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 he has never directly addressed before. He recently shared that there was a time when he came close to receiving a DUI charge while driving under the influence.
In an interview with Elizabeth Vargas on the Heart of the Matter podcast, Kelley confesses that when he was consuming alcohol, it became a regular thing for him to have around "four or five drinks" while playing golf and then drive himself back home.
Kelley confesses that she was operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Despite the short duration of the drive, there were instances where she realized the extreme foolishness and perilous nature of her actions. The following day, she reflected upon the situation and expressed remorse, acknowledging the potential consequences of her actions, including causing harm to others or even losing her own life.
On one specific occasion, Kelley had a close call with a DUI charge. It happened 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 family responsibilities. He spent a day playing golf and drinking at a nearby bar. Towards the end of the night, other people at the bar began to 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 taken it the next morning. She wouldn't have been aware. She wasn't present," he recalls.
However, with a strong resolve to make his way home alone, he discreetly left the bar through the rear exit and departed in his vehicle. Within a brief distance of driving towards his house, he was stopped by law enforcement.
The police officer examined my driver's license and asked if I was the person from that band. I confirmed that I was indeed the person. Instead of arresting me for driving under the influence, the officer instructed me to pull over my car and offered to drive me home. He didn't issue me a ticket or any penalties. I was amazed and relieved by this fortunate turn of events.
However, the occurrence served as a sudden realization for Kelley, prompting him to understand the need to inform his spouse about the incident.
The singer expressed how they felt overwhelmed and tired after a recent incident where they were pulled over. They believed that the situation could have potentially had severe consequences and caused a lot of trouble for their band. They were concerned about the negative publicity it could have generated.
He made a decision to stop consuming alcohol and struggled for three months, fighting against his urges. However, he eventually returned to his previous habit of drinking. It took another year before he finally sought help and fully dedicated himself to a life of sobriety.
Following his time in rehabilitation, it didn't take long for Kelly to inform Lady A fans about his struggle with alcohol. The country trio was transparent with their supporters, explaining that the postponement of their 2022 Request Line Tour was to ensure the protection of Kelley's newfound sobriety. This decision to be honest was made by Kelley himself, while his bandmates, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, had proposed offering different explanations for the band's absence from the tour.
In my response, I confidently stated that I had no shame in admitting the truth. This particular situation has been the most difficult thing I have ever faced. It would have been easier to continue drinking and let everything fall apart. However, I expressed gratitude for this experience. This moment marked a turning point for me, and I realized that I was ready to share it with others. As a result, the situation has gained momentum in a very positive and beneficial manner.
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