Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley Brings His Son on the Road to Be a Present Dad
Charles Kelley was convinced he'd never leave his home state of Georgia, until he joined Lady Antebellum and began traveling the world. Kelley now takes his two-and-a-half-year-old son, Ward Charles, on the road with him as the Grammy-winning trio tours all over the globe.
“I thought, 'Buddy, you’ve seen more in two-and-a-half years than I ever saw in my 24 years of existence until this band,'" Kelley tells People. “I still love the South, I love Georgia, but there’s just so much beauty in the world.”
Ward and Kelley's wife, Cassie, frequently accompany him on tour, and he says he hopes his son will grow up realizing how privileged he is to travel and not take his frequent jet-setting for granted. So far, Ward has been on over 100 flights, visiting multiple continents with his parents, including Europe.
“My wife and I have such a strong relationship that it’s just so much better when they’re out with me. Having them with me is so cozy. I also don’t want Ward to grow up [and] be like, ‘I never got to see my dad — he was always traveling,'” Kelley says. "We’ve brought him along and really wanted him to be a part of our lives — not just this kid that you see every once in a blue moon. I want him to be proud of what I’m doing and hope I’m a good example for him.”
Ward was even along for the ride on the Kelleys' travels to Amsterdam. Kelley says his son was “enamored” by all of the bikes whizzing past him. His son is seeing even more of the U.S. this summer throughout Lady Antebellum's co-headlining Summer Plays On Tour with Darius Rucker.
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