Singer's Golf Cart Crash Sparks Relapse, Then Sobriety

Singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly has opened up about the challenging path of sobriety, revealing a recent relapse triggered by a severe golf cart accident in early June 2026. The accident, which occurred while riding in a residential golf cart, resulted in a fall that broke his arm and necessitated powerful pain medication.

Following the accident, Kelly was treated with fentanyl, morphine, ketamine, Dilaudid, and oxycodone. He was subsequently discharged with a month-long prescription for Percocet, which he found himself taking in increasingly larger doses. This period awakened a familiar struggle with substance abuse, leading him to previously believe he was only addicted to amphetamines and could manage other substances.

On July 26, 2026, Kelly made the decision to fully recommit to sobriety, acknowledging that he has a lifelong substance abuse disorder. He has declared all drugs and substances, including alcohol and THC, off-limits, and is also working on quitting nicotine. He is currently three days clean and sober, aiming to maintain this state one day at a time for his well-being and those around him.

Kelly's music often reflects his personal battles with addiction. His 2018 debut album, 'Dying Star,' was released after a 2016 overdose, and his 2020 album, 'Shape & Destroy,' chronicled his initial journey toward sobriety. His latest album, 'Pale, Through the Window,' released last fall, explores his relationship with his wife, whom he married in May 2026.