Darius Rucker and his wife of announced their split in 2020, and he is finally speaking about it.
Darius Rucker and Beth Leonard were married in 2000 and share two children together – Daniela and Jack. On July 11, 2020, Rucker announced on his social media that they “made the decision to consciously uncouple.”
They added, “We remain close friends and parenting partners and continue to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders. Our priority will always be our beautiful family. We have so much love in our hearts for each other and will continue to encourage growth and expansion in one other.”
View this post on Instagram
Darius is finally ready to talk about the split.
Three years after announcing their “uncoupling,” Rucker sat down with Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen on Apple Music to open up about his divorce.
Bannen asked him what he’s learned from the experience, and Rucker replied, “a lot.”
“I learned how there’s help out there for people,” he continued, “You know, being raised the way I was and where I was, that’s not always … and in the Black community especially, that’s frowned upon a lot, too. But I learned that there’s a lot of people out there that’ll talk to you, that’ll help you a lot.”
Rucker also opened up about how he dove into music during and after his break-up, and how he used it as therapy.
Speaking about the song “Never Been Over,” Rucker told Bannen, “It’s just one of those songs, and I love it. I was like, ‘Man, that was therapy right there.'”
It’s clear “Never Been Over” is about his split, and the fact that this happened now – in his 50s – he is a lot more forgiving about the guilt he feels than he would have in his 20s.
He says it because “you have to,” and that “life goes on.”
Rucker revealed that just because he and his wife are no longer together doesn’t mean they are any less of a family.
“Your kids are still your kids, and you have a life, and you try to make the best of it. Like I always say, [Beth is] a saint, she’s an amazing human being, and she’s a great mom. And we get through life,” he said. That stuff hurts and you feel like a failure.But we’re still a family — a piece of paper is not going to change that. We’re still a family, and that’s all because Beth is awesome. She knows it’s the best for the kids, and she’s a great human being.”
And while it’s been a few years since the split, he hasn’t even thought about dating, He is focused on his kids, 22-year-old Daniela, 18-year-old Jack, and his 28-year-old daughter Carolyn from a previous relationship.
“I’m not thinking about that right now,” he said. “I’m just trying to be the best dad I can be for those grown kids.”