LAS VEGAS — Darius Rucker’s message to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on Super Bowl Eve Eve? Only wanna play with you.
The Hootie and the Blowfish frontman — and massive Miami Dolphins fan — invited his QB1 on stage at a late-night Super Bowl event here for a collaboration on the Old Crow Medicine Show Classic “Wagon Wheel.”
What We Know About Tua Tagovailoa, Darius Rucker Jam Session
The details are still a bit fuzzy — par for the course for Sin City — but here’s what we know based on social media:
Tua, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and New York Giants quarterback were among those in attendance for a private performance by Rucker late Friday night.
“Tua, come play a song,” Rucker said at some point during his set. “Tua Tagovailoa, y’all. My quarterback and a much better guitar player than I am.”
Tagovailoa obliged, realizing a collaboration months in the making.
Ok Vegas!
Tua Tagovailoa hopped on the guitar with Darius Rucker & Daniel Jones was in the house supporting 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/F5Eb5uFNHj
— Kasidee Karsten (@kasideekarsten) February 10, 2024
Rucker is one of the Dolphins’ most loyal supporters, dating back to Hootie’s 1994 smash hit “Only Wanna Be With You,” which includes the famous line, “I’m such a baby, yeah. The Dolphins make me cry.”
So, how did this makeshift supergroup come about?
We’re still waiting for the full story, but some of the broad strokes are publicly known.
Tagovailoa had kept his guitar chops largely under wraps until he played Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” during an appearance on the Manningcast in September.
That prompted a Dolphins fan to tweet at Rucker, imploring him to get Tua in the studio for a jam session.
“I’m in,” Rucker replied.
I’m in https://t.co/vdRDFM2PRr
— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) December 5, 2023
Apparently, he wasn’t kidding.
Tagovailoa was in town Friday after skipping NFL Honors the night before. Tagovailoa was a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year, which went to Joe Flacco in a shock vote.
Rucker, 57, is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Hootie and the Blowfish. His career also had a second act as a country music musician.
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