Hootie

Hootie is most commonly associated with Hootie & the Blowfish, an American rock band formed in 1986 in Columbia, South Carolina.

The group consisted of Darius Rucker (lead vocals), Mark Bryan (guitar), Dean Felber (bass), and Jim "Soni" Sonefeld (drums). They achieved mainstream success with Cracked Rear View (1994), whose hit singles include "Let Her Cry" and "Only Wanna Be with You" and which became one of the best-selling albums of the decade in the United States.

After years of activity, the band went on hiatus around 2008. They re-formed for touring in the late 2010s, and have pursued new material since, while Darius Rucker established a successful solo career in country music.

Beyond the band, "Hootie" can refer to nicknames or fictional characters in various works, but the name is overwhelmingly recognized in popular culture for Hootie & the Blowfish.