Charles Kelley is officially six months sober. The Lady A singer celebrated the milestone with a heartfelt video message, shared on his Instagram Stories.
“Just celebrated six months sober and really grateful for all of you sharing your stories as well,” Kelley captioned the video message, which shared more of his journey, reflected in his new single, “As Far As You Could,” and his hope for others who are also battling alcoholism.
“Hey everybody, just wanted to wish you all a Happy 2023, may this be the best year yet,” Kelley began. ”My wife [Cassie] reminded me actually a couple of days ago that I’d hit my six-month sobriety mark. Woo-hoo. I couldn’t have done it without her above all, my bandmates, so much support, God. Gosh, I just wanted to say just the comments and the shares from my song ‘As Far As You Could’ have been just so amazing,
“I’ve been praying for all of y’all as well,” he continued. “I know a lot of people are going through this journey or have someone that they love going through this journey and it means the world,” he said. “Just feeling super blessed and just going to try to keep doing the next right thing is what I keep telling myself. I’m just really enjoying this journey. Cannot wait to get back out on the road with my bandmates and make some music. Love you guys.”
Cassie previously spoke about her husband’s sobriety as well, and how much their lives had changed, for the better, since the singer stopped drinking.
“This time last year I was waiting up for my husband who was deep in the grips of alcoholism, to come home from a night out,” she recalled on Instagram. “As I watched the minutes tick away in the early morning hours I just prayed that he would get in before our son woke up. Now, a year later, he is clear-eyed as he tucks him in bed at night … As a recovering codependent wife of an alcoholic, I am living proof that one day at a time in recovery can change a life.
“Sometimes the hardest thing to do is reach out, but there is a whole community in recovery that is waiting with open arms, to help you and your family,” she added. “You are worth it and I love you. And I love you too, Charles Kelley.”
In December, Kelley dropped “As Far As You Could” as his own single, his honest and poignant goodbye letter to alcohol, after years of heavy drinking.
“For me, the biggest word I’ve been holding onto is gratitude, not pride,” Kelley said of becoming sober. “I’m grateful. I finally see the light and am connecting with what life is all about. Some days are hard, but the good outweighs those bad moments. There’s some beauty in all this and I’ve had time to reflect, time to get healthy, time to write. I’ve probably written 50 songs this fall, and I feel like all of it was leading to this one song.”
Lady A postponed their Request Line Tour, scheduled to begin last August, so Kelley could focus on his sobriety. The tour will now begin with two back-to-back shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on April 14 and 15. Download or stream “As Far As You Could” here.
