In 2020, Darius Rucker and his wife, Beth, announced they were splitting up, after 20 years of marriage. Although their decision to go their separate ways was amicable, it also wasn’t easy for either of them. Still, the 57-year-old has only praise for his former spouse, with whom they share two children.

“My 50-something self is a lot more forgiving than the mid-20-something self,” Rucker said on Apple Music’s Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen. “You have to [be forgiving] because life goes on. Your kids are still your kids and you have a life and you try to make the best of it. I always say, [my ex-wife is] a saint. She’s an amazing human being, and she’s a great mom, and we get through life.”

Although the decision to “consciously uncouple,” a phrase Rucker and Beth used when announcing their split, wasn’t easy, Rucker learned plenty through the unfortunate journey.

“I learned] a lot,” Rucker maintained. “I learned how there’s help out there for people… Being raised the way I was and where I was, that’s not always, and in the black community, especially, that’s frowned upon a lot, too. But I learned that there’s a lot of people out there that’ll talk to you, that’ll help you a lot.”

Rucker recently revealed that he and Beth had not formerly divorced yet, but while they may no longer be romantically involved, they still feel very much like family.

“That stuff hurts and you feel like a failure,” Rucker told People. “But we’re still a family—a piece of paper is not going to change that. We’re still a family, and that’s all because Beth is awesome. She knows it’s the best for the kids, and she’s a great human being.”

Rucker just released his latest album, Carolyn’s Boy, named in honor of his late mother, who passed away in 1992. The South Carolina native sings about his divorce in “Never Been Over,” a song he wrote with Brothers Osborne’s John Osborne and Lee Thomas Miller.

“The chorus was pretty tough when we wrote it, that splitting up walls, splitting up records, just that thought right there,” Rucker said. I” was like, ‘Do we really want to say it like that?’ But the more we sang it just, that’s what you do. And so that was tough. But the song was very, very, it helped me a lot. It was great to write that song.”

Rucker’s personal life might be challenging, but his professional life is better than ever, Rucker recently received the 2023 CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award, in honor of his numerous philanthropic efforts, including his ongoing support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Rucker was also just inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame and will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024.

Find all of Rucker’s music and tour dates at DariusRucker.com.