Charles Kelley, a member of the country music group Lady A, has been open and honest with his fans about his personal journey to sobriety. However, there's one particular event that he had not previously discussed, until now. Kelley has revealed that there was a time when he came dangerously close to receiving a DUI while driving under the influence.
In an interview with Elizabeth Vargas on her podcast Heart of the Matter, Kelley confesses that when he was consuming alcohol, it became a regular thing for him to have "four or five drinks" while playing golf in a single day, and then he would drive himself back home.
Kelley confesses that she was operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Despite the short duration of the drive, there were instances where she realized the extreme stupidity and danger of her actions. The following day, she reflected on the situation and realized the potential consequences, acknowledging that she could have caused harm to both others and herself.
On a specific occasion, Kelley had a close call with being charged with driving under the influence. It happened during the Christmas season, and he recalls that his wife Cassie and son Ward were away for a few days. This gave Kelley the freedom to drink as much as he pleased without any family responsibilities. He spent the day playing golf and drinking at a nearby bar. Towards the end of the night, fellow customers began to worry and question 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 next morning. She wouldn't have been aware since she wasn't present," he recalls.
However, with a strong resolve to return home alone, he discreetly left through the rear exit of the establishment and departed in his vehicle. Unfortunately, he was stopped by law enforcement during the brief journey back to his residence.
The police officer glanced at my driver's license and asked, "Are you the person from that band?" I replied, "Yes." Surprisingly, instead of arresting me for driving under the influence, the officer instructed me to pull over my car and drove me home. He didn't issue me a ticket or any penalties. I was amazed by my fortunate escape from trouble.
However, the incident served as a moment of realization for Kelley. He recognized the need to inform his spouse about what had transpired.
The singer expresses that they felt completely drained and decided to give up. They had just been stopped by the police and it felt like their life was hanging in the balance. They were aware that their actions could have brought negative attention to the band and caused a lot of trouble.
He made a firm decision to stop drinking alcohol and struggled for three months to resist the temptation. However, he eventually fell back into his previous habits of drinking. It took him another year before he finally decided to seek professional help and fully dedicated himself to a life of sobriety.
Following his rehabilitation, it didn't take much time for Kelly to share with Lady A fans about his struggles with alcohol. The country trio was transparent with their fanbase, explaining that the postponement of their 2022 Request Line Tour was necessary to support Kelley's early stages of sobriety. It was Kelley's choice to be honest about this matter. On the other hand, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood proposed creating alternative explanations for the band's decision not to go on tour.
"I told myself, 'No, let's be truthful … I'm not ashamed of this … This is the most difficult thing I have ever experienced.'" Kelley explains. "The easier option would have been to continue drinking and let everything fall apart. I said, 'I am thankful for this,'" Kelley continues. "… And that was when I realized, 'Okay, I suppose I should share it now.' So it has gradually gained momentum in a very positive and beneficial manner."
Here is a list of 18 country artists who have chosen to live a sober lifestyle. Additionally, we have compiled a collection of 11 great country songs that revolve
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