NEED TO KNOW
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Marcus King tells PEOPLE during a candid conversation that “I just have something in me that’s broken to the point that I can’t drink because I’m always trying to suppress something”
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Despite previously relying on alcohol in social situations, King says now “I don’t really miss it because it just became a pretty miserable way of living”
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The artist has openly advocated for sober living and helping those looking to navigate addiction and recovery in the past
Marcus King is acutely aware of the impact alcohol had on his life — and the beauty he now finds in sobriety.
The iconic southern rocker and Marcus King Band frontman, 29, tells PEOPLE he has reached a new level of clarity thanks to removing alcohol consumption from his life, an accomplishment he takes immense pride in.
“I still love to see other people having a good time, people [who] are capable of doing it responsibly without going over the line. I just have something in me that’s broken to the point that I can’t drink because I’m always trying to suppress something,” the musician shares.
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Marcus King in February 2025
King adds, “In doing that, something’s going to come to the surface. When it comes bubbling up, every time that happened, which became more and more common, it was not a sustainable way of living. So I don’t really miss it because it just became a pretty miserable way of living.”
“But then again, it does make social aspects of life a little bit easier,” the guitarist admits. “It’s always been the lubricant elixir for social interactions, but it’s been more or less like exposure therapy, going and talking to people without a drink.”
King is open about how sobriety changed his life, even advocating for the same in others through efforts such as his support for 1 Million Strong, an initiative created by The Phoenix,Stand Together Music, and the Stand Together Foundation to alter public perception surrounding addiction and recovery.
“We’re just trying to destigmatize the idea of going to a concert and having to be sober,” King shared in a May 2024 Instagram post supporting the organization’s efforts. “It’s all about just making a safe space where our sober friends can come, and they don’t feel alienated by all the drinking … and they can have a good time.”
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With his sobriety still at the forefront today, King is excited to have “new music coming out with the band and under the moniker of Marcus King Band again,” noting that joining back up as a musical outfit “just really feels like we’re back home and we’re back in the saddle and we’re really, really excited for all that’s to come.”
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Marcus King in June 2025
And what’s to come is plentiful, including a new album by the end of 2025 which has already been led off by two rousing singles: “Carolina Honey” and “Honky Tonk Hell,” the latter of which confronts King’s sobriety journey head-on.
Through powerful lyrics such as “Oh, everybody seems to think I changed since I quit drinkin’ / Dropped all my bad habits and started back thinking,” King reflects on how life has changed since becoming sober on “Honky Tonk Hell,” lamenting “Heaven knows I miss my late night livin'” while still recognizing “They’re gettin’ along without me as far as I can tell.”
“Carolina Honey” and “Honky Tonk Hell” are available on all major streaming platforms now.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
Read the original article on People
