Country star Darius Rucker and his wife, Beth, are calling it quits. The former Hootie and the Blowfish frontman-turned country star and his wife made the announcement via social media, saying:
“Beth and I would like to share that after much reflection we have made the decision to consciously uncouple,” Rucker wrote. “We remain close friends and parenting partners and continue to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders. Our priority will always be our beautiful family”
Darius added that the two love each other and will continue to encourage each other. “Please be kind as we take on this journey, and we thank you for your love and support always.”
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The couple first met in 1998 when Darius was in New York City with his rock band, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Beth was working for VH1. Beth turned down Darius’s invites to go out at first, but eventually gave in.
“I had been trying to get her to go out with me, and she wouldn’t,” Rucker told The Boot. “I was in New York, and it was one of those rare nights off. I didn’t have anything to do. We always had something to do when we were in New York. We had the night off, and I was just in my hotel room. She called me and said, ‘Hey, do you want to go see this play?’ I was like, ‘Sure!'”
Rucker fell head over heels for Beth and made his intentions clear when he took her back to her apartment after the date. knew that she was the one.
“She was walking up the stairs, and I said, ‘Well, you know that I’m going to marry you, right?’ She just laughed. Her roommate or her boyfriend was up there in their apartment, and I yelled, ‘To whoever’s up there in Beth Leonard’s apartment, you can just leave because I just want you to know that I’m going to marry her!'”
Darius and Beth wed in 2000 and share two children: Daniella Rose (19) and Jack (15). Beth and their children appear in Rucker’s music video for his 2008 country song release, “It Won’t Be Like This For Long.” See the music video blow.