Charles Kelley Releases Music Video for Debut Solo Single, ‘The Driver’

Charles Kelley has released a music video for his debut single as a solo artist, "The Driver." The song, from his upcoming solo album, also features the vocals of his good friends Dierks Bentley and Eric Paslay.

The song and video, which stars Bentley and Paslay in addition to Kelley, pays homage to the unseen workers who help make others successful: “I’m the driver / Bringing the circus to town / First one in and the last rolling out / Shuttin’ down / The up-all-nighter / All the stars and sunrises I’ve seen / Every cornfield and town in between / West to east.”

Kelley admits that he wasn't sure that the tune would ever be heard.

“The perspective seemed like a Crosby, Stills and Nash story song,” Kelley says of the song, which he wrote with Paslay and Abe Stoklasa. "We went in the studio to record it with no agenda. I thought, maybe it’ll be the start of the next Lady Antebellum record, maybe we’ll scrap it, maybe I’ll pitch the song to other singers.”

While Lady A are taking a break from the road, the father-to-be says that he wanted to challenge himself by working on something new, but only with his bandmates' wholehearted approval.

“I wouldn’t have done this without Hillary [Scott] and Dave [Haywood] giving me their blessing,” Kelley says. “Lady Antebellum will always be my focus.

“Lady Antebellum will never break up, mark my words," he adds. "But I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone.”

“The Driver” is currently available for download via iTunes and Amazon.

Country's Greatest Love Stories: Charles Kelley + Cassie McConnell Kelley

How Well Do You REALLY Know Lady Antebellum?