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, he has never directly discussed a specific incident until recently, when he revealed that he came close to receiving a DUI while driving under the influence.
In an episode of Elizabeth Vargas' Heart of the Matter podcast, Kelley confesses that when he was consuming alcohol, it became a regular habit for him to consume "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 under the influence while heading home. The distance they had to cover was only 10 minutes, yet there were instances during the drive where they realized how foolish and perilous their actions were. Reflecting on the situation the next day, Kelley was struck by the realization that their irresponsible decision could have resulted in the loss of someone's life, including their own.
On a specific occasion, Kelley came close to being charged with a DUI. It happened during the Christmas season, and he recalls that his wife Cassie and son Ward were away for a few days. This gave him the freedom to consume alcohol without any responsibilities towards his family. He spent a day playing golf and drinking at a nearby bar. Towards the end of the evening, fellow customers at the bar began expressing worry about whether Kelley intended to drive home.
"And I thought to myself, 'If I don't drive back, my wife will ask, 'Where's your car?'', even though I could have retrieved it the following morning. She wouldn't have been aware because she wasn't present," he remembers.
However, with a strong resolve to make his way back home alone, he managed to slip out of the bar through the rear exit and departed in his vehicle. Unfortunately, during the brief distance he had to cover to reach his house, he was stopped by law enforcement.
The police officer glanced at my driver's license and asked, "Are you the person in that band?" I responded affirmatively, and instead of arresting me for driving under the influence, he instructed me to pull over my car. Surprisingly, the officer drove me the remaining distance to my home without issuing a ticket or taking any further action. I was amazed and relieved by this fortunate turn of events, exclaiming, "Wow, I narrowly escaped a serious consequence!"
However, the incident served as a strong reminder for Kelley that he needed to inform his spouse about what had occurred.
The singer expresses their feeling of being completely overwhelmed and tired, stating that they were thinking, "I've had enough. This is draining. I was just stopped by the police. It was a close call that could have potentially ruined my life and caused a lot of trouble for the band." They acknowledge the negative consequences it would have had on their image and public perception.
He made a firm decision to stop drinking alcohol and struggled for three months to resist the temptation, but eventually relapsed into his previous drinking habits. It took him another year before he finally sought professional help and fully dedicated himself to a life of sobriety.
Following his time in rehabilitation, it didn't take Kelly much time to disclose his struggle with alcohol to Lady A fans. The country trio was transparent with their loyal supporters, explaining that the primary reason for postponing their 2022 Request Line Tour was to ensure Kelley's fragile sobriety was safeguarded. This decision to be honest about his situation was made by Kelley himself. His fellow band members, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, had initially proposed creating alternative explanations for the band's absence from the tour.
Kelley expressed that they were not ashamed of their actions and found it important to be honest about their experiences. They acknowledged that the easiest option would have been to continue drinking and destroy everything in their life. However, they chose a different path and expressed gratitude for the challenges they faced. This gratitude became a turning point for Kelley, leading them to decide to share their story. As a result, their journey has gained momentum in a positive and beneficial manner.
Here is a compilation of 18 country artists who have chosen to live a sober lifestyle. Additionally, we have listed 11 great country songs that revolve around the theme
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