Lady A's Charles Kelley is now 9 months sober after opening up about his struggles with alcohol abuse in August 2022.

The 41-year-old recently sat down with Kelli of KFRG’s The Wake Up Call and shared more about what his current relationship looks like with alcohol and the journey he’s been on to get there.

“There is nothin’ wrong with drinkin’,” Charles said when asked about his sobriety. “I wish I could still do it, I’m just one of those people that can’t — If I have one, I want to have ten.”

He continued, “It got where it wasn’t fun anymore and I think, for me… I remember being around sober people and I was just like, ‘I don’t get it. Just tell yourself to slow down.’ But eventually, you get to this point where you really can’t. And I think it was just an opportunity to share, ‘Hey, i’s OK to admit this thing isn’t working for you anymore. There’s no weakness in it.’”

Kelley says the key to his success has been his family along with friends who allow him to still have fun while offering encouragement along the way. He hopes his experience will prompt others to get the help they need with no shame tor guilt.

“It’s definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the best thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “Part of this whole journey for me is to be more honest. I don’t think I wanted to be any kind of poster child for it — a bunch of my friends still drink and we have a great time and I’m just the guy that doesn’t drink and no body even really talks about it. We don’t have to talk about it like that. It’s just like… you get a lot of encouragement like, ‘Hey man, I’m proud of ya,’ so it feels like I’m on a good little track here and that was the biggest thing for me. Just sharing, ‘Hey man, if you’re going through it too, you can get through it and there’s actually a really fun life ahead.

Hear more about Charles’ journey to sobriety, plus how he became close friends with Darius Rucker by checking out his full conversation with Kelli above.

Words by Monica Rivera Interview by Kelli