Kelley told PEOPLE in 2025 that his wife, Cassie, was his reason for pursuing sobriety

NEED TO KNOW

• Charles Kelley reflected on his sobriety journey, sharing a before-and-after photo and crediting his wife for her support
• Lady A postponed their 2022 tour when Kelley entered rehab, a turning point in his decision to get sober
• Kelley’s 2025 album Songs for a New Moon explores his sobriety journey and finding a renewed sense of purpose through music

Lady A singer Charles Kelley shared a before-and-after look at how far he’s come in his sobriety journey.

Kelley, 44, shared a selfie with his wife, Cassie McConnell, followed by an older photo from when he was in active addiction on Instagram on Monday, Aug. 31. In the first photo, the couple smiled while wearing sunglasses and spending time on the water.

“My best filter is just…not drinking,” the musician began the caption. “Swipe to see my before 😬 my wife asked me if I ever look at a photo of myself before I was sober and think ‘who is that guy?’ This is the one 😃.”

“I could go on about the many blessings that have come from putting it down way more than looking healthier, but it’s a nice reminder of a place I don’t wanna go back to,” the “Driving and Listening to Music” singer concluded his caption.

Several other country stars shared messages of support for Kelley’s sobriety in the comments.

“A lil jaunt down memory lane is always a good reminder,” Ruston Kelly wrote.

“Thank you for sharing this,” Shane McAnally wrote, while Russell Dickerson commented with a muscle emoji to show support.

In 2025, Kelley told PEOPLE exclusively that his wife was his primary motivation for pursuing sobriety. Lady A postponed its Request Line Tour in 2022 when Kelley entered a rehabilitation facility in Utah for alcohol addiction treatment.

“She’s the reason that I got sober,” he said of McConnell, whom he wed in 2009. “She had so much grace for me and went along through the journey with me doing all the work, and I could go so far as to say there’s no way she would’ve stayed with me if I had not gotten sober.”

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Kelley channeled his newfound sobriety into his 2025 solo record Songs for a New Moon, which combines Kelley’s country sensibilities with 1980s-inspired synths on a collection of songs in which the singer finds his way back to himself.

“I think music is such a cathartic outlet and basically, the music made me feel good,” Kelley told PEOPLE in 2025. “I think over the last three years during this sobriety journey, I’ve just felt this little awakening, and I just wanted to make a happy record that spoke a little bit of this journey and this second chance at life that I feel like I’ve been given.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

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