Charles Kelley needs his fans’ support right now.
The Lady A member—who is one-part of the country music trio with Hillary Scott and David Haywood—shared he was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma following a slew of health issues.
“I had a couple of random rib fractures that happened which sparked my doctor into having to do several different blood tests and one of the last blood tests we did, they found a blood cancer in there called multiple myeloma,” Kelley said in a video he shared Sept. 29 alongside his wife Cassie Kelley. “It’s rare.”
Despite the diagnosis, Kelley maintained that he’s feeling as good as he can be.
“I’m young,” the 45-year-old continued. “I feel healthy and the treatments I will say have come so far even in the last five years. Life expectancy far exceeds what it used to be.”
As he put it, “I feel really hopeful.”
The “Covering My Tracks” singer, however, wanted to be upfront about his health struggle with fans, as he has always shared an honest look at his sobriety journey.
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Lady A’s Charles Kelley Details Personal Struggle With Addiction in New Single “As Far As You Could”
“I think in the same spirit of the way we’ve shared a lot of my sobriety journey, just getting this stuff off your chest is so freeing,” he continued. “It takes the power away from it a little bit and we wanted to let y’all know what’s going on but we’re going to get through it.”
Indeed, the country music star assured that cancer was not going to get in the way of his life or music.
“In sobriety it’s all about one day at a time and never out of control so that’s the way we’re looking at it,” he added. “Right now, I feel great. We got a new record coming out soon with Lady A and we got Christmas shows and the first six months of treatment is not going to be too super invasive. I can still work. Physically I will still feel like myself. I’ll have tough days but I want to keep working.”
Kelley—dad to Ward, 10, and Archer, 12 months with his wife—shared that performances since receiving the hard news have been extremely helpful in keeping him strong.
“I need to be happy and doing what I love to do and spending and soaking up as much time with my family as I can as well,” he said. “We just wanted to let y’all know and I’ll try to let you in when I feel like it’s appropriate throughout the journey.”
As he put it, “It’s just another hurdle and we’re confident that we’re going to get through it.”
For more stars who have shared insight into their cancer battles, keep reading…
Paul Archuleta/Getty ImagesColin EgglesfieldThe All My Children alum announced in January 2025 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his third cancer diagnosis throughout his life.
Despite the devastating news, he announced (for the third time) in February 2025 he was cancer-free following successful surgery and treatments.
“Remember, you’re not defined by any of your challenges,” he wrote in his February 2025 Instagram update. “You’re grander than it all. I’m not my fear, my anxiousness or my scars but I embrace it all because the only way to transform it is to own it.”Taylor Hill/WireImageGerry TurnerThe former Golden Bachelor star shared in December 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a bone cancer.
“Unfortunately, there’s no cure for it,” Gerry noted to People at the time. “So that weighs heavily in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. And I was a bit in denial for a while, I didn’t want to admit to it.”Tommy Garcia/BravoAriana Madix”I had to have a lil bit o’cancer removed from my body and lymph nodes biopsied,” the Vanderpump Rules star revealed to fans at the close of 2018. “(In the clear now!)”Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesChristina ApplegateThe Up All Night star was declared “100-percent clear” of breast cancer in 2008 after treatment and a double mastectomy.Albert L. Ortega/Getty ImagesJim BeaverThe actor, known for roles in The Boys and Supernatural, shared on Feb. 3, 2023, that he had battled prostate cancer for years and was cancer-free.Paul Archuleta/FilmMagicMarcia CrossThe Desperate Housewives star revealed to fans in September 2018 that she survived anal cancer. “After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel liberated, deliriously free and completely me,” she shared on Instagram. Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesDustin HoffmanThe two-time Oscar winner underwent successful treatment for cancer, and his rep confirmed to E! News that doctors deemed Hoffman “surgically cured” in 2013.J.H. SAUNDERS/LandovHugh JackmanThe X-Men star was treated for his third basal cell carcinoma back in 2014, and after his third treatment, Jackman’s rep told E! News that he’s “all good” now.
