Turnpike Troubadours fiddle player Kyle Nix announced in a Twitter post today that he check himself into rehab three months ago due to struggles with alcohol and has been sober ever since.
Of course, Turnpike frontman Evan Felker has had his own personal struggles with alcohol, which ultimately led to the hiatus of the Oklahoma band that started in May of 2019.
In the lengthy post, Kyle said that it’s something he’s been struggling with for the last two years since the band started their break, and that since then drinking became an escape from reality for him.
He noted that he’s now feeling the best he ever has and he’s ready to give it everything he’s got at his upcoming shows.
Here’s the full statement:
“I contemplated even saying anything about this & it will probably surprise most of my friends and loved ones but: 3 months ago today I checked myself into a rehabilitation facility in Oklahoma.
Much of the past two years had hit me pretty hard & I was trying most days just to make it to bedtime. I had begun binge drinking to escape from the world. I was pretty much killing myself.
But- I have 3 months sobriety as of today & I’m as happy as I’ve been in a long time. I’m content with myself and conscious of the decisions I’m now making.
The next several months are going to be the most important I’ve ever lived. And I’m going to live them with ferocity and joy. So if you come to a show just know that I’m doing this music thing for me AND you with all the heart I have left in my body.
And that I’m doing it like it’s my last day. You never know.”
And good for him to deciding to put that out in public. I’m sure it’s not an easy thing to do, but in an industry that often celebrates drinking and that lifestyle as a musician, it’s great to have people speak up that have struggled with alcohol and share their story as it’s often overlooked and not talked about.
Of course, we all hope that the band may one day in fact get back together, but their personal health and well-being is obviously way more important than that.
If it happens one day, that’s incredible, but in the mean time, I hope they can all continue to better themselves and do what’s best for them.
Until then, a little “Every Girl” never hurt nobody:
