Kelly Clarkson Surprises Darius Rucker With CMA Humanitarian of the Year Award in Touching Moment

Kelly Clarkson and Darius Rucker recently shared a touching moment together when the daytime talk show host surprised the country singer with the CMA Humanitarian of the Year Award on her show. On Monday, Rucker was a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show to discuss his new album, Carolyn’s Boy, as well as his charitable endeavors. At one point during their conversation, Clarkson revealed that the CMA has chosen Rucker as the 2023 recipient of their annual humanitarian honor.

Speaking about how his late mother had such a big impact on his sense of giving back, Rucker told Clarkson, “When I was a kid, she instilled in us that you help people – not people that are less fortunate; you help people that need help.” He added, “We grew up in a really poor neighborhood with not much and, you know, there was no reason for me to believe that I was gonna be here and make it. But she always instilled in me: ‘Believe in yourself, you can do whatever you want.’” Check out a full clip of the heartfelt moment below.

Per a news release, “the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award recognizes an individual who has served as a humanitarian through community leadership, financial support, personal volunteerism and advocacy. The individual honored has evidenced commitment to worthwhile causes that are important to the Country Music Association and the Country Music community. Rucker is a four-time CMA Awards nominee, taking home the CMA New Artist of the Year honor in 2009.”

Additionally, Rucker “pledged his support to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital after an inspiring firsthand visit 15 years ago and, as a result, created the ‘Darius and Friends’ charity auction, golf tournament and concert in 2010. Taking place each year in the days leading into CMA Fest, friends performing with Rucker in past years have included Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Brad Paisley and Kenny Rogers among others. The event has now surpassed the $3.6 million mark, raising funds to benefit the research hospital leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”

The longtime Hootie and the Blowfish frontman “also co-chaired the capital campaign that generated $150 million to help build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. – an effort directly inspired by his mom’s career as a MUSC nurse – and has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation while also serving as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.”