Sober musicians create foundations, nonalcoholic beverages to help people who don't drink
A recent study conducted by Tulane University revealed 56% of music industry professionals cite problematic substance use and 34% of touring professionals report suffering from clinical levels of depression. For comparison, only 7% of the general population suffer from depression.
While a number of artists in country music have chosen to live a sober lifestyle, some have gone beyond helping themselves by taking steps to help others with sobriety and mental health.
Country artist Walker Hayes and bluegrass guitarist Billy Strings have partnered with breweries to create non-alcoholic beverage options for themselves and their fans. Hayes and Athletic Brewing created Fancy Like NA beer and Strings and Short's Brewing collaborated to create Thirst Mutilator hop water.
Musician Marcus King created the Curfew Foundation and has also partnered with 1 Million Strong and The Phoenix which focus on bringing sober experiences to live music events and continuing to help those struggling beyond a concert.
Others have penned songs that chronicle the struggles with addiction and the rewards of a sober lifestyle and many have heard from fans that these songs have helped them realize they are not alone.
Artist create new, sober ways to drink up
Once Hayes got sober eight years ago, he realized that beer goes with so many of his favorite things like a day at the lake or a football game. He had already discovered Athletic Brewing's non-alcoholic beers, but thought it might be fun to create his own. He worked with Athletic to create and launch Fancy Like, a NA pilsner that tastes like real beer — without the alcohol.
Fancy Like was launched in 25 states earlier this year and Chris Funari, communications manager for Athletic, said Fancy Like was one of the company's most successful limited-time launches.
"Walker's enthusiasm and promotion of Fancy Like led to faster-than-anticipated online sales while helping Athletic reach new customers — especially Gen Z and Millennial country music fans," he said.
Backstory: EXCLUSIVE: Nashville music star Walker Hayes, Athletic Brewing release Fancy Like NA beer
Billy Strings, who stopped drinking in 2016, worked with Short's Brewing to create a non-alcoholic hop water called Thirst Mutilator that has been so popular they just released a grape flavor to compliment the original lemon-lime.
Kerry Lynch, director of sales for Short's Brewing, said they have had a great relationship with Strings since before his career took off. Strings used to play shows at the brewery early in his career, so when Short's was looking to partner on a hop water, Strings was an obvious choice.
"Billy drinks a ton of fizzy waters and also being from the sticks of West Michigan, he also really loves a good sugary soda," Lynch said. "So those were kind of our inspirations for coming up with flavors for it. We sent him different flavor profiles to try and lemon-lime was the one that he loved the most."
The first flavor launched in 2022 and Lynch said while they wanted the growth of Mutilator to be as organic as their relationship with Strings, after several chain placements, they are seeing more than triple digit growth. The second flavor was released in June of 2024.
"When people see a Thirst Mutilator, they're like, 'Oh, what are you drinking?' Lynch said. "People become interested in what you're drinking versus asking why you aren't drinking."
Marcus King creates foundation, partners with Stand Together
King and Stand Together have partnered to bring 1 Million Strong and The Phoenix on his "Mood Swings" tour in an attempt to transform the way people approach addiction and recovery. This comes on the heels of King creating the Curfew Foundation, which aims to create a support system for musicians battling challenges with mental health and addiction.
"In a large way, I really lean on the idea that I could help other people," King said. "I give way more of a shit about other people's sobriety."
Scott Strode, founder and executive director of The Phoenix, said the idea of serving a million people impacted by substance use by working with industry artists and creating sober, supportive spaces for fans is extremely important.
"When we look at the addiction crisis and then its impact on the music industry and artists and even in the fan base, it can seem overwhelming," Strode said. "Like, we can't actually solve this. But I think it's the opposite. I think that every one of us who's been touched by this, whether through lived experience or through somebody we care about, can be part of the solution."
Backstory: Musician Marcus King announces Curfew Foundation for mental health and addiction
Artists share stories the best way they know how — through song
In his song "As Far as You Could," Charles Kelley chronicles his newfound sobriety by acknowledging the rollercoaster ride it took him on.
He sings: It's why I moved to Nashville, why I almost left/You made me feel alive, but you scared me half to death/Thought I couldn't hit that stage without you runnin' through my veins/Now I sing the songs I always have, but the meaning's bound to change.
Kelley had been writing with fellow Lady A bandmate Dave Haywood and songwriter Jimmy Robbins. They finished their first song and Kelley had an idea for another.
"When I was in treatment, they had us write a goodbye letter to our drink of choice," Kelley said. "And I wrote this goodbye letter to whiskey. As a songwriter, as I was writing, I was like, 'Oh, this would make a great song.'"
So the three finished the song that day, never intending to write a hit, but rather something that might meet someone along their journey.
"And we just felt so proud of it," Kelley said of the finished song. "Between Dave and I, there were some teary eyes as we were writing it because he's been in this journey with me since the beginning."
Tim McGraw, who has been sober since 2008, recently released "Hey Whiskey" which chronicles his battles with alcoholism. He recently told Esquire Magazine about the moment it hit him he had a problem.
"I remember a moment when I was getting out of bed and going to the liquor cabinet and taking a big shot at 8 in the morning and thinking, I have to wake the kids up," he said.
The musical fruit of his sobriety, "Hey Whiskey," says: I let you stay, you made her leave/Made me say things I don't mean/To the only girl that ever made me choose/Gave you everything I had/Went to hell and can't get back/The only thing I couldn't stand to lose/Hey whiskey, what'd I ever do to you?
Walker Hayes recently released "Same Drunk" which points out that everyone has something they struggle with whether alcohol, depression, anxiety or worse.
"So I don't drink anymore," he said. "But I still wake up and cope with life somehow. That's why I wrote that song."
It reads: Well, sister's hooked on another jackass/Mama's hooked on looking young/Daddy's hooked on cutting the grass/Brother's hooked on smoking some/Ain't about to start judgin'/I put down alcohol/Picked up some new crutches/Maybe we all just the same drunk.
And these songs are connecting with people. Kelley said he can't quantify how many people have reached out to him online or at shows to say this song helped them.
"I remember writing that song going, 'Hey, if only one person hears this and maybe somehow relates to it, then we've done our job.' In our genre full of drinking songs, it's nice to have a couple songs that are for us as well on the other side of the spectrum."
......Anyone needing free and confidential support can contact one of the following numbers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
National Helpline for substance abuse and mental health treatment referral: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Melonee Hurt covers music and music business at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee. Reach Melonee at [email protected], on X @HurtMelonee or Instagram at @MelHurtWrites.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Nashville musicians are helping destigmatize alcoholism, sobriety
