Charles Kelley, a member of the band Lady A, has been open and honest with his fans about his personal struggle with alcohol and his path to sobriety. However, there's one particular incident that he had never addressed publicly until recently. Kelley has now revealed that there was a time when he came extremely close to receiving a DUI after driving under the influence.
In an interview on Elizabeth Vargas' Heart of the Matter podcast, Kelley confesses that when he consumed alcohol, it became a frequent habit for him to consume "four or five drinks" while playing golf in a single day, and afterwards, he would drive himself back home.
Kelley confesses that she operated a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Despite the short duration of the drive, there were instances where Kelley realized the extreme recklessness and hazard she was subjecting herself to. The following day, Kelley reflects on the incident with a profound realization that her actions could have resulted in the loss of someone's life, including her own.
On one specific occasion, Kelley had a close call with being charged with a DUI. It occurred during the Christmas season, and his wife Cassie and son Ward were away for a few days, which gave him the freedom to consume as much alcohol as he desired without any familial responsibilities. He spent a day playing golf and drinking at a nearby bar, and as the night neared its conclusion, fellow customers began to worry about whether Kelley intended to drive back home.
"I thought to myself, 'If I don't drive back, my wife will ask me, 'Where's your car?'' even though I could have easily retrieved it the following morning. She wouldn't have known since she wasn't present," he recalls.
However, with a strong determination to return home by himself, he discreetly left through the rear exit of the bar and departed in his vehicle. However, he was stopped by law enforcement during the extremely brief journey back to his residence.
The police officer examined my driver's license and asked, "Are you the person from that band?" I replied affirmatively. Instead of arresting me for driving under the influence, the officer instructed me to park my car and offered to drive me home. He didn't issue me a ticket or anything. I was amazed and relieved that I had narrowly avoided a troublesome situation.
However, the incident served as a sudden realization for Kelley, prompting him to recognize the importance of informing his wife about what had transpired.
The singer expressed their frustration and exhaustion after a recent incident where they were pulled over, feeling like their life was almost ruined. They were concerned about the negative impact it would have on their band and the potential negative media attention it could generate.
He made a strong decision to stop consuming alcohol and struggled to resist the temptation for three months; however, he eventually succumbed to his old habits. It took him a whole year to finally seek professional help and completely dedicate himself to a sober lifestyle.
Following his rehabilitation, it didn't take much time for Kelly to share with Lady A fans his struggle with alcohol. The country trio decided to be transparent with their fanbase, explaining that they postponed their 2022 Request Line Tour in order to prioritize Kelley's recovery. This choice to be honest was made by Kelley himself. However, his bandmates, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, proposed alternative reasons for the band's tour delay.
Kelley expressed that she was not ashamed and wanted to be honest about her experience. She stated that overcoming her difficulties was extremely challenging. Instead of taking the easy way out by continuing to drink and destroy everything, she decided to be grateful for her situation. This shift in mindset marked a turning point for her and she decided to share her story. As a result, her experience has gained momentum in a positive and beneficial way.
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