Hootie & the Blowfish perform at American Music Awards on May 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Thirty years after Hootie and the Blowfish took home Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist at the 1996 American Music Awards, the band returned to the AMAs Monday night, playing a medley of “Hold My Hand” into “Only Wanna Be With You.” Onstage was the same lineup who made their 1994 breakthrough album, Cracked Rear View: frontman Darius Rucker, guitarist Mark Bryan, bassist Dean Felber, and drummer Jim Sonefeld.
Opening with “Hold My Hand,” Rucker had the room on their feet as he crooned in his signature baritone and strummed his acoustic guitar. The band kept the good vibes coming as they segued to “Only Wanna Be With You,” which kept the crowd going with its jangly guitar riffs and tambourine. John Legend and Chrissy Teigen were seen smiling from ear to ear, as were girl group Katseye and country singer Riley Green.
At tonight’s ceremony, Rucker will receive the Veterans Voice Award, a USAA-sponsored honor given to musicians who have worked on behalf of veterans and their families. Zac Brown received the same award last year.
After years on hiatus as Rucker became a solo country star, the band reunited in 2019 for a tour and album, and toured again in 2024. They also performed at this year’s Stagecoach festival. Rucker, who released a single last year with his Howl Owl Howl supergroup (with R.E.M.’s Mike Mills and former Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman), told the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast last year that he wasn’t focused on the band.