In April 2023, Hugh had two biopsies for additional basal cell carcinoma. At the time, he told fans, “If I can just take this opportunity to remind you summer is coming for those of us in the northern hemisphere, please wear sunscreen.”Adam Olszweski/Bravo/NBCU Photo BankCamille GrammerThe former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star celebrated one year of being cancer-free in January in 2015. The mother of two was diagnosed with endometrial cancer back in 2013 and underwent a radical hysterectomy.
Then, in 2017, Camille had surgery to remove Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. Gordon Ramsay / InstagramGordon RamsayAlongside a pair of photos that show a line of stitches running from the bottom of his ear to his jaw, which he later covered with a bandage, the British celebrity chef shared that he underwent a procedure to treat skin cancer.
“Grateful and so appreciative for the incredible team at The Skin Associates and their fast reactive work on removing this Basal Cell Carcinoma,” Gordon wrote on Instagram August 2025. “Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend.”
“I promise you it’s not a face lift,” he added. “I’d need a refund…”Jordan Strauss/Invision/APCobie SmuldersThe Avengers: Age of Ultron actress battled ovarian cancer at the age of 25 and overcome odds when she welcomed two children with husband Taran Killam.Michael Buckner/Getty ImagesDr. Drew PinskyTV host reveals he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in July 2013 and has since been given a clean bill of health.Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesBrooke BurkeThe Dancing with the Stars cohost underwent successful surgery for thyroid cancer. The mother of four tweeted, “Thx for all the twitter love. I’m [home] recovering & resting.”Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty ImagesAngie Everhart”MY DR CALLED ME ON A SAT. MORNING TO TELL ME I AM CANCER FREE!!!!! #wootothemotherf–kinhoo,” the actress tweeted after receiving the good news.Albert L. Ortega/Getty ImagesMichael C. HallThe Dexter star used a hiatus from his hit series to slay Hodgkin’s lymphoma.Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesMichelle MonaghanThe Australian actress revealed in October 2011 that she had a cancerous mole removed from her calf after her hubby encouraged her to get the suspicious-looking mark checked out.Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for DisneyEwan McGregorThe Scot is trainspotting just fine these days after having a cancerous mole removed from beneath his right eye.Brad Barket/Getty Images for Happy Hearts FundSheryl CrowThe singer beat breast cancer in 2004 with a “minimally invasive” lumpectomy and radiation therapy.Grant Lamos IV/Getty ImagesMichael DouglasThe Oscar winner declared in early 2011 that his tumor was gone and he had throat cancer “beat.”Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesEdie FalcoThe Emmy winner whacked breast cancer in 2004.Doug Meszler / Splash NewsAnderson CooperSurely the CNN veteran wears his SPF when he’s braving the elements now after having a cancerous growth removed from under his left eye in 2008.Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImageKylie MinogueThe Australian pop star underwent successful surgery for breast cancer in 2005.Stefanie Keenan/Getty ImagesBarry WatsonThe 7th Heaven star was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease when he was only 28. He’s 50 now and looking good!Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesMaura TierneyThe ER fave had to abandon her role in Parenthood to fight breast cancer in 2009—but her treatment was a success and she was back on the red carpet in no time.CBSSharon OsbourneThe America’s Got Talent judge was diagnosed with colon cancer while shooting The Osbournes in 2002 and used the opportunity to stress the importance of regular screenings while attacking the #@%! with chemotherapy. She was declared cancer-free the following year.Jemal Countess/Getty Images for the 2014 Tribeca Film FestivalRobert De NiroThe Oscar winner took prostate cancer down, down to Chinatown, in 2003, and has been in about 400 movies since then.Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesRobin RobertsThe Good Morning America cohost proudly flaunted her smooth scalp while undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer in 2007.Robert Laberge/Getty ImagesLance ArmstrongThe champion cyclist battled back from stage-four testicular cancer before winning seven straight Tour de France titles.Richard Shotwell/Invision/APMelissa EtheridgeThe Grammy and Oscar winner became an inspiring activist after a lumpectomy and chemotherapy cleared her of breast cancer in 2005.Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for LA TimesJulia SweeneyThe former Saturday Night Live standout mined her breast cancer battle for comedic material that turned into God Said Ha!, her successful one-woman show that eventually went to Broadway.photos
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