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Darius Rucker is celebrating his success in music with his long-awaited seventh studio album, which he opted to name in honor of his late mother. The South Carolina-born artist will release the record, his first solo album in six years, Carolyn’s Boy, this fall, he announced on Friday (August 4) as he released another track from the upcoming collection.
Rucker’s newly-debuted “Have A Good Time” follows his previously-released single, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves.” His new upbeat, summer-worthy anthem serves as a reminder to step back from a fast-paced routine and worrying over things out of our control, and take a moment to slow down and enjoy life instead: “Have a few hell yeahs/ Have some back porch hallelujahs/ Sipping on a sunset/ Where the good Lord's talking to you/ Ride the lows, chase the highs/ Fall in love and love this life/ Place your bets, no regrets/ And don't forget to have a good time.”
Rucker previously shared in an interview on the TODAY Show that he “wanted to name the record Carolyn’s Boy because Mom never got to see any of my success. She died before any of this happened, so it’s just another homage to the greatest woman I’ve ever known.” His record label notes that Rucker reflected, when asked why the time is right to honor his mom by naming the album after her (and shared in his announcement on Friday): “Years ago, I wasn't really sure what my place in Country Music was and I was trying to find it. Now I've found it - I know - and I think it's time to give you all that record. Carolyn’s Boy, named after the greatest woman I've ever known, my mom, is out October 6th, 2023!”
Rucker, currently on his headlining “Starting Fires Tour,” has also released “Beers And Sunshine,” “Same Beer Different Problem” and “Ol’ Church Hymn,” featuring America’s Got Talent fan-favorites Chapel Hart, among the tracks released ahead of the album. It will also include his cover of Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up,” and songs written with Ed Sheeran, Charles Kelley, Ashley Gorley, HARDY, Old Dominion’s Brad Tursi and other accomplished songwriters.
See the full Carolyn’s Boy track list below, and listen to “Have A Good Time” here:
1. Beers And Sunshine (Darius Rucker, JT Harding, Josh Osborne, Ross Copperman)
2. In This Together (Darius Rucker, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick, Joy Williams)
3. Never Been Over (Darius Rucker, Lee Thomas Miller, John Osborne)
4. Fires Don’t Start Themselves (Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice, Dan Isbell)
5. Ol’ Church Hymn feat. Chapel Hart (Darius Rucker, Greylan James, Ben Hayslip, Josh Miller)
6. 7 Days (Darius Rucker, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Charles Kelley)
7. Same Beer Different Problem (Darius Rucker, Topher Brown, Sarah Buxton, Brad Tursi)
8. Sara (Darius Rucker, Joel Crouse, Kyle Rife, Ed Sheeran)
9. Have A Good Time (Darius Rucker, Monty Criswell, Derek George, Bobby Hamrick)
10. Sure Would Have Loved Her (Darius Rucker, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey)
11. Southern Comfort (Chris LaCorte, Matt Rogers, Josh Osborne)
12. 3am in Carolina (Darius Rucker, Ross Copperman, Michael Hardy)
13. Lift Me Up (Temilade Openiyi, Robyn Fenty, Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Goransson)
14. Stargazing (Darius Rucker, Brinley Addington, Jess Cayne, Matt Morrisey)