Charles Kelley, member of the band Lady A, has always been open with his fans about his path to sobriety. However, there is one particular incident that he has never discussed openly before. This incident involves the time he came dangerously close to receiving a DUI while driving under the influence.
While being interviewed on 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 and then proceed to drive himself back home.
Kelley confesses that they were operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Despite the short duration of the drive, there were instances where Kelley acknowledged the extreme foolishness and potential harm caused. The following day, Kelley deeply reflected on the situation and realized the grave consequences that could have occurred, including causing harm to others or even losing their own life.
On a specific occasion, Kelley had a close call with being charged with driving under the influence. It occurred during the Christmas season, and his wife Cassie and son Ward were away for a few days, giving him the freedom to drink without any familial responsibilities. Kelley spent a day playing golf and consuming alcohol at a nearby bar. Towards the end of the evening, fellow customers began to worry and question whether Kelley intended to drive back home.
"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 since she wasn't present," he recalls.
However, with a strong resolve to reach home alone, he discreetly exited through the rear exit of the establishment and departed in his vehicle. Yet, during his brief journey towards his residence, he was stopped by law enforcement.
The police officer inspected 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 safely home. He didn't issue me a ticket or any penalties. I was extremely relieved and grateful for avoiding trouble."
However, the occurrence served as a reminder to Kelley that he needed to inform his spouse about the incident.
The singer expresses their feelings of exhaustion and frustration after being pulled over, feeling like they have made a huge mistake that could have had severe consequences for both themselves and their band. They acknowledge that it would have resulted in negative publicity, which they wanted to avoid at all costs.
He made a strong resolution to stop drinking alcohol and struggled for three months to resist the temptation, but eventually fell back into his old habits of drinking. It took him another year before he finally decided to seek professional help and fully dedicate himself to living a sober life.
Following his rehabilitation, it didn't take long for Kelly to inform Lady A fans about his struggle with alcohol. The country trio was transparent with their fanbase, explaining that they postponed their 2022 Request Line Tour in order to prioritize Kelley's recovery. This decision to be honest was made by Kelley himself. Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, his bandmates, had suggested creating alternative explanations for why the band was not embarking on the tour.
Kelley expressed that she had no shame in admitting that what she was about to do was the most difficult thing she had ever done. Instead of taking the easy way out and continuing to drink and destroy everything, she chose to face her situation honestly. She acknowledged her gratitude for her decision, which marked a turning point for her. She realized that she was now ready to share her experience, and since then, it has gained momentum in a positive and beneficial way.
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