Charles Kelley, a member of the band Lady A, has been open and honest with his fans about his path to sobriety. However, there is one particular event that he has never discussed openly before, until now. He has revealed that there was a time when he came close to receiving a DUI while driving under the influence.
In an interview with Elizabeth Vargas on the Heart of the Matter podcast, Kelley confesses that when he was drinking, it became a regular thing for him to consume "four or five drinks" while playing golf and then drive back home.
Kelley confesses that they were under the influence while driving back home. Despite the short duration of the drive, there were instances where Kelley realized the extreme foolishness and potential harm associated with their actions. Reflecting on the situation the following day, Kelley deeply understood the grave consequences that could have resulted from their recklessness, including the possibility of causing harm to someone else or even losing their own life.
On a specific occasion, Kelley had a close call with being charged with a DUI. It happened during the Christmas season, and his wife Cassie and son Ward were away for a few days, giving him the freedom to consume as much alcohol as he pleased without any familial responsibilities. He spent the day playing golf and drinking at a nearby bar, and as the night drew to a close, fellow customers began to worry about whether Kelley intended to drive home.
"And I thought to myself, 'If I don't drive back, my wife will wonder where my car is.' Even though I could have picked it up the next morning without her knowing since she wasn't there," he recalls.
However, with a strong resolve to make his way home alone, he managed to quietly leave the bar through the rear exit and departed in his vehicle. Within a brief distance from the bar, he was stopped by law enforcement.
The police officer checked 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 pull over and drove me home. He didn't issue me a ticket or anything. I was amazed and relieved. I escaped a potentially serious situation.
However, the incident served as a reminder for Kelley that he needed to inform his spouse about what had transpired.
"I felt completely drained and had reached my limit. I had just been stopped by the police, and it was a close call that could have had disastrous consequences for my life. Moreover, it would have caused a lot of trouble for the band, resulting in highly negative media attention," explains the vocalist.
He made a promise to himself to stop drinking alcohol and struggled for three months to resist the temptation, but eventually returned to his old habits of drinking. It took another year for him to finally seek help and fully dedicate himself to a life of sobriety.
Following his rehabilitation, it didn't take long for Kelly, a member of Lady A, to share with their fans about his struggle with alcohol. The country trio was transparent with their fanbase, explaining that they postponed their 2022 Request Line Tour to prioritize Kelley's early stages of sobriety. This decision to be honest was made by Kelley himself. Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, his bandmates, had initially proposed offering different explanations for why the band was unable to go on tour.
Kelley expressed that she was not ashamed of her decision and acknowledged that it was the most difficult thing she had ever done. Instead of taking the easy way out by continuing to drink and causing destruction, she chose to face her challenges head-on. She mentioned feeling grateful for her experience, which marked a significant turning point for her. As a result, she decided to share her story, and it has since 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 revolve around the theme
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