Darius Rucker performs at the CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, June 5, 2025.

Country star Darius Rucker is engaged to his girlfriend, Emily Deahl.

The Hootie and the Blowfish frontman shared the news with fans in a joint Instagram post.

"Thank you for showing me a level of happiness I have never known. The day I met you I knew I didn't want to go another one without you," he wrote Wednesday, Oct. 8. "Now I don't have to." The black-and-white photo shows the moment Rucker popped the question with him down on one knee and Deahl lovingly looking down on him, smiling.

An additional selfie-style photo shows the couple flashing their new status as fiancées as Deahl shows off her engagement ring featuring a sizeable diamond.

The comment section was filled with congratulations and well-wishes for the duo, including from fellow country singer Miranda Lambert and the Grand Ole Opry.

News of Rucker's engagement comes shortly after the couple confirmed their relationship online in early September, sharing a selfie taken outside the Sphere arena in Las Vegas. "Wizard of Oz at @spherevegas with my love & my boys. 1000/10!!!!!" Rucker wrote.

Here's what else to know.

Who is Emily Deahl? What to know about Darius Rucker fiancée

According to her social media accounts, Deahl is a self-proclaimed singer, songwriter and content creator.

Her YouTube page states she is currently "living in London via Nashville" and per Spotify, she has been releasing music since 2019, with her latest tracks including 2023's "22," "Tarantino," and "Emily."

"I never intended on keeping this part of my life from you guys for so long, but somewhere along the way of loving him I discovered how sacred love is to me. And all I wanted to do was protect it," Deahl wrote online of her engagement.

"But ... I'm glad I don't have to spend the time photoshopping him out of every photo now," she added.

In February, Deahl posted a vlog to YouTube announcing her move to London, shortly after Rucker revealed online he had also relocated to the U.K. One photo showed Rucker with his two King Charles Cavaliers, Freddie and Larry, who make regular appearances across Deahl’s social media.

That same month, Rucker shared that he was living in London while "working on some new music and playing some shows.”

Emily Deahl age: How old is singer, Darius Rucker?

The couple has faced some criticism for their significant age gap, as Rucker is 59 years old and Deahl is reportedly 33 years old.

Just two days after confirming their relationship, Deahl called out critics in a TikTok posted on Sept. 10. In the video, she’s seen running away from the camera on a beach, with a text overlay that reads: "When I'm running from the comments and then I see them say 'she's gotta be in her 20s.'"

“My frontal lobe has been fully developed for many years but thanks guys," she wrote in the caption.

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X at @_leyvadiana

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Darius Rucker announces engagement to singer Emily Deahl. Who is she?

Reporting by Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean / Nashville Tennessean

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