Darius Rucker Shares Deeply Personal Song He Was Nervous For Ex-Wife To Hear

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Darius Rucker opens up about “Never Been Over,” a song about his ex-wife.

Country music has seen Darius Rucker evolve from the frontman of Hootie & the Blowfish to a successful solo country artist. In his new album Carolyn’s Boy, Rucker delves deeper into his personal life. The topic of the album draws inspiration from heartfelt memories he had with his ex-wife and late mother.

Of all the tracks in the album, “Never Been Over” stands out for a special reason. This acoustic song is about raw emotions of true love that faced heartbreak, with lyrics like, “We’ve never been splitting up friends, splitting up records / Putting up walls, burning our letters / Grass is greener because there’s something better / Waiting down the line.”

Rucker might not label it his favorite, but it’s undoubtedly one he feels compelled to share with his audience during his upcoming Starting Fires Tour.

It was the first time Rucker openly addressed his divorce in his music.

During his conversation with Evan Paul on Taste of Country Nights, Rucker shared the story behind this song. Co-written with John Osborne and Lee Miller, “Never Been Over” is the first time Rucker has openly addressed his divorce from his wife of 20 years, Beth Leonard. He admitted that the songwriting process was challenging, and performing it might be equally as hard. Rucker laughed when asked if he let her listen to the song first, saying that he just put it out there and will “wait for the phone call.” 

The interview also covered lighter moments, with Rucker reminiscing about his memories from the ’90s rock scene, his experiences with fellow musicians like Steven Tyler and John Popper, and the memorable times with bands like Toad the Wet Sprocket and Barenaked Ladies. He said that transitioning to country music wasn’t just a passing phase for him but a genuine love he’s had for the genre since his childhood.

Rucker’s thoughts about his mom who passed away.

Carolyn’s Boy isn’t just an album title – it’s a tribute to Rucker’s mother, who passed away in 1992. His love and longing for her has matured over the years and while the initial years were filled with pain, he now aspires to be the man she would have been proud of.

“I still miss her a lot,” he said. “I still think about her all the time, but back in the ’90s, missing her was pain and I can’t believe my mom’s gone. Now it’s more, I miss her and I’m hoping I become the man she wanted me to be. It’s a little different, a little more mature now.”

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For fans, Carolyn’s Boy promises a deep dive into the heart and soul of Darius Rucker. If you want to hear more from Rucker, the full interview on Taste of Country Nights is available to stream and you can watch an 8-minute snippet of the conversation below.

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