Charles Kelley, a member of the band Lady A, has been open and honest with his fans about his personal journey towards sobriety. However, he recently revealed a previously undisclosed incident where he came dangerously close to receiving a DUI due to driving under the influence.
In an interview on Elizabeth Vargas' Heart of the Matter podcast, Kelley confesses that when he consumed alcohol, it became a regular thing for him to have "four or five drinks" while playing golf in a single day and then drive himself back home.
Kelley confesses that they were driving under the influence while heading home. Although the distance was only a 10-minute drive, there were instances where Kelley realized the extreme stupidity and danger of their actions. Reflecting on the situation the following day, Kelley expressed immense remorse, realizing that their reckless behavior could have resulted in the loss of someone's life, including their own.
During a specific incident, Kelley narrowly avoided being charged with a DUI. It happened during the Christmas season, and he recalls that his wife Cassie and son Ward were away for a few days, granting him the freedom to consume alcohol without any familial responsibilities. Kelley indulged in a day of golf and drinking at a nearby bar. As the night came to a close, fellow customers began expressing worry about 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 following morning. She wouldn't have been aware. She was not present," he recalls.
However, with a strong resolve to get home by himself, he managed to secretly leave through the rear exit of the bar and drove off. Unfortunately, he was stopped by the police during the extremely brief journey back to his residence.
Kelley recalls that when the police officer checked his driver's license, he asked if he was the person from the band. Kelley confirmed that he was indeed part of the band. Instead of arresting him for driving under the influence, the officer instructed him to park his car and personally drove him home. Kelley was surprised and relieved that he didn't receive a ticket or face any consequences. He exclaimed, "Wow, that was lucky. I narrowly avoided trouble."
However, the occurrence served as a sudden realization for Kelley. He understood that he needed to inform his spouse about what had transpired.
The singer expressed how tired and overwhelmed they were after a recent incident where they got pulled over. They felt like their life was almost destroyed and caused a lot of trouble for their band. They were aware that it would have resulted in negative publicity, which they wanted to avoid.
He made a promise to himself to quit drinking alcohol and for three months he struggled to resist the temptation, but ultimately he succumbed to his old habits. It took another year before he decided to seek professional help and fully dedicate himself to a life free from alcohol.
Following his rehabilitation, it didn't take much time for Kelly to inform Lady A fans about his struggle with alcohol. The country trio was transparent with their fanbase, explaining that the primary reason for postponing the 2022 Request Line Tour was to safeguard Kelley's early recovery from addiction. The decision to disclose this information was made by Kelley himself. Meanwhile, his bandmates, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, proposed fabricating alternative explanations for the band's tour delay.
In her own words, Kelley expressed that she had no shame in admitting that what she had accomplished was the most difficult thing she had ever done. Instead of taking the easy way out and continuing to drink and destroy everything in her life, she made the decision to be honest and face her challenges head-on. Kelley acknowledged that she was grateful for this experience, which became a turning point for her. As a result, she felt compelled to share her story, and it has since gained momentum in a positive and beneficial way.
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