Darius Rucker brings an intimate live performance to the Broward Performing Arts Foundation’s annual celebration in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – On a warm March night in downtown Fort Lauderdale, music, philanthropy and South Florida pride will come together as Darius Rucker headlines the Broward Performing Arts Foundation’s Only Wanna Be With You 2026 Annual Celebration. Set for Saturday, March 7 at 8:30 p.m., the event promises an intimate and memorable performance by one of America’s most recognizable voices inside the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

The annual celebration is known for pairing star power with purpose, and this year’s event is no exception. Rucker’s appearance offers a rare chance for fans to experience his music up close in a setting that emphasizes connection rather than spectacle. While Rucker regularly fills arenas and stadiums, the Au-Rene Theater provides a more personal atmosphere, turning the evening into something closer to a shared musical moment than a typical concert.

VIP tickets for the celebration are still available at $1,250 and include premium lower orchestra seating along with access to a post-show tailgate-style party. A portion of each VIP ticket serves as a tax-deductible donation, directly supporting the Broward Center’s education and engagement programs that reach students and families throughout the region.

Rucker’s career spans decades and genres, beginning in the 1990s when he rose to international fame as the lead singer and guitarist of Hootie & the Blowfish. The band’s debut album, Cracked Rear View, became a cultural phenomenon, selling more than 25 million copies and earning a place among the 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Songs like “Only Wanna Be With You,” “Let Her Cry” and “Hold My Hand” became radio staples and remain deeply tied to the era that launched the group into the mainstream.

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Rather than staying anchored to one sound, Rucker reinvented himself in the late 2000s, stepping confidently into country music. Since releasing his first country album in 2008, he has built a second act that rivals his early success. His work in the genre includes four number one albums on the Billboard Country chart, 10 number one singles on country radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified songs. His version of “Wagon Wheel,” which earned a Grammy Award in 2014 for Best Solo Country Performance, stands as one of the top five best-selling country songs of all time and helped cement his place in modern country history.

Rucker’s influence extends beyond the recording studio. A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2012, he has also made his mark as an author, releasing the New York Times bestselling memoir Life’s Too Short in 2024. Throughout his career, he has remained known for his approachability and authenticity, traits that align closely with the spirit of the Broward Performing Arts Foundation’s annual fundraiser.

South Florida holds a special place in Rucker’s life, making his appearance at the celebration feel especially fitting. A passionate Miami Dolphins fan, he has frequently performed the national anthem at Dolphins games and openly embraces his connection to the team. In a playful nod to that loyalty, this year’s celebration encourages a “Carolina Coastal” dress theme, with Dolphins gear welcomed for those who want to lean into the moment.

Beyond the music, the Annual Celebration serves a deeper mission. Presented by Ann M. Burris, the event raises critical funds to support education, enrichment and community engagement programs at the Broward Center. These initiatives introduce young people to the arts, provide learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom and help ensure that live performance remains accessible to a broad and diverse audience.

The evening is supported by an extensive group of sponsors who share showing their commitment to arts and culture in Broward County. “Wagon Wheel” table sponsors include Amazon; Jeannette and Marty Engelmann; Linda B. Haller; Hudson Family Foundation; Carol, Dean and Denise Miller; Charles and Laura Palmer; The Salah Foundation; S. Donald and Michelle Howland Sussman; and Gary Wendt. “Homegrown Honey” table sponsors include Chris Ambs and Scott Clearwater, Dr. Robert Wagner and Stephanie Aoun, BBI – Burdette Beckman Inc., Rita Case, Marty and Terri Cole, Gunster, JM Family Enterprises, Northern Trust, Stu Siegell, SPIRIT, Stiles, UKG, Linda and Douglas Von Allmen, Joyce Worthington Virga, Richard and Christine Welch, and Jeremy and Yeva Wilford. Additional support comes from Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits as spirits sponsor, Starmark as program sponsor and Associated Printing Productions, Inc. as invitation sponsor.

For more than four decades, the Broward Performing Arts Foundation has played a central role in sustaining the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Established in 1985, the Foundation was created to raise the private funding needed to build the Center and establish an endowment to support its long-term operations. Over the years, it has helped fund innovative programming, arts-in-education initiatives, community outreach efforts and major capital improvements.

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Those efforts include the successful completion of a $30 million capital campaign in 2021 to renovate and restore the Parker Playhouse, as well as the earlier $60 million Encore! campaign that revitalized the Broward Center itself. Events like the Annual Celebration help ensure that these spaces remain vibrant, welcoming and accessible for future generations.

Tickets for Darius Rucker’s performance are available now through BrowardCenter.org, by phone at 954.462.0222 or in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. As anticipation builds for March 7, the evening is shaping up to be more than a concert. It is a celebration of music, community and the lasting impact of the performing arts in South Florida.