Charles Kelley

Charles Burgess Kelley was born on September 11, 1981, in Augusta, Georgia. He developed an early interest in music, beginning his musical journey at the age of 11. In his teenage years, Charles, alongside his older brother Josh Kelley and their eldest brother John, formed a band named Inside Blue. This band released a five-song CD, which captured the attention of a major label. During middle school, Kelley established a friendship with Dave Haywood, and by age 14, they had co-written their first song. He completed his high school education at Lakeside High School in Evans, Georgia, and later pursued higher education at the University of Georgia, graduating in 2004 with a degree in finance. Before dedicating himself to a music career, Kelley gained professional experience working in his brother John’s construction business in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and as an accountant for an affiliated waste management company.

In mid-2005, Kelley relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue his musical aspirations, influenced by his brother Josh, who was then a pop musician. In 2006, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Dave Haywood co-founded the country music trio Lady Antebellum, later known as Lady A. The group signed with Big Machine Records and released their debut album in April 2008. This album included their breakthrough hit “Love Don’t Live Here” and their first number one single on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, “I Run to You,” in July 2009. The album achieved RIAA platinum certification in October 2009.

Lady A continued to achieve significant success with their sophomore album, “Need You Now,” released in January 2010. The title track became a five-week number one hit and crossed over to reach number two on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually earning a 6x Platinum certification. The album produced additional number one singles such as “American Honey” and “Our Kind of Love.” Kelley embarked on a solo project during a band hiatus, releasing his debut solo single “The Driver” in September 2015, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. His solo album, “The Driver,” was released in February 2016, followed by “Songs for a New Moon” in June 2025. Kelley has also contributed as a songwriter, co-writing hits for artists including Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, and Brett Young.