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Justin Moore opened up about his sobriety journey after taking a break from touring to focus on his health.
Moore, 42, returned to the stage on Thursday evening (July 9) at the Knox County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Illinois. Videos circulating on TikTok and other social media platforms show the country star addressing the audience: “I’m trying, from this point forward, to use my platform even further than I ever have. So, I know some of you have probably seen…that we’ve been off a while, and there was a lot of speculation. But my drinking got out of control.”
The country star, a husband and father of four, said he “let down my band and my crew, and most importantly, God, my family. I got a really good buddy who went through this… He always says that he’s allergic to booze because he breaks out in handcuffs. Fortunately, I didn’t do that. I just became a complete dumba**. So, I just got out of rehab for 30 days. This is my 31st day sober.
Moore said as he spoke with the crowd, “I don’t say this to bring us down. We’re still gonna do drinking songs…We’re still gonna party after this. Just hang with me.” However, he opted to take the time to share his story because “I’m gonna try to help as many people from this point forward ’til my last days on earth, and hopefully set a much better example for my kiddos.”
Last month, Moore shared in a statement on Instagram: “I’ve made the decision to take some time to focus on my health. As a result, I’ll be stepping away from touring for a short period and will be unable to perform some upcoming shows. This is the right decision for me and my family, and I appreciate everyone’s understanding and support. I look forward to getting back out there later this summer and doing what I love most.” Moore’s website shows his next performance date is set for Thursday (July 16) at Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.