Best known as a member of the Grammy-winning vocal trio Lady A, Charles Kelley is a country singer, songwriter, and solo artist whose husky vocals have appeared on more than two-dozen Top 40 hits. He was born on September 11, 1981, in Augusta, Georgia, where he met future Lady A bandmate Dave Haywood in middle school. Along with Hillary Scott, the longtime friends formed Lady Antebellum in 2006 and enjoyed immediate success, with the band's first four albums all peaking at Number 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. Crossover hits like "Need You Now," "Just a Kiss," and "I Run to You" showcased Kelley's talents not only as a singer, but also a songwriter. Those talents came to forefront once again with Kelley's debut solo album, The Driver, which was released in 2016 and reached Number 2 on the Top Country Albums chart. The album's title track was a Top 40 hit, as was the single "The Only One Who Gets Me." Two years later, Kelley appeared on Darius Rucker's Top 40 cover of the Drivin N Cryin song "Straight to Hell" while continuing to maintain his position in Lady Antebeum's lineup. The group changed its name to "Lady A" in 2020, looking to downplay any connections to the Antebellum South's history of slavery, and Kelley released a solo cover of the soul staple "Georgia on My Mind" in 2022. During the final weeks of the year, he also released "As Far as You Could," an emotional song inspired by his newfound sobriety, followed by singles "Old Piano" with Alyssa Bonagura, "Can't Lose You", and "Driving and Listening to Music", ahead of the release of the sophomore album Songs for a New Moon (2025).
