Charles Kelley just released a live version of his vulnerable solo single, “As Far As You Could.” The Lady A frontman recorded the song while performing it acoustically in London, Glasgow and Dublin.
The live version comes as Lady A is currently on their Request Line Tour, which was postponed from last fall while Kelley focused on his sobriety.
“For me, I keep feeling so much gratitude,” Kelley says of the song. “I’m so thankful to the fans for sticking with us and understanding that I needed to take some time off from touring to get better. Because I was able to focus on my recovery, we are having the best shows as a band we’ve ever had. Playing shows has always been one of my favorite things, and now this song has already made me feel more connected live with fans than ever before.”
It was Kelley’s wife, Cassie, along with his bandmates Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, who convinced Kelley it was time to get the help he needed to overcome his addiction to alcohol.
“It’s a journey … I think it was obvious to a lot of people, it was time,” Kelley admitted on The Bobby Bones Show. “It wasn’t fun anymore for me. The last three years just had gotten to this point where it escalated. It was, I had to do it. It wasn’t even like I was getting any joy out of it. It just became a crutch.”
While Kelley feels overwhelming gratitude at his new lease on life, the 41-year-old admits maintaining a sober lifestyle isn’t easy.
“Everything has gotten infinitely better,” Kelley acknowledged. “Do I not like to go to a cocktail party? That’s really awkward for me. If I’m going to be around drinking, I need to have something I’m doing, whether it’s dinner or golf … But at least for now, I’m six months in. I wake up, enjoy the mornings. I feel like I can say I’m a sober dad now. I’m way more present.”
Life for not only Kelley but the rest of Lady A improved as well. It was Haywood who wrote “As Far As You Could” with Kelley and Jimmy Robbins, and who has remained a fierce supporter of Kelley amid his sobriety.
“I have to give so many props for Charles and his vulnerability and his bravery to share what he’s been through with the world,” Haywood told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I don’t know if I have a friend that I’ve spoken to that hasn’t indirectly or directly been impacted by addiction.”
Haywood also praises his close friend for how hard he works at his healthy, and sober, lifestyle.
“Charles is nine or ten months in right now to his journey to sobriety, and he’s just doing amazing,” Haywood boasted “I’m so proud of him as a bandmate, but more so as a friend.”
Find all of Lady A’s music and upcoming shows at LadyAMusic.com
Read ’12 Country Music Singers Who Are Sober’ here.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of BMLG / Hodges Usry
