Charles Kelley, a member of the band Lady A, has been open and honest with his fans about the process of becoming sober. However, there is one particular event that he has never discussed openly until recently. 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 her Heart of the Matter podcast, Kelley confesses that when he consumed alcohol, it became a regular habit for him to have "four or five drinks" while playing golf in a day and then 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 realized the gravity of their actions and acknowledged the extreme level of risk involved. Reflecting on the incident the following day, Kelley expressed a deep sense of regret and the realization that their reckless behavior could have resulted in causing harm to others or even their own life.
On a specific occasion, Kelley had a close encounter with a potential DUI charge. This incident took place during the Christmas season, as he recalls, when his wife Cassie and son Ward were away for a few days, giving Kelley the freedom to consume alcohol without any familial responsibilities. He spent the day playing golf and drinking at a nearby bar. As the night came to a close, fellow customers at the bar began to voice their worries regarding Kelley's intention to drive home.
He recalls, "I thought to myself, if I don't drive back home, my wife will ask me where my car is. Even though I could have picked it up the next morning, she wouldn't have been aware of that since she wasn't there."
However, with a strong resolve to go home alone, he discreetly exited the rear of the bar and departed in his vehicle. Unfortunately, he was stopped by law enforcement on the brief journey back to his residence.
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 home. He didn't issue me a ticket or any consequences. I was amazed and relieved that I had escaped any trouble.
However, the occurrence served as a reminder for Kelley that he needed to inform his spouse about what had transpired.
"I felt completely drained and decided to give up. It was such a tiring experience. I had just been stopped by the police, and it felt like I had almost completely destroyed my life. The situation also caused a lot of trouble and confusion for the band. It would have been terrible publicity, without a doubt," explains the vocalist.
After making a firm decision to quit drinking, he managed to abstain for three months through sheer willpower, but eventually relapsed and returned to his previous drinking habits. However, it took another year for him to finally seek professional help and completely dedicate himself to a sober lifestyle.
Following his rehabilitation, it didn't take much time for Kelly to reveal his struggle with alcohol to Lady A fans. The country trio was transparent with their followers, explaining that the postponement of their 2022 Request Line Tour was primarily to protect Kelley's newfound sobriety. It was Kelley himself who made the decision to be honest about the situation. On the other hand, his bandmates, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, proposed creating alternative explanations for why the band was unable to go on tour.
In her conversation, Kelley expressed that she was not ashamed and wanted to be honest about her experience, stating that it was the most difficult thing she had ever done. She acknowledged that an easier option would have been to continue drinking and destroy everything. However, she chose to express gratitude for her situation, which marked a turning point for her decision to share it. As a result, her decision to share has gained momentum in a positive and beneficial manner.
Here is a list of 18 country artists who have chosen to live a sober lifestyle. Additionally, we have compiled a collection of 11 great country songs that center around
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