Lady A singer Charles Kelley reveals blood cancer diagnosis
The Grammy-winning US country music star, 45, says he currently feels "great" and is "hopeful".
Lady A singer Charles Kelley announces blood cancer diagnosis
Charles Kelley is the co-lead vocalist of Lady A, formerly Lady Antebellum
Lady A singer Charles Kelley has said he has been diagnosed with blood cancer.
The US musician, 45, formed the Grammy-winning country trio, which was previously called Lady Antebellum, in Nashville in 2006.
The band are best known for songs including Need You Now, American Honey and Just a Kiss, and have collected six Grammy Awards.
Alongside his wife Cassie, Kelley said he had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare type of blood cancer that affects the bones and other parts of the body.
He said: "I had a couple of random rib fractures that happened, which sparked my doctor into having me do several different blood tests. And one of the last blood tests we did, they found a blood cancer in there called multiple myeloma, and it's rare."
He added: "But I'm young, I feel healthy, and the treatments I will say have just come so far, even in the past five years. Even life expectancy just far exceeds what it used to be and, I don't know, I feel really hopeful. I really do."
Kelley said it felt "freeing" simply to be "getting this stuff off your chest".
"But we're going to get through it," he continued, comparing his "one day at a time" way of handling cancer with his path to sobriety.
The singer, who has two young sons with his wife, finished the video by saying he planned to keep working despite the diagnosis.
"Right now I feel great and we've got a new record coming out soon with Lady A and then we've got Christmas shows," he said.
"This first six months of treatment I believe is not going to be too invasive. I can still work. I think physically I will feel like myself. I will have tough days, but I want to keep working...
"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...
"It's just another hurdle and, you know, I feel confident that we're going to get through it."
Kelley's bandmates Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood posted supportive messages for him and his family in the comments.
Fellow lead vocalist Scott wrote: "The strongest duo right there! Love y'all so much! You've got this!"
Haywood added: "Covering you in prayer brother. Love y'all. We're all here for you!"
The group have had three number one albums in the US and reached number two with their single Need You Now, which won record of the year and song of the year at the Grammys in 2011.