Charles Kelley, a member of the band Lady A, has openly shared his personal struggle with alcoholism and his path to sobriety. However, there is one specific incident that he has never addressed directly until recently. Kelley has now revealed that he had a close encounter with getting a DUI when he was driving under the influence.
In an interview with Elizabeth Vargas on her Heart of the Matter podcast, Kelley confesses that when he used to consume alcohol, it became a regular thing for him to have around "four or five drinks" while playing golf in a day. He would then proceed to drive himself back home.
Kelley confesses that she was operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Although the journey only lasted for 10 minutes, 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: she could have caused harm to someone else or even lost her own life.
During one specific event, Kelley had a close encounter with being charged with a DUI. This incident occurred during the Christmas season, and Kelley recalls that his wife Cassie and son Ward were away for a few days, giving him the freedom to drink without any familial responsibilities. He spent the day playing golf and consuming alcohol at a nearby bar. Towards the end of the evening, fellow customers began expressing worries about Kelley's intention to drive home.
He recalls thinking to himself, "If I don't drive back, my wife will wonder where my car is." Even though he could have easily retrieved it the following morning without her knowing because she wasn't present.
However, with a strong determination to return home alone, he discreetly exited through the rear of the establishment and departed in his vehicle. Unfortunately, he was stopped by law enforcement during the brief journey to his residence.
The police officer checked my driver's license and asked if I was the person in that band. I confirmed that I was indeed part of the band. Instead of arresting me for driving under the influence, the officer instructed me to park my car and personally drove me the rest of the way home. He didn't issue me a ticket or any form of punishment. I was amazed and relieved that I had narrowly avoided a potentially serious consequence.
However, the occurrence served as a moment of realization for Kelley. He recognized the importance of informing his wife about what had transpired.
The singer expressed their feeling of being completely worn out and fed up. They had recently been pulled over, and it felt like a near miss that could have had severe consequences for their life. Additionally, they acknowledged that their actions would have caused a great deal of negative attention and criticism for the band.
He made a promise to himself to stop consuming alcohol and struggled for three months to resist the temptation, but eventually fell back into his old habit of drinking. It took an entire year for him to finally seek professional help and fully dedicate himself to a life of sobriety.
Following his time in rehab, Kelly wasted no time in sharing his struggles with alcohol with Lady A fans. The country trio chose to be transparent with their fanbase, explaining that they had postponed their 2022 Request Line Tour in order to support Kelley's newfound sobriety. It was Kelley's own choice to be honest about it. However, his bandmates Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood initially proposed using alternative explanations for the tour delay.
Kelley expressed that she had no shame in admitting that what she was about to do was extremely difficult. She acknowledged that it would have been easier to continue drinking and let her life fall apart. However, she chose to be grateful for the opportunity to make a change. This realization marked a turning point for her, leading her to decide to share her experience with others. As a result, her story has gained momentum in a positive and beneficial manner.
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