Country singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly disclosed on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, that he had been sober for three days after relapsing following a terrible golf cart accident in June that left him with a severely fractured arm and required prescription pain medication. In a lengthy Instagram post, the 37-year-old musician stated that the experience caused him to reevaluate how he approached sobriety and commit to completely avoiding drugs, alcohol, and THC. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostRuston Kelly, who has openly acknowledged his addiction for years, posted a photo of himself holding a recovery chip and explained how his perspective of sobriety has changed since 2021. He wrote:"I told myself back in 2021 that as long as I wasn’t using amphetamines that I would be on the right “clean” journey for myself."The Mockingbird singer stated that amphetamines were the substance to which he felt himself addicted, but he originally abstained from alcohol and THC because he believed it was necessary for sobriety.Ruston Kelly eventually convinced himself that he wasn't an 'addict' and was only addicted to amphetamines, despite not previously struggling with them:"Somewhere along the way I became obstinate in my journey, that I wasn’t an “addict” in the traditional sense of the word, that I was only addicted to amphetamines."Kelly stated that he believed he could display self-control because he never regarded alcohol or other illicit substances as part of his first addiction:“I’ve never had a problem with alcohol, I’ve never had a problem with XYZ” “See I can be like everyone else, I can show self control, I am in control.” I even got to the point of recent spiritual surrender and still attempted to live a lifestyle that was satisfactory to my carnal impulses because I “never had a problem with them.”The accident really changed his perspective on it.Golf cart accident led to relapseRuston Kelly said he was riding in a home golf cart in June when it collided with an overgrown root in the pavement. He overcorrected, causing the cart to flip and landing him in a mailbox. The singer claimed he banged his head and fractured his arm "in half."Kelly stated that due to the severity of his injuries and discomfort, he was given fentanyl, morphine, ketamine, Dilaudid, and oxycodone over three days. He was eventually released with a month-long Percocet prescription.While Ruston Kelly stated that the drug was initially necessary to manage his severe pain, he soon realized that his behavior around the tablets changed:"I needed it for the level 15 pain but very quickly they started running out sooner and sooner."He admitted to taking medication before leaving the pharmacy, concealing his usage, and claiming that the prescription was insufficient:"I was chewing them in the pharmacy before I walked out the door. I was hiding how many at a time I was taking. I was complaining to the dr it wasn’t enough. It awakened something I hadn’t felt in a very long time."Kelly stated that the experience "awakened something" that he had not felt in a long time, forcing him to reassess his earlier distinction between amphetamines and other narcotics.Ruston Kelly commits to sobrietyOn July 26, Ruston Kelly chose to entirely cease substance use, stating he aimed to avoid a relapse that could harm vital aspects of his life. Kelly mentioned that the experience led him to recognize his addiction couldn't be confined to just one specific drug:"On July 26 I decided to end any chance of ruining anything good. For my soul my wife my family my art and career and my people. I admitted that whether I like it or not I will forever have a substance abuse disease."He mentioned that drugs, alcohol, and THC were now permanently "off the table," while also noting that he was still trying to quit nicotine:"ALL drugs/substances including alcohol and THC are off the table for good (working on nicotine). That if there is something that will scratch an itch I didn’t think I had, I will use it beyond excess and into addiction."Ruston Kelly realized that using a chemical to fulfill his past addiction could lead to excessive use. He is now 3 days clean and sober and plans to stay so for the rest of his life:"I am 3 days completely clean and sober again, and intend to remain this way forever, one day at a time."Fellow musicians such as Katie Pruitt and Natalie Hemby responded to his post with messages of encouragement. Pruitt applauded Kelly's openness, noting that his "transparency and honesty" might benefit others, while Hemby said she was proud of him and offered her support.Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.