Hootie & the Blowfish is a Grammy Award-winning band fronted by singer Darius Rucker, which was founded in 1986 while some of the members attended the University of South Carolina. In Sesame Street Season 31, the band made an appearance with Elmo, Zoe and Elizabeth, to sing "Hold My Hand," a variation of the band's hit song that emphasized crossing the street with a grown-up in the Sesame Street version.
Rucker was also interviewed for VH1's Greatest TV Moments documentary, "Sesame Street Music A-Z" in which he talked about his appearance.