Darius Rucker will receive the Veterans Voice Award Presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action at the 52nd American Music Awards. Hosted by Queen Latifah, the star-studded special airs live on Monday, May 25, 2026, with performances including Hootie & the Blowfi
When Memorial Day arrives, it usually brings ceremonies, flags, and names spoken slowly. This year, the focus shifts to a stage—one built for music, but set up to honor the people who served.
CBS and Dick Clark Productions announced that Diamond-certified superstar Darius Rucker will receive the Veterans Voice Award Presented by USAA’s Honor Through Action at the 52nd American Music Awards. The award recognizes artists who use their platforms to make meaningful, lasting change in the lives of those who served. Rucker has spent years supporting military organizations through both his music and his work offstage.
The moment is scheduled for the AMAs’ live broadcast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The star-studded special will air live coast-to-coast on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT on CBS and Paramount+*. Tickets are available now on AXS.
Queen Latifah will host the event, which also includes special in-show moments celebrating veterans, led by Official Military Appreciation Partner USAA. The broadcast comes during Military Appreciation Month.
Rucker. who will also perform during the broadcast alongside his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates. is set to be recognized on-stage for his longstanding commitment to organizations like the Military Warriors Support Foundation. The announcement says he helped provide 20+ mortgage-free homes to veterans.
His service-related appearances extend beyond the U.S. as well. The AMAs note that throughout his career, Rucker has performed on multiple overseas USO tours and at events supporting veterans such as the DoD Warrior Games.
Last year’s Veterans Voice Award was presented to Zac Brown.
There will be more than one kind of remembrance during the broadcast. The event will also give viewers a look at USAA’s Poppy Wall of Honor®. returning for its seventh year to the National Mall in Washington. D.C. The exhibition stretches more than 130 feet and includes 600. 000+ hand-placed poppies representing every American life lost in the line of duty since World War I—each one described as a quiet act of remembrance.
Gold Star families will be in attendance at the AMAs, and U.S. service members and veterans will be seated in USAA’s Military Appreciation Section.
Chris Curtin. USAA Chief Marketing Officer. said: “Behind every name we honor on Memorial Day is a family. a story and a sacrifice that should never be forgotten.” He added that Darius Rucker “has long stood beside the military community. not just in words but through action. ” and that the recognition “reflects the same spirit of remembrance. service and support that defines our mission.”.
Dick Clark Productions’ Mike Chuthakeio. Chief Commercial Officer. said the AMAs are proud to celebrate “both the heroes who have served our nation and the artists who champion their cause. ” and he linked the effort to helping veterans build strong careers. secure their financial futures. and care for their well-being.
“This special recognition is part of USAA’s Honor Through Action initiative — a five-year. $500 million commitment to the military community. focused on meaningful careers. financial security. and well-being for veterans and their families.” The program is described as more than a campaign: a call to action to stand alongside the military community. transform gratitude into progress. and turn purpose into lasting impact.
The star-studded special also arrives with a full lineup of performers announced for the broadcast. Alongside Rucker and Hootie & the Blowfish. the show will feature performances from Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Billy Idol. International Artist Award of Excellence recipient KAROL G. KATSEYE. Keith Urban. Maluma. New Kids on the Block. Riley Green. SOMBR. Teddy Swims. Teyana Taylor. The Pussycat Dolls + Busta Rhymes. and Twenty One Pilots. with more to be announced soon.
The announcement frames the AMAs as a multi-genre, cross-generational celebration of music, and it notes that the 52nd American Music Awards returns to CBS and Paramount+* to honor influential artists and songs of today.
Nominations for the 52nd AMAs were announced last month. Taylor Swift leads with eight nominations, followed by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, and SOMBR with seven each. Fan voting has concluded for all awards other than Social Song of the Year and Tour of the Year. which will remain open through the first 30 minutes of the AMAs broadcast. Fans can vote for these two awards via VoteAMAs.com and the @AMAs Instagram profile.
Additional details, including more presenters for the 52nd AMAs, will be announced in the coming week.
The AMAs special will kick off summer with Queen Latifah hosting live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. It’s the largest venue in the show’s history, the announcement says.
For the Memorial Day broadcast, the message from both music and military support organizations is clear in the way the night is being built: the names and sacrifices are part of the program, not just a prelude to it.
The American Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions.
Darius Rucker Veterans Voice Award USAA Honor Through Action 52nd American Music Awards Queen Latifah Memorial Day MGM Grand Garden Arena Hootie & the Blowfish Poppy Wall of Honor
Wait so is this like a “military” award or just a music thing? Kinda seems random.
Good for him I guess. Mortgage-free homes for veterans… I mean that sounds great but like who’s paying for all that? Rucker’s a singer not a bank lol.
I thought Queen Latifah was hosting the regular AMAs not some special? Also Memorial Day already has enough ceremonies, now it’s on CBS again. Do they do this every year or what?
Not gonna lie, I clicked for Hootie & the Blowfish and it turned into veteran stuff. Whatever, respect. But “USAA Honor Through Action” sounds like a commercial in disguise… still though, 52nd AMAs in Vegas on Monday May 25 2026, got it. I’m just confused why it says live coast-to-coast like it’s not always live.