Darius Rucker to Receive Veterans Voice Award at 52nd AMAs
darius rucker will receive the Veterans Voice Award Presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action at the 52nd American Music Awards. He will also perform during the broadcast with his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates, putting the award and the stage appearance into the same Memorial Day telecast.
May 25 in Las Vegas
The 52nd American Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Monday, May 25, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT on CBS and Paramount+. Queen Latifah will host, and the show will include Gold Star families and U.S. service members and veterans in USAA’s Military Appreciation Section.
That combination gives the ceremony a very specific business purpose: it is not just handing out another trophy, but building a nationally televised Memorial Day broadcast around veterans, military families and a live performance from Rucker. For a show that lives on audience scale, that matters more than sentimental framing ever could.
Rucker’s military record
Rucker is being recognized for a record that reaches beyond a single appearance. He helped provide 20+ mortgage-free homes to veterans through Military Warriors Support Foundation, has performed on multiple overseas USO tours, and has appeared at events supporting veterans such as the DoD Warrior Games.
Chris Curtin said, "Behind every name we honor on Memorial Day is a family, a story and a sacrifice that should never be forgotten." He added, "Darius Rucker has long stood beside the military community, not just in words but through action, and this recognition reflects the same spirit of remembrance, service and support that defines our mission."
Veterans Voice returns
Last year, Zac Brown received the Veteran’s Voice Award, which puts Rucker into a short list of artists the AMAs are using to give the broadcast a service-focused identity. Mike Chuthakeio said, "The American Music Awards is proud to celebrate both the heroes who have served our nation and the artists who champion their cause — working together with USAA to help veterans build strong careers, secure their financial futures, and care for their well-being."
USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor will return for its seventh year to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., stretching more than 130 feet and carrying 600,000+ hand-placed poppies representing every American life lost in the line of duty since World War I. That gives the award presentation a larger frame than one honoree: the show is tying Rucker’s recognition to a broader Memorial Day message, and viewers will see that message live when the broadcast goes on air.
