13 Country Music Stars Who Have Gotten Sober

Country Superstars Who Decided To Get Sober

It’s pretty common in country music to hear a song inspired by an ice-cold beer, Tennessee Whiskey, or just about any kind of alcohol. So, it’s no surprise that some of those artists who have written those songs have found themselves struggling with drinking and had to face it head-on.

While the industry celebrates a good time pretty often, several country stars have decided to get sober. For some, the personal choice was made to battle addiction and for others, it was simply a lifestyle change. Either way, there’s an entire list of country superstars who have been open about their journey to getting sober.

No matter where you stand on the topic, or what your own choices may be, it’s always good to see people make decisions that are best for their own well-being. Keep scrolling to see a list of country stars who decided to get sober…

Keith Urban

Keith Urban has been very open about his past struggles with addiction, sharing that it runs in his family. Just four months after marrying his wife Nicole Kidman, he entered rehab for substance abuse, which was a turning point in his journey.

Since then, he has remained sober and overcame the challenges that once held him back. He credits his wife for helping him through the process.

Brantley Gilbert

Brantley Gilbert’s problems with alcoholism and addiction began when he was just 19 years old. Years later, as his excessive drinking started taking a toll on his health, he was forced into rehab. There, he actually ended up meeting Keith Urban, who played a huge role in helping him get sober.

Gilbert credits Urban for guiding him through the process, and since then, he has built a happy life with his wife and children.

Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw faced challenges with alcohol from a young age and continued to have those issues even after marrying Faith Hill and starting a family.

In 2008, he decided to get sober after realizing that his drinking could cost him his wife and children. Choosing family over all else, McGraw cut out alcohol completely and has kept committed to his sobriety ever since.

Charles Kelley

Lady A singer Charles Kelley took control of his sobriety with the support of his bandmates. After struggling with alcohol for years, he ended up getting help in 2022.

His bandmates showed their support throughout his journey, even postponing their entire tour that year so he could focus on recovery. Since then, Kelley has continued to put his best foot forward to a healthier lifestyle.

Shania Twain

Shania Twain has been open about her decision to avoid alcohol, but it’s not due to a past struggle. It’s purely for health reasons. She follows a sober, vegetarian lifestyle and is committed to staying away from alcohol and drugs. In her book Shania Twain: The Biography, she explained “I like a clean band. I don’t like drugs. I don’t like alcohol. I like to have clean-living people around me.”

Ashley McBryde

Ashley McBryde decided to go sober in 2022, but she waited a year before sharing her journey with the public. The “Light On In The Kitchen” singer said she had realized she was drinking too much to numb the pain of problems she had going on.

She initially kept her goals to live a sober lifestyle private out of fear that she might not succeed, but she ended up proving herself wrong. Today, McBryde is still going full force with her sobriety.

In fact, she just reached a major milestone in her sobriety journey. McBryde shared on her social media that she officially reached 1,000 days of not drinking!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ashley McBryde (@ashleymcbryde)

Joe Don Rooney

Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney stopped drinking after crashing his car into a tree while driving under the influence. After the traumatic event, he realized he needed to take control of his life and began attending AA meetings and other forms of help.

Rooney has openly admitted that if the accident hadn’t happened, he might never have made the changes he needed. In September 2024, he celebrated three years of sobriety and is in a much better place in life and his career because of it.

Jamey Johnson

Jamey Johnson has been open about the struggles he faced while overcoming addiction, even admitting that he barely survived when it was at its worst. He shared his journey in his song “Sober,” which he dedicated to those battling sobriety.

Johnson has remained committed to his sober lifestyle and has said that his last drink was in 2011.

Walker Hayes

Walker Hayes has been open about how getting sober changed his life and career for the better. Before giving up alcohol, he described himself as an “alcoholic atheist,” struggling with both his mental health and faith.

While he admits the journey hasn’t been easy and there have been moments when he nearly relapsed, the “Fancy Like” singer has stayed on track thanks to his close friends and family. Now, he has been sober for almost a decade.

Shay Mooney

Shay Mooney took a whole new approach to his health in 2023. When one-half of the country duo Dan + Shay shared photos of his 50-pound weight loss on social media, he revealed that his transformation came from cutting out unhealthy eating habits and quitting alcohol completely.

Because of this, Shay has said that he has “literally never felt better physically, mentally, and spiritually.”

Jon Pardi

Jon Pardi decided to get his drinking under control when his health started to decline. After dealing with multiple health issues, he was diagnosed as pre-diabetic.

Along with not feeling well and unhappy with his appearance, he decided to cut out alcohol completely. While he hasn’t claimed to stay sober forever, he has been very open about how much this change has improved his life.

Jo Dee Messina

Jo Dee Messina struggled with excessive drinking in the early years of her career, but everything changed after an embarrassing moment that made her realize she needed help.

During one of her performances, she forgot the lyrics to one of her own songs. This led her manager to threaten to quit if she didn’t seek help. In 2004, Messina entered rehab and has been sober ever since.

Trace Adkins

After many years of drinking far more than he should, Trace Adkins began his journey towards sobriety in 2002. Though he faced a setback in 2014 and relapsed, the “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” singer returned to rehab and found healthier outlets to replace drinking.

Whey Jennings

Whey Jennings, grandson of country legend Waylon Jennings, is another country artist who has committed to a sober life.

After battling addiction for nearly 27 years, he realized he was at risk of losing the people closest to him. Now, with over four years of sobriety, he remains focused on his music career and his family.