Lady A singer Charles Kelly has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
The 45-year-old singer underwent various blood tests after sustaining several rib fractures, which led to him subsequently being diagnosed with multiple myeloma and he's feeling "hopeful" of beating the disease.
Appearing in an Instagram video alongside wife Cassie, Charles said: “One of the last blood tests we did, they found a blood cancer in there called multiple myeloma.
“It’s rare. But I’m young, I feel healthy, and the treatments, I will say, have just come so far even in the past five years, that even the life expectancy far exceeds what it used to be.
“I feel really hopeful. 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 and it takes the power away from it a little bit. We wanted to let you all know what was going on, and we’re gonna get through it.”
Charles - who has been sober for four years - is planning to keep working, including appearing on Lady A's upcoming This Winter's Night Tour in December, because his treatment won't be "too super invasive".
He said: “In sobriety it’s all about one day at a time, and that we’re not in control, so that’s the way we’re looking at it.
“I mean, right now, I feel great. We got a new record coming out soon with Lady A and then we got Christmas shows and this first six months of treatment, I believe, is not going to be too super invasive. I can still work. I think physically I will feel like myself. I’ll have tough days, but I want to keep working.”
The Need You Now hitmaker - who has sons Ward, 10, and Archer, 12 months, with Cassie - promised to keep fans updated at "appropriate" times through his treatment.
He said: “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.
“But I’m hopeful. I really am. But we just wanted to let you all know and I’ll try to let you in when I feel like it’s appropriate throughout the journey. It’s just another hurdle and I feel confident that we’re gonna get through it.”
Charles then shared a kiss with his wife, who said she was thankful "for a great care team” and for the “really great doctors” in Nashville.
The American Honey singer's bandmates, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, were among those who sent their support in the comments of their friend's post.
Hillary wrote: "The strongest duo right there! Love y’all so much! You’ve got this! [heart emoji] (sic)"
Dave posted: “Covering you in prayer brother. Love y’all. We’re all here for you!(sic)”
