Charles Kelley, a member of the band Lady A, has been open and honest with his fans about his personal struggle with sobriety. However, there is one particular event that he had not previously addressed: the time when he came close to receiving a DUI after driving under the influence.
While speaking on Elizabeth Vargas' Heart of the Matter podcast, Kelley confesses that when he consumed alcohol, it became a regular habit for him to have "four or five drinks" while playing golf in a single day and then proceed to drive himself back home.
Kelley confesses that they were driving while intoxicated on their way home. Although the journey only took 10 minutes, there were instances where Kelley realized the extreme stupidity and danger of their actions. Reflecting on the situation the following day, Kelley was struck by the realization that they could have caused someone's death, including their own.
During a specific incident, Kelley narrowly avoided being charged with a DUI. It occurred during the Christmas season when his wife Cassie and son Ward were away, giving him the freedom to consume alcohol without any familial responsibilities. He spent the day playing golf and drinking at a nearby bar. As the night progressed, fellow customers began expressing worry about Kelley's intention to drive 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 picked it up the next morning and she wouldn't have known because she wasn't there," he recalls.
However, with a strong determination to return home alone, he discreetly left the bar through the rear exit and departed in his car. Within a brief distance to his house, he was stopped by law enforcement.
The police officer examined my driver's license and asked, "Are you the person in that band?" I replied, "Yes." Instead of arresting me for driving under the influence, the officer instructed me to park my car and drove me the remaining distance to my home. He didn't issue me a ticket or take any further action. I was amazed and relieved, thinking, "Wow, that was close. I narrowly avoided trouble."
However, the occurrence served as a moment of realization for Kelley, prompting him to understand that he needed to inform his spouse about the incident.
The singer expresses their feelings of being completely worn out and exasperated. They recount a recent incident of being pulled over, which they believe had the potential to greatly damage their life and cause turmoil for their band. They acknowledge that it would have resulted in negative media attention, which they wanted to avoid at all costs.
He made a promise to himself to stop drinking alcohol and went through a challenging period of three months where he struggled to resist the temptation. However, he eventually succumbed to his old habits and started drinking again. It took him another year before he finally sought help by going to a rehabilitation center and wholeheart
Following his time in rehabilitation, it didn't take long for Kelly to share his struggle with alcohol with Lady A fans. The country trio was transparent with their fanbase about the decision to postpone their 2022 Request Line Tour in order to prioritize Kelley's newfound sobriety. This decision to be honest was solely made by Kelley himself, while his bandmates, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, proposed alternative reasons for the tour delay.
Kelley expressed that she had no shame and was being honest about her situation. She acknowledged that what she was going through was extremely difficult. Instead of taking the easy way out and continuing to drink and destroy everything, Kelley chose to be grateful for the situation she was in. This gratitude became a turning point for her, leading her to decide to share her experience. As a result, her story has gained momentum in a positive and beneficial manner.
Here are 18 country artists who have chosen to live a sober lifestyle. Additionally, we have compiled a list of 11 great country songs that talk about experiences with getting
Additional content from Taste of Country.
Details
Stay connected with us.