Darius Rucker will receive the Veterans Voice Award Presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action at the 52nd American Music Awards, organizers announced May 19. The honor will be presented during the live telecast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Monday, May 25, at 8:00 PM ET on CBS and Paramount+.
Rucker, who will perform on the broadcast alongside his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates, is being recognized for a career of visible and material support for service members and veterans. His work has included performing on multiple overseas USO tours, appearing at events such as the DoD Warrior Games, and helping to provide more than 20 mortgage-free homes to veterans through the Military Warriors Support Foundation.
Chris Curtin of USAA framed the award as part of a larger mission: "Behind every name we honor on Memorial Day is a family, a story and a sacrifice that should never be forgotten." Curtin added that "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."
The American Music Awards said the ceremony will include special in-show moments celebrating veterans during Military Appreciation Month and that U.S. service members, veterans and Gold Star families will be present, with a Military Appreciation Section reserved through USAA. USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor will also return for its seventh year to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as part of the organization’s activities tied to the broadcast.
Mike Chuthakeio, representing the awards show, 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." The program follows last year’s Veterans Voice Award recipient, Zac Brown.
The weight of the recognition rests on a mix of public visibility and measurable assistance. Rucker’s record pairs high-profile performances with concrete results such as the 20-plus mortgage-free homes provided through partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation. He has repeatedly joined military-support events and tours that put him in front of troops and veterans overseas.
The context is specific: the AMAs are staging the award and related moments during Military Appreciation Month, when broadcasters and sponsors often highlight service and remembrance. USAA’s multi-year presence — including the Poppy Wall of Honor returning to the National Mall — ties the entertainment telecast to a set of public-facing veteran initiatives timed around the holiday season.
That blend of ceremony and service creates an unavoidable tension for televised honors: awards are symbolic, but in Rucker’s case the symbolism is matched by documented action. The Veterans Voice Award recognizes artists who "use their platforms to make meaningful, lasting change in the lives of those who served," and Rucker’s contributions include both advocacy and the delivery of material support to veterans.
Queen Latifah will host the 52nd American Music Awards, and Rucker’s presentation and performance will be part of a show that organizers say aims to spotlight veterans beyond a single moment on screen. The broadcast airs live at 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT) Monday, May 25, on CBS and via Paramount+ from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Given the combination of public advocacy, repeated on-the-ground engagements and the quantifiable housing support associated with his name, the Veterans Voice Award aligns with Rucker’s record: this is recognition tied to action rather than ceremony alone. The AMAs will present the award live, and Rucker will step onto the stage not only as a performer but as the night’s honoree for veteran service.
