Charles Kelley Finds Hope and Strength Amid Blood Cancer Battle
Lady A’s Charles Kelley is finding the positive after sharing his blood cancer diagnosis with the world. “Hey everybody. I’m out on a stroll with [my] little man. I don’t know if it’s just because it’s Sunday and it’s a pretty day, but I’m feeling amazing today,” Kelley, 45, shared via his Instagram Story on Sunday, October 4. “I have been fortunate enough to speak with several specialists in person and over the phone. It’s just a new game now with multiple myeloma, and I had a moment where I was thinking about all those patients over the years and decades that went through these trials to help people like me. That’s just pretty wild.” Last month, the country music singer revealed to his social media followers that he had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. According to the Mayo Clinic, the rare blood cancer forms in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. Treatment can help reduce complications and ease symptoms. “Now, the landscape has changed so much. I’ve got every reason to hope for a long, normal lifespan and manage this disease but maybe even at some point have this thing cured,” Kelley shared in his latest update. “Thinking about all those people who went through those trials to have this opportunity for me really makes me feel thankful.”
When first sharing his diagnosis, Kelley 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. He also teased that the group has a new record coming out soon. In a separate Instagram post on Sunday, Lady A — made up of Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood — shared a preview of some of the powerful new music they are working on. “The day before we went into the studio to finish up our next record, this song was sent to Hillary. We cut it the next day and then, a week later, we learned of Charles’ cancer diagnosis,” the group wrote via Instagram. “God’s timing in allowing this song to find us and the message behind it is truly carrying us right now, and we can’t help but think some of y’all might need to hear it too. We trust there’s a bigger picture.”
Scott, 40, proceeded to sing some of the lyrics, which remind believers that God has a plan — even when life doesn’t always go as planned. “Sometimes I shout when I’m praying my prayers / Can you even hear me up there?” she sings. “It’s hard to believe it when all that we’re seeing is one little frame at a time / We all have our version of our picture-perfect, but he has one better in mind.”