Lucy Hale is opening up about a difficult part of her past. The Pretty Little Liars actress opened up about her experience with alcohol. She remembered an important event that made her confront the problem. That moment came during her music career.
Lucy Hale discusses how alcohol struggles affected her life
Hale discussed her alcohol struggles on the On Purpose podcast with Jay Shetty. She said she never had a normal experience with drinking. Hale said she always wanted more and used alcohol to feel relaxed and free. “I could never get enough of the feeling of just being so at ease,” she told the host.
Her drinking started to deteriorate when she was in her early 20s, Hale said. She said that she experienced a transformation when she dated someone who also had an alcohol problem. “That’s when the drinking the day after started, I was like, ‘Oh wow, this really eases my hangover, my anxieties. Then it would be more of a bender-type situation,” she said. Around age 23, she said she drank enough to black out.
In 2014, Hale reached a point where drinking put her in dangerous situations. She recalled waking up from a blackout in a hotel room before her Grand Ole Opry performance. “I went to rehab instead,” Hale said. She then called her manager and said, “I’m really scared. I don’t want to stop drinking, but I know I have to stop drinking.”
Hale’s manager flew to help her, and she entered rehab without public attention. She also canceled her tour because of her drinking. The experience made it hard to look at photos or listen to her music. She said she now feels more comfortable thinking about singing again because “I love music.”
Hale had planned her Grand Ole Opry debut for Feb. 21, 2014, but she cited flu symptoms when she canceled. She later performed at the Opry in June and sang “Lie a Little Better” from Road Between. She performed other songs and shared the stage with Jeannie Seely. Hale’s decision to enter rehab marked a turning point in her struggle with alcohol and changed how she viewed her music career.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
