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 experience he has never discussed openly until recently. He revealed that there was a time when he came close to receiving a DUI while 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 habit for him to have "four or five drinks" while playing golf, and then he would drive himself back home.
Kelley confesses that she was operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Although the distance was only a 10-minute drive, there were instances where she realized the extreme recklessness and danger of her actions. The following day, she reflected on the situation and realized the potential harm she could have caused to others or even herself.
On one specific occasion, Kelley had a close call with 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, which meant he had no familial responsibilities. Taking advantage of this, he spent a day playing golf and consuming alcohol at a nearby bar. As the night came to a close, other customers at the bar began expressing worry about Kelley's intention to drive home.
"I thought to myself, if I don't drive back, my wife will ask me where my car is," he recalls. "Even though I could have waited until the next morning to get it. She wouldn't have been aware of it because she wasn't present."
However, with a strong resolve to reach his home alone, he discreetly left through the rear exit of the bar and departed in his vehicle. Unfortunately, during the brief journey to his house, he was stopped by law enforcement.
The police officer inspected my driver's license and asked if I was the person from 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 stop my car and personally drove me home. Surprisingly, he didn't issue me a ticket or any penalties. I was amazed and relieved that I had escaped a potentially serious situation.
However, the incident served as a sudden realization for Kelley, prompting him to recognize the importance of informing his wife about what had transpired.
The singer expressed their feelings of frustration and exhaustion after being pulled over, stating that they felt like giving up. They believed that the incident had the potential to negatively impact the band's reputation and cause chaos.
He made a promise to himself to stop drinking alcohol and struggled for three months to resist the temptation, but eventually fell back into his old habits of drinking. It took another year for him to finally seek help and fully dedicate himself to a life of sobriety.
Following his rehabilitation, it didn't take Kelly much time to share his struggles with alcohol with Lady A fans. The country trio was transparent with their fanbase, explaining that the primary reason for postponing their 2022 Request Line Tour was to prioritize Kelley's newfound sobriety. It was Kelley himself who made the decision to be honest about this situation. Meanwhile, his bandmates Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood considered suggesting alternative reasons for the band's decision to not go on tour.
Kelley expressed that she was not ashamed of her actions and believed in being honest about her experiences. She acknowledged that what she had done was extremely challenging and the simpler option would have been to continue drinking and destroy her life. However, she recognized the importance of being grateful for the difficult journey she had embarked on. This realization marked a turning point for her, leading her to decide to share her story. As a result, her decision to open up about her experiences has had a positive and transformative impact on her life.
Here are 18 country artists who have chosen to live a sober lifestyle. Additionally, we have compiled a list of 11 great country songs that revolve around the theme
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