Charles Kelley, a member of the Grammy-winning country trio Lady A, has released his new solo album, "Songs for a New Moon," and is opening up about the inspiration behind the project. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Kelley credits his wife, Cassie, for being the reason he got sober.

"She's the reason that I got sober," Kelley says. "She had so much grace for me and went along through the journey with me doing all the work, and I could go so far as to say there's no way she would've stayed with me if I had not gotten sober."

Kelley, 43, entered rehab for alcohol addiction in July 2022, and Lady A was forced to postpone their Request Line Tour. The experience inspired much of the new album, which features 16 tracks that Kelley hopes will transport listeners back to a time when music felt more carefree.

"I think music is such a cathartic outlet, and basically, the music made me feel good," Kelley says. "I think over the last three years during this sobriety journey, I've just felt this little awakening, and I just wanted to make a happy record that spoke a little bit of this journey and this second chance at life that I feel like I've been given."

One of the standout tracks on the album is "Can't Lose You," a heart-wrenching ballad that Kelley wrote with Lindsay Rimes, Michael Whitworth, and Josh Kear. The song is a testament to the couple's journey and the challenges they faced during Kelley's addiction.

"When I finally came home [from rehab], we reconnected," Kelley says of his and Cassie's journey. "She said, 'I'm choosing to go on this journey with you, and we're going to try to make this work.' It was a complete 180 in our relationship."

The album also features Kelley's cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," which he says is for his 9-year-old son, Ward. "When you're lost, you will find me, time after time — I don't think about some relationship when I sing that song," Kelley says. "I'll always love you. I'll always be there. This is, to me, a song for my kid."

Songs for a New Moon is out now. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

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