Hillary Scott said bandmate Charles Kelley “was just incredible,” following Lady A’s moving performance of Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying.”

The trio, which also includes Dave Haywood, covered the hit single in McGraw’s honor when he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. The lyrics describe a man in his early 40s who receives a serious health diagnosis, and responds by embracing life to the fullest. Lady A’s performance on Sunday evening (October 18) arrived just a few weeks after Kelley, 45, opened up about his own cancer diagnosis.

“Charles was just incredible,” Scott said in a clip on her Instagram story on Tuesday (October 20). She called him a “pillar of strength, and courage and vulnerability, and (I’m) just very, very proud of his display of courage. And he’s so strong. It’s amazing. And with that, I just want to say thank you for your messages and your comments and encouragement and your prayers. We feel them. We see them. Every single day we wake up and we face the day that we have, and we are hopeful and we are excited about new music and these opportunities. And we’re also just taking it a day at a time. So those words of encouragement really mean a lot.”

Kelley and his wife, Cassie Kelley, 43, announced on September 29 that he’d been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer. Kelley said in the video that “(doctors) found a blood cancer in there called multiple myeloma, and it’s rare. …(But) I feel really hopeful. I really do.” He’s since shared that he’s felt “overwhelmed by the support,” including from Scott and Haywood. Cassie Kelley said she “sobbed” watching Lady A perform “Live Like You Were Dying,” and shared on her Instagram story earlier this week that the request for Lady A to perform that song arrived before her husband received his diagnosis. She said, “honestly I didn’t think he would be able to get through it but he is incredible and brave and THIS is one of the many reasons why music matters.”

On his own Instagram story on Tuesday, Kelley shared an update as he took a walk with his wife and the couple’s youngest son, Archer Lancaster, who was born in September 2025. He said his third day of treatment went “really, really good,” and he has a “good plan,” moving forward.

“My biggest supporter and rock with me last night [Cassie Kelley]!” Kelley posted on Instagram on Monday evening (October 19). “She’s been through all the emotions these past few weeks as we’ve navigated our new normal. I know this journey for us is gonna be as much mentally taxing as it will be physical. I couldn’t get through it without you my love! Thanks for letting us share in the moment last night [Tim McGraw]! So well deserved and your speech was unbelievable and heartfelt. Moments like last night make it worth all the powering through it days!”

On their respective Instagram stories, Kelley and Scott both looked ahead to taking the stage in honor of late legend Dolly Parton on Wednesday night (October 21). Lady A will perform during the two-hour tribute show, CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton, along with Ashley McBryde, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Ella Langley, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Zac Brown, and more. The star-studded tribute show will air live on Wednesday, October 21 (9:00-11:00 PM/EDT) on ABC and Disney+. It will be available to stream the following day on Hulu.

Calendar Events