Country singer Joe Nichols is feeling good about life these days. He has a number one single, "Gimme That Girl" and a loving wife. And he is enjoying sobriety.
"I think I appreciate it more, too," Nichols said. "I feel the humility that came along with treatment – not humiliation – humility that came along with that. And gratitude. It trickles into what I’m feeling today."
Nichols, 33, entered rehab in October of 2007, only a month after his wedding and two months after releasing an album. His career was just taking off, but Nichols felt that his health and marriage were a priority.
"Learning how to relive life again on life’s terms sure doesn’t do much for your confidence," said Nichols. "You have to kind of walk in faith that the next step is going to be just a little bit better than the last step. So little by little, it’s been a long journey just to get here and I think we’ve got a long ways to go, but it certainly is a big huge step toward okay."
Nichols’ wife, Heather, urged her husband to get treatment for his alcohol addiction. She told him she was not going to watch him kill himself. "The person he was then was a very empty guy," Heather said. He is now the man she thought she had married.
"I think addiction hides the person you are and makes you this soulless person. And now it’s like his light is back on and he shares himself with everyone."
