Charles Kelley has enjoyed enormous success as part of country music supergroup Lady Antebellum. Recently, Kelley decided to strike out on his own with his hit album, "The Driver," and embark on a solo tour.
Kelley took time out of his busy schedule to talk to The Huffington Post via email about his exclusive, Mercedes-Benz-sponsored performance at the Masters golf tournament, what it's like being a new dad and when fans can expect new music from Lady Antebellum.
How was performing at The Masters as an avid golfer and someone from Augusta?
It’s always cool to go back home to Augusta, especially during The Masters week. I’ve had the chance to go before as a fan, I used to work it as a kid and have played the course before, but I never had really thought about being able to perform too. So, [it's] sort of a bucket-list thing I was able to do with Mercedes-Benz this year.
What is it like being a new dad?
Oh, man, there is nothing like it. It seems like every day, he gets better. My wife Cassie really gets all the credit. She is an amazing mom.
What have you learned about yourself as a person and as a musician from your solo venture?
This process has allowed me to really hone in on a different creative level and took me out of my comfort zone. There are moments when I'm on stage thinking, "Where's Hillary? Where's Dave?" but we all are getting the chance to live out our own passions right now, and it's only going to make Lady Antebellum better in the long run.
Fans loved your new music and also went crazy when you covered Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball." Did Miley ever reach out about your cover?
When my label asked me to do a cover leading into the release of my new album, I didn’t want to go the traditional route. I wanted to do something a little out of the box. Miley never reached out, but I’m a fan of the song and think Miley did an amazing job with it. I thought it would be fun and would catch folks off-guard. Hopefully she likes it!
What are you most excited about when you reunite with Lady Antebellum?
We’ve continued writing and are going to hit the road for a bunch of fairs and festivals this summer. It’s always good to get back on stage with them and I’m really looking forward to hitting the studio together this fall.
When can we expect new music from Lady A?
We’re just taking our time to write the next record right now. We’re hoping to have something in the next few months, so no set dates yet on exactly when, but aiming for sometime later this year.
Before You Go
