Celebs may know how to party hard, but for many of them, that kind of lifestyle is hard to maintain. These days, there are so many celebrities who have made the hard choice to get sober. For some, it was a matter of life and death, while others chose to clean up their habits purely for health reasons. Either way, there are so many celebs who are living the sober life, and that's a beautiful thing.
What's fascinating about so many of the celebrities who got sober, though, is how they did it and who they leaned on for support. Since so many celebs know the struggles of addiction firsthand, those needing help often don't have to look far to find a support system. But some of the famous people who helped other celebrities get sober are super surprising!
Here are eight celebs who helped other celebs clean up their act.
1. Elton John is Eminem's sponsor.
It may be a very unlikely pair, but Elton John is actually Eminem's sponsor. Elton revealed that totally surprising fact in his 2019 memoir. But Marshall Mathers has talked about their friendship, too. Back in 2009, he told The Guardian about turning to Elton when he wanted to sober up: "He's somebody who's in the business and can identify and relate to the lifestyle and how hectic things can be. He understands … the pressure and any other reasons that you want to come up with for doing drugs."
Eminem continued, "I reached out to him and told him, 'Look, I'm going through a problem and I need your advice.'" Elton made sure it wasn't a one-time conversation. He called Eminem every day to check on him while he was starting out in his recovery. They've remained great friends to this day.
2. Bradley Cooper helped Brad Pitt clean up.
Brad Pitt is incredibly grateful to Bradley Cooper, and he made it known during an acceptance speech. Bradley presented Brad with an award for best supporting actor at the National Board of Review Awards Gala, and Brad used it as an opportunity to thank the presenter. "I got sober because of this guy," he said. "And every day's been happier ever since … I love you and I thank you."
Bradley Cooper knows the struggle well. He sobered up at 29 after a scary experience that involved drinking too much at a party and deliberately bashing his head into a wall. The two have remained good friends who reportedly bond over more than just addiction, but fame and fatherhood, as well.
3. And Ben Affleck!
It's no secret that Ben Affleck's drinking was spiraling out of his control, which led to a lot of questionable choices. But now the star is in a much better place. He's back with his old flame, Jennifer Lopez, he's co-parenting with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, and he's still working on projects he cares about. Ben is the first to admit that if he hadn't addressed his drinking issue, he would have kept going downhill.
In an extensive interview with Diane Sawyer last year, he opened up about his addictions. He also said that stars like Bradley Cooper and Robert Downey Jr. have been instrumental in his recovery. "Guys like Bradley and Robert have been really helpful to me, and really supportive," he said. "They're wonderful men."
4. Demi Moore's daughters saved her life.
Demi Moore's addictions had become more than just a big challenge in her life. They nearly took her life from her completely. For a long time, she resisted getting help, but eventually all three of her daughters turned away from her. Daughter Rumer said that her mom actually suffered a seizure while partying with her, Scout, and Tallulah. Finally, Demi went to rehab, with support from her girls.
Demi has been able to maintain her sobriety with support from her family, but especially Rumer, who has also now been sober for four years.
5. Nicole Kidman checked Keith Urban into rehab.
Keith Urban has been outspoken about his struggles with addiction for many years. When he first rose to fame as a country star in the Nashville music scene, his issues with substance abuse became unmanageable. More than any other person, Keith says that his wife, Nicole Kidman, is the person who helps him stay sober. He opened up about the time, shortly after they married, that she flew in from Rome to get him help when he relapsed. “I was very, very blessed to have Nic call an intervention on me. I had a tight group of friends around me for the intervention. And off I went,” he told Rolling Stone.
Nicole realizes how important it is for her husband to have her support, too. “I’ve learned an enormous amount having a relationship with someone who is in recovery,” the actress told Vanity Fair. “I’m more than willing to walk it with him.”
6. Miley Cyrus leaned on BF Cody Simpson.
Miley Cyrus became known as a hard-partying singer. But she had a lot of reasons for wanting to sober up. Mainly, she didn't want to be another casualty of the rock-and-roll lifestyle. She wanted her career to survive, and it has.
She starting dating Cody Simpson at a turbulent point in her career, just before she underwent a major vocal cord surgery. The couple was reportedly trying to stay sober together, which helped Miley in her journey immensely. "We keep each other in a good place," he said during an October appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show. "That's what's really healthy about it and I think that's the first time I've had that in a relationship. We're very, very much on the same page."
7. Heath Ledger gave Lindsay Lohan some sage advice.
Lindsay Lohan had some major struggles with drinking and drug use that landed her in court-ordered rehab six times. She doesn't openly identify as "in recovery," but she has majorly slowed down her hard-partying ways. According to Lindsay, one celebrity said something that really impacted her on her journey. That was the immortal Heath Ledger.
Heath died in 2008 from a drug overdose. But prior to his death, he had a tip for her. "Heath Ledger told me to give it up for a year because he’d just done that, and so I did, and it wasn’t a problem for me,” the actress told Piers Morgan. According to Lindsay, it was exactly what she needed at the time, and it helped her reset and give sober living a try.
8. Kristen Bell stays away from booze to help husband Dax Shepard.
Dax Shepard is one of the most transparent celebrities about his addiction struggles and his journey to stay sober. He says his wife, Kristen Bell, has been one of this biggest supporters. For Kristen, that has been pretty life-altering. For one, it's meant staying away from substances herself.
“The wine meme is a very funny thing,” she told HuffPost, referencing mommy wine culture. “I suppose I take it as generalized ‘kids are stressful.’ … They’re all-encompassing in the fact that they represent, ‘Remember that you’re an adult. It’s OK if your kids are stressful and annoying. It’s OK to take time for yourself.’ But to me, that doesn’t necessarily ever mean alcohol.”
