It’s been 25 summers since Hootie & the Blowfish released their blockbuster debut LP, “Cracked Rear View,” which went on to sell more than 21 million copies in the US. As the ’90s pop-rockers gear up to release their first studio album in 14 years this fall, they’ll be breaking out a setlist with hits such as “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry” and “Only Wanna Be With You” when their Group Therapy tour stops in NYC at Madison Square Garden on Saturday and Sunday.

Here, lead singer Darius Rucker, 53, dishes on his band’s reunion, breaking country music’s color barrier and his favorite marine cuisine.

Since you’ve had a successful solo career going, what made this the right time to do a Hootie tour?

Five years ago, we thought maybe, and nobody was really excited about it. Then we were together a year ago talking about the 25th anniversary of “Cracked Rear View.” It just seemed like the right time . . . I’m glad we decided to do it.

What was the toughest part of getting your groove back with the band?

The toughest part for me was getting my vocals [back]. When we were rehearsing, I was like, “Wow, my voice — I lost it.” I just wasn’t really happy with it. But after we rehearsed for a while and everything got loose and I got back in shape, it came back. As far as playing, we could do that in our sleep. We could not see each other for two years and get together and do a show with one rehearsal.

The tour is called Group Therapy, so have there been some times where there needed to be some therapy within the group?

We’ve gone through all the rock ’n’ roll clichés. But we’re brothers, man. We’ve been through our ups and downs. We’ve had our problems, we’ve had our fights, we’ve had all that stuff that family goes through. But, right now, at our age and where we are in life, we just know that this is what we do — and we do it great together.

Do you remember that scene in “Jerry Maguire” where Cuba Gooding Jr. gets mistaken for Hootie?

That’s one of those moments in your career when you go, “Oh, wow!” It’s a funny part. And you know you’re part of the culture when that stuff happens.

African-American artists like Kane Brown, Jimmie Allen and Lil Nas X have made big inroads in country music recently, but you made that move 11 years ago.

When I did it, I didn’t expect any success. I would have never given me a [country] record deal. Who’s gonna give the black lead singer of a pop band a record deal to sing country music? . . . Watching Kane, watching Jimmie and what they’re doing, it makes me feel proud ’cause I would be crazy to think that I didn’t have nothin’ to do with that. Those are my boys; we talk all the time. We’re gonna do something together, and it’s gonna be really nice.

What do you think about the crazy success of Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road (Remix)”?

I love it. It’s undeniable that it’s a great song. And it’s gotta be resonating with a whole bunch of folks to be 18 weeks [at] No. 1. It’s a phenomenon. We’ll remember this song forever.

Given that you roll with the Blowfish, what’s your favorite seafood?

I’m a lobster guy. I guess I’m bougie.