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Admitting that you are struggling with addiction is one of the toughest steps to take, but it is critical to begin the recovery journey. Whether you are admitting these struggles to yourself or disclosing them to someone close, the process of opening up can be very emotional and extremely complicated than what it may appear. Tim McGraw, a popular country singer, knows the process too well, as he recently opened up about his alcohol addiction.

Anyone who is a hardcore fan of country music or even an occasional listener knows Tim McGraw. As one of the biggest country music stars of all time, McGraw is a popular celebrity with over 15 albums to his name, 10 of which have remained number one on all country album charts. Apart from his exceptional music and songs, the singer has been in the news for his sobriety journey out of long-term alcohol abuse. McGraw has heavily credited his wife for helping him escape this addiction and finally begin recovery.

Tim McGraw Addiction and Early Life

Samuel Timothy McGraw was born in Louisiana on May 1, 1967. As a child, he took part in many competitive sports, such as baseball, throughout high school. McGraw, unfortunately, had exposure to alcohol use from a very young age as it was the culture of Louisiana, in the singer’s own words. He also describes how he frequently drank Miller ponies while sitting around a bonfire. Tim was fortunate enough to get a baseball scholarship that would have helped him attend Northeast Louisiana University; however, he secured a knee injury that stopped him from pursuing baseball professionally.

During his college days, Tim learned how to play guitar and started performing for an audience to get money. He also became a part of a few local bands and eventually started drinking alcohol to calm his nerves before performing in front of crowds, as it helped him stop shaking. For McGraw, the biggest life change happened in 1989 after the death of his hero Keith Whitley. Following this incident, McGraw decided to drop out of college and took off to pursue a career in music in Nashville. He first made an impression with the Curb Record in 1990 when one of the executives received a copy of his demos through McGraw’s father. This opportunity led the singer to the company’s recording studios, where they signed a deal with him.

In 1993, Tim McGraw released his first debut album, which failed to leave a massive impression on the audience. However, his second album, “Not A Moment Too Soon,” helped him gain fame and success by remaining the best-selling country album of 1994. The album also led McGraw to victory in the Academy of Country Music Awards show for the Top New Male Vocalist and the Album of the Year.

Despite achieving a lot of success and limelight early, Tim McGraw was a self-conscious, shy, and self-admitted person who didn’t always co-exist with live performers. To deal with this introverted nature, the singer started relying on alcohol to boost his confidence and courage and reduce the nerve-wracking experience the stage would otherwise give him. Despite being knee-deep in alcohol addiction, McGraw continued to succeed with three back-to-back hit albums released before 2000 and sold millions of copies.

Tim McGraw Addiction: The Role of Family

McGraw tied the knot with Faith Hill in October 1996. The pair had been on many tours together before McGraw won Hill over with his cooking skills soon after, they started dating and eventually got married. The power couple continued to conquer the music industry, raising three daughters born in 1997, 1998, and 2001.

Over the past three decades, McGraw and Hill achieved many successes in their music careers and personal lives. However, the singer has recently opened up about how these accomplishments were only a few decisions away from not happening at all due to his long battle with alcoholism. Tim has publicly recalled many anxious early days when he was trying to overcome his addiction. At that point, the singer was so dependent on alcohol that he needed a drink before officially beginning his day. He mentioned that one day as he got up to have a drink at 8 am in the morning, he thought to himself how he had to wake the kids up soon after. At that moment, it struck him that he had to beat this addiction immediately as it had started affecting his relationships. The singer immediately went to his wife and confided in him, and Hill, in return, decided to support him.

After years of constantly battling alcoholism, McGraw finally decided to stop drinking altogether in 2008. He heavily credits his wife, Hill, for supporting him throughout and helping him maintain his sobriety for years to come.

Tim McGraw Maintaining Sobriety

McGraw has publicly admitted that he often faced issues controlling himself once he began started using alcohol. In an interview, he mentioned that he was not a fan of beer but relied more on whisky. The singer also admitted that once he started drinking, it would never stop after one drink. Things got worse when people around him started worrying about him. When the singer finally understood that his alcohol habit was affecting his relationships, acting as a hurdle, and stopping him from achieving more, he decided to quit.

Tim McGraw considers his wife and children the biggest reasons he successfully overcame his drinking habit. He calls them his support system and mentions that having one when you need it the most can make the difference between continuing a sober life and relapsing.

Following his official acquittal, McGraw has replaced his drinking habits with a healthy fitness regimen. He has been extremely focused on regular exercise, and the singer now has a six-pack. Moreover, he has unintentionally lost 40 pounds in two years of quitting alcohol.

FAQs

Is Tim McGraw sober?

After abusing alcohol for a long time, Tim McGraw finally confided in his wife, Hill, and successfully achieved sobriety in 2008. So far, the popular singer is going strong with a no-alcohol lifestyle.

What was the reason behind Tim McGraw alcoholism?

The popular country music star said he used to drink before his regular shows to calm his nerves before hitting the stage. He called himself shy and self-conscious and would rely on alcohol to stop shaking in front of crowds.

What is holding Tim McGraw sobriety?

According to the singer, he has been maintaining his sobriety for years due to alternative healthy coping mechanisms for his nerves. For instance, he has started putting all his energy into fitness and health and uses exercise to abstain from alcohol use. Ever since exercise replaced his alcohol use, the actor has been successfully practicing a healthier lifestyle and has developed a six-pack. Moreover, the singer and his bandmates now prefer performing a meet-and-greet session followed by taking a run for five miles in the area they are performing. The reason behind this new ritual is that exercising exhausts the brain so much that there is no time left to think about alcohol.

Does Tim McGraw drink now?

The singer has been sober for more than the past ten years