FRANKLIN, Tennessee – Popular country singer Darius Rucker has reportedly been sentenced to nearly a year of probation after pleading no contest to a drug possession charge.
Another charge of possession and a charge of violating registration requirements were dropped as part of the settlement, KOAA Channel 5 reports.
The ruling came after Rucker was indicted in February. The charges were related to a February 2023 traffic stop that pulled Rucker over for a traffic violation, WSMV Channel 4 reports. Police reportedly smelled marijuana coming from Rucker’s GMC pickup truck.
Rucker, 58, reportedly told police he smoked marijuana in the truck, but not the night he was stopped.
WSMV reports that police searched his truck and found 14 unstamped, gray-purple pills and a THC pen. A marijuana cigarette was also allegedly found on Rucker.
KOAA reports that the prosecutor cited Rucker’s “good character” in recommending that two of the charges be dropped.
Rucker first rose to fame in the 1990s as the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish. The band performed at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls in August.
In recent years, he has focused on his country music career, releasing several hit recordings. In 2009, he became the first black American to win the Country Music Association’s New Artist Award.
