Sober Musicians

8 Famous Sober Musicians

Many musicians in recovery from addiction have struggled with hardships that lead them to abuse drugs and alcohol. Whether it’s being in the limelight from a young age or struggling with personal hardships in the public eye, being famous isn’t easy. These individuals are also under loads of pressure from their management and fans to perform well. Any misstep can lead to a social media frenzy that will be remembered for decades. Many of these celebrities turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the stress.

At Banyan, we understand how difficult it can be to recover from addiction. In honor of those who have recovered from their substance abuse disorders, we’re sharing a list of musicians who got sober and turned their lives around.

Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey is one of the most popular musicians worldwide. She’s known for her sultry, Nancy Sinatra-like voice and old-school style. Del Rey (who’s Lizzie Grant) made her official debut after her 2011 song “Video Games” was released. The song was such a hit that fans eagerly anticipated her following album, Born to Die, which has gone platinum several times over since. Most of the songs on the album reflect Del Rey’s history with alcohol abuse. She’s shared in several interviews that she hasn’t drunk alcohol since she was a teenager. After her parents’ attempt to get her sober by sending her to boarding school didn’t work, she eventually checked into rehab where she recovered. She’s been sober ever since.

Shania Twain

A good chunk of country songs mention beer and whiskey, but more and more country singers are sharing their struggles with alcohol and their decision to be sober. In our list of sober celebrities is Shania Twain. Twain shared in her autobiography that she stays away from drugs and alcohol and prefers to work with others who have the same mindset.

Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw has created music for his adoring fans for decades. Before getting sober, McGraw would drink Jack Daniels before going on stage. He’s performed alongside stars like Elton John and his wife Faith Hill and sold out arenas in places all across the country. However, he realized that he relied on drinking some “liquid courage” to perform. He hit a point where he couldn’t perform without drinking first. Slowly this habit affected other areas of his life. That’s when he decided to quit drinking and get clean. McGraw has been sober since 2008 and continues to share his story with fans.

Tyler, the Creator

Tyler, the Creator is known for his unique music and fashion style. He’s an artist who dabbles in a little bit of everything, dedicating his time to rapping, music, songwriting, producing, comedy, and design. He’s also been on multiple TV shows, including Loiter Squad, The Jellies, and Black Dynamite. Tyler identifies as “straight-edge”, which refers to a lifestyle committed to abstinence from alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and any other substances of abuse. Tyler’s one of the many celebrities in recovery from addiction who survived an overdose.

Chris Martin

Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin doesn’t drink alcohol, smoke, or even drink coffee. In a documentary about their band, Coldplay: A Head Full Of Dreams, the singer’s problems with alcohol were revealed. After his split with then-wife Gwyneth Paltrow, Martin went down an emotional spiral. Fortunately, his band members offered him as much support as possible. They even went as far as to set up a studio in one of their homes so Martin could be as comfortable as possible while recording their album at the time. It was when their 2014 album Ghost Stories hit number one in the United Kingdom and the United States that Chris had a platform to overcome his problems. Since then, he’s dated multiple celebrities and has adopted a healthy and sober lifestyle.

Keith Urban

Keith Urban is another country star that has toured around the world, released multiple albums, and even had his fair share of screen time as a host on American Idol. Urban also used to struggle with alcohol abuse. It began to affect his career and marriage to actress Nicole Kidman. It was Kidman who set up an intervention for him, and it worked. Urban’s been sober since 2006 and credits his sobriety to his wife.

Eminem

Eminem, AKA Marshall Mathers, is one of the most popular rappers of the 21st century. Like many rappers, a big portion of his music mentions drug and alcohol abuse. However, after nearly drying from a drug overdose, Eminem decided to change his ways. He’s now another sober rapper who dedicates his time to making music and his family. He even 13 years of sobriety on April 20th, 2021.

Florence Welch

Florence Welch is known for her unique and fairy-like style and strong singing voice. Welch is another musician who abstains from alcohol and drugs after a history of substance abuse. She shared that her last drink was on February 2nd, 2014. This year she took to Instagram to celebrate seven years of sobriety.