Darius Rucker & Wife of 20 Years Announce 'Conscious Uncoupling'

Darius Rucker, longtime frontman for Hootie & the Blowfish, has announced that he and his wife of 20 years, Beth Leonard, are splitting up.

Rucker posted a sweet 2017 photo of the couple along with a statement signed off on by both: "Beth and I would like to share that after much reflection we have made the decision to consciously uncouple. We remain close friends and parenting partners and continue to be each other's biggest cheerleaders. Our priority will always be our beautiful family. We have so much love in our hearts for each other and will continue to encourage growth and expansion in one other. Please be kind as we take on this journey, and we thank you for your love and support always."

His use of the term "consciously uncouple" echoes the way in which Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin described their 2014 split.

Darius, 54, and Beth, 42, exchanged vows in 2000, and are the parents of daughter Daniella, 19, and son Jack, 15. The singer is also the father of 25-year-old daughter Carolyn from a previous relationship.

Rucker told The Boot in 2010 they met in NYC and that their first date was to a Broadway show. He remembered telling her after the date, as she was going up to her apartment, "Well, you know that I'm going to marry you, right? To whoever's up there in Beth Leonard's apartment, you can just leave because I just want you to know that I'm going to marry her!"