Charles Kelley, a member of Lady A, has been open and honest with his fans about his personal journey to sobriety. However, there is one particular incident that he has never directly addressed until now. He recently revealed that there was a time when he came dangerously close to receiving a DUI while driving under the influence.
In an interview on Elizabeth Vargas' podcast called "Heart of the Matter," Kelley confesses that when he was drinking, it became a frequent habit for him to consume "four or five drinks" while playing golf in a single day and then drive himself back home.
Kelley openly confesses that they were operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Despite it being a short 10-minute journey, there were instances during the drive where Kelley realized the extreme foolishness and perilous nature of their actions. Reflecting on the incident the following day, Kelley expressed deep remorse, acknowledging the potential for causing harm to others as well as themselves.
On a specific occasion, Kelley had a close call with being charged with driving under the influence (DUI). It occurred during the Christmas season, and he recalls that his wife Cassie and son Ward were away for a few days, giving him the freedom to consume alcohol without any familial responsibilities. He spent a day playing golf and indulging in drinks at a nearby bar. Towards the end of the night, fellow customers at the bar began expressing worry about whether Kelley intended to drive himself 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 picked it up the next morning. She wouldn't have been aware since she was not present," he recalls.
However, with a strong resolve to make his way back home alone, he discreetly left through the rear exit of the bar and began driving. Unfortunately, he was stopped by the police during the brief journey to his house.
The police officer examined my driver's license and asked, "Are you the person from that band?" I responded affirmatively. 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 any citations. I was amazed and relieved that I had narrowly avoided trouble.
However, the incident served as a reminder for Kelley that he needed to inform his spouse about what had transpired.
The singer expressed their feelings of exhaustion and frustration, stating that they felt like giving up. They had just been pulled over by the police, and this incident had the potential to negatively impact their life and cause chaos for their band. They acknowledged that it would have generated negative publicity, which they wanted to avoid.
He made a firm decision to stop drinking alcohol and struggled for three months to resist the temptation, but eventually relapsed and returned to his previous habits of drinking. It took another year before he finally sought help and wholeheartedly dedicated himself to achieving and maintaining sobriety.
Following his rehabilitation, it didn't take much time for Kelly to disclose to Lady A fans 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. Meanwhile, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood proposed alternative reasons for the band's absence from the tour.
"I told myself, 'No, let's be truthful… I have no shame about this… This is the most difficult thing I have ever done.' Taking the easy way out would have involved continuing to drink and destroying everything. I expressed my gratitude for this experience," Kelley explains. "… And that was when I realized, 'Alright, I suppose I am now ready to share it.' So it has gradually gained momentum in a very optimistic and beneficial manner."
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