Country Star Orville Peck Reveals Rehab Battle on Tour

Country music artist Orville Peck has spoken out about a severe struggle with addiction, revealing a near-fatal overdose that occurred just hours before a concert at Madison Square Garden in June 2023. Peck confessed that he and his band were aware he would be canceling the tour and entering rehab the following morning.

He described the night as "very dark and very difficult," recalling taking a sponsored shot on stage while contemplating his situation. Now sober for over three years, Peck is preparing for his headlining debut at the Hollywood Bowl.

This intimate performance coincides with the release of his fourth studio album, "Mule." The 12-track collection, plus a prologue, delves into his experiences with drinking and substance abuse, his time in treatment, and his current sober life. The album's title, "Mule," reflects Peck's association with its symbolism of stubbornness and working bred, with a nod to drug trafficking connotations.

Peck, known for his signature masked aesthetic, has become a prominent LGBTQ+ figure in country music. His new album also touches on personal relationships, including a lyric about a past encounter with a professional athlete, for which he obtained explicit permission and kept the identity ambiguous.