Country singer Tim McGraw is celebrating over 10 years of sobriety and now he is opening up about turning his life around.
In an interview on the "Today" show this week, the 52-year-old singer revealed how his wife Faith Hill gave him an ultimatum. Either he chooses the alcohol and parties or he chooses his family. It was at that point that McGraw realized he needed to clean up his act.
"When things happen and you succeed beyond your wildest dreams and you're playing all these great shows and the parties are going on," he said, according to People. Then marriage and children come along and "all of a sudden your wife looks at you and says, 'You know, you're getting a little overboard and you need to make some decisions.'"
McGraw also discusses his lowest moments in his book, "Grit & Grace: Train the Mind, Train the Body, Own Your Life," which hits shelves this week. He started drinking more and more after the sudden deaths of his father, stepfather and high school mentor in 2004. He found comfort in alcohol, the Daily Mail reported.
McGraw sank into the depths of despair but his heavy drinking and extended bouts away from home while on tour began to strain his relationship with his family.
"My emotional absence was noticed and it was not scoring any points," he continues in his book, according to People. McGraw explains how Hill had always given him unconditional love and support but it reached a point where he needed to make a choice and Hill knew that "someone had to lay down the law." So, "getting real like only she can," she told her husband it was "'partying or family, take your pick.'"
McGraw knew he had to fight for his family and made the decision to get sober and nurture the bonds with his wife and their three daughters.
That was 11 years ago. Now McGraw is hoping to use his story to inspire others to live their best lives.
"Be there for yourself so you can be there for other people," he told Today, according to People. "It's all about what you can do, it's not about what I do. I'm sort of an extreme person because that's part of my DNA. But I think that anyone can take control of their life."