealing his struggles with drugs and alcohol, the breakdown of his marriage and brushes with death. Through candid interviews with collaborators, friends and family, new footage from the road and in the studio as he records his forthcoming album and never-before-seen tape dating back to the start of Hootie & the Blowfish, the film traces the full journey of his extraordinary career, revealing a deeply personal story of ambition, resilience and reinvention.
Darius Rucker revealed his thoughts on this new documentary:
“When I look back on my life and career, I never could have imagined the road I’d take or where it would lead me. 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. 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. 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.”
The documentary, executive produced by “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts and directed by Emmy-winner Jason Bergh, with Robin saying in a statement regarding the documentary:
“I crossed paths with Darius 30 years ago, when I was with ESPN and Hootie & the Blowfish first appeared on College GameDay. I’ve enjoyed following and covering his career ever since, but I’ve never seen Darius quite like this. This documentary reveals a side of Darius that is raw, vulnerable and unexpected. It’s a deeply personal story, and I think audiences will be surprised by what they discover about this exceptionally talented man.”
Sharing their personal stories are those who have known and worked with Rucker throughout his career, including actor Woody Harrelson; Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, Mark Bryan and Dean Felber; country music stars Brad Paisley and Lady A; former manager Doc McGhee; and record producer Frank Rogers, among others. Their stories offer a revealing portrait of the man behind the music.
“Darius Rucker: They Called Me Hootie” is produced by ITV America Nashville for ABC News Studios. Directed and executive produced by Jason Bergh, and executive produced by Adam Reed and Sarah Howell for ITV America Nashville. Robin Roberts serves as executive producer. For ABC News Studios, David Sloan is the senior executive producer, and Katie Conway is executive producer.
This new original documentary will premiere on Monday 16th November 2026 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the United States and also on Disney+ in select international markets.
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