Lady A’s Charles Kelley is sharing a serious health update with his fans and social media followers.
“I had a couple of random rib fractures that happened, which sparked my doctor into having me do a couple of different blood tests,” Kelley, 45, shared via Instagram on Tuesday, September 29. “One of the last blood tests we did, they found a blood cancer in there called multiple myeloma.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple myeloma forms in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. Treatment can help reduce complications and ease symptoms.
“It’s rare, but I’m young. I feel healthy and the treatments, I will say, have just come so far even in the past five years that even life expectancy just far exceeds what it used to be,” Kelley said. “I feel really hopeful. I really do.”
The country music singer said the first six months of treatment won’t be “super invasive,” which will likely allow him to still work and perform at Lady A’s upcoming Christmas shows. (The group also has a new record coming out soon.)
“I want to keep working. … I need to be happy,” he said. “We have a friend going through this right now, and she’s been sharing some of her journey. She’s about two months ahead of me on this. And it really helped me so much watching that.”
After sharing his news on social media, Kelley received support from the country music community, including Shay Mooney, Karen Fairchild, Martina McBride, Jake Owen and other artists.
“Covering you in prayer brother,” Lady A’s Dave Haywood wrote in the comments section. “Love y’all. We’re all here for you!”
Bandmate Hillary Scott added, “The strongest duo right there! Love y’all so much! You’ve got this! ❤️.”
As for why Kelley wanted to reveal the news to his fans, the artist said there is something healing about sharing the highs and lows of life with supporters.
He pointed to his past decision to share his sobriety journey with the world after entering a treatment center in 2022 for alcohol abuse.
“In the spirit of the same way we’ve shared my sobriety journey, just getting this stuff off your chest is so freeing and it takes the power away from it a little bit,” he said in his Instagram video alongside his wife, Cassie Kelley. “We wanted to let y’all know what’s going on. We’re going to get through it.”
