Category Archives: Keith Urban

Although born in New Zealand and raised in nearby Australia, Keith Urban made his biggest splash in Nashville, where he helped rewrite the rules of contemporary county songs. By embracing drum loops and elements of Top 40 pop, Urban wrote music that appealed to a wide audience, effectively satisfying his Nashville fans without alienating those more accustomed to pop songs. He also became a genuine celebrity, known for his good looks, marriage to Nicole Kidman, and outspoken battle with alcoholism. Even so, it was the music that maintained Urban’s career, from his work with the Ranch at a time of the late ’90s to the acclaimed solo units that followed.

Keith Urban began learning guitar as a six year-old. His father, the owner of a local convenience store, agreed to hang a guitar teacher’s flyer in his shop window in exchange for free lessons. The lessons went to his son, who demonstrated natural talent on the instrument and won several talent competitions at a time of still in elementary school. Urban grew comfortable on-stage, and he worked on his singing and acting abilities as a member of the Westfield Super Juniors, a local theater company. Meanwhile, he took a cue from his father (who had a deep interested in American culture and country material) by gravitating toward the work of Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton, Don Williams, and Jimmy Webb, all of whom inspired his early attempts at songwriting. Urban added his own dimension to those influences when he discovered Dire Straits and became interested in the fretwork of Mark Knopfler, which led to in-depth study of Knopfler’s tone and technique.

Australian country material was primed for a revolution at the start of the ’90s, and Keith Urban — young, brash, and blonde, with a guitar style that owed heavily to rock & roll — was part of that transformation. After signing with the Australian branch of EMI Records, he released his first album and charted multiple number one smashes in his home country. Even so, Urban’s sights remained set on Nashville, TN, which he considered to be the birthplace of the material he loved. Having made periodical pilgrimages to Nashville to forge valuable career bridges, he soon decided to base himself in the city. With his Australian bandmate, drummer Peter Clarke, he formed a three-piece band named the Ranch. Their original bass player soon returned to Australia, but West Virginian Jerry Flowers rapidly stepped in.

The Ranch’s music was raw and rowdy, more indicative of Australian pub rock than Nashville country. Even so, the ensemble eventually netted a album deal with Capitol Nashville and a management contract with Miles Copeland, who had previously managed the Police. The group’s debut album, The Ranch, was put forth to moderate acclaim in 1997, but Urban was forced to take a break when he developed throat problems, and the Ranch disbanded soon after. during Urban remained on vocal rest, other performers called upon him to add some of his fleet-fingered magic to their records. Garth Brooks asked Urban to perform on Double Live, the Dixie Chicks invited him to play on their second record (which featured a reworked version of “Some Days You Gotta Dance,” a song that had previously appeared on the Ranch’s debut), and Matt Rollings — one of Nashville’s top producers — hired Urban as a session player for his latest record. The two immediately clicked.

Impressed with Rollings’ knowledge of Nashville’s session players, Urban asked him to produce his next solo album. gave us in 1999, the self-titled Keith Urban spawned four hit singles and helped paved the way for his successful solo career in America. A tour in support of that record saw Keith Urban opening for such major acts as Dwight Yoakam, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw, as well as as the main billing act on his own shows. Urban found increased success with 2002’s Golden Road, which sent three singles to the top of the country charts and went triple platinum in the U.S., as well as 2004’s Be Here, which bested the feats of its predecessor by selling over four million units. Keith Urban was now a contemporary country superstar, replete with Grammy nominations and paparazzi attention, and his label capitalized on that attention by reissuing the Ranch’s debut album later that year. An anthology of Urban’s work, Days Go By, came in 2005.

The next year, Urban continued to attract media focus with his highly publicized engagement (and June marriage) to fellow Australian Nicole Kidman, plus his voluntary entry into a rehabilitation center for alcohol addiction. He temporarily postponed all his upcoming promotional appearances, although the record Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing was put forth that November as scheduled. It failed to produce a number one hit (the first of Urban’s solo units to do so), but Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing nevertheless went double platinum in America, aided in part by a popular tour with Carrie Underwood. Urban returned to the top of the charts in 2008 with a re-recorded version of “You Look Good in My Shirt,” which had originally appeared on 2002’s Golden Road. The new version appeared on his latest compilation record, Greatest Hits: 18 Kids, and its success helped pave the way for Urban’s next solo album. put forth in 2009, Defying Gravity found the artist ruminating on life with Nicole Kidman while chart-topping tracks like “Sweet Thing” and “Kiss a Girl.”

Keith Urban’s 2009 Tour, Josh Gracin’s Telluride, Taylor Swift’s Jonas Inspiration and more!

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As the holiday season kicks in, the country music news starts comin’ at ya faster. Here’s this week’s top stories: Keith Urban has already started planning his 2009 concert tour, but has not released any specific dates or locations, only that it will kick off in May. Could this be because rumors have been flying that Keith Urban MIGHT tour with Brad Paisley in the coming year? Who knows? All I know is that would be one humdinger of a concert with supporting acts including Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Dierks Bentley, Glen Campbell, Lady Antebellum and The Zac Brown Band. Josh Gracin‘s latest single “Telluride” may be working out on the airwaves, but it doesn’t seem to be working for the fans. Josh’s remake of Tim McGraw‘s 2001 hit has been receiving negative criticism across the blogosphere, along with many of his other recent attempts at reclaiming the passionate enthusiasm that his 2005 hit “Stay With Me” originally gained. Readers, I’d love for you to weigh in on this one… Do you think Josh Gracin has the chops to stay the course, or was this American Idol really a one-hit-wonder? Taylor Swift is rumored to be putting her heartbreak over Teen pop sensation Joe Jonas of The Jonas Brothers into her next series of bubble-gum sweet country music candy. Taylor has admittedly used her songwriting to openly share her thoughts and feelings about past romances, and will most likely do the same here. “I feel it’s best for me right now to be alone and write about what I’ve gone through,” Taylor told People magazine. “That’s how I deal with it. I would hate to jump into something so quickly and have it not be the right thing, because I don’t think I could take that right now.” And that’s it for today’s Country Music News update!Country Music Photo Gallery

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman Welcome Baby Girl!!!

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Congratulations to Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban on the birth of their first child together! Nicole and Keith Urban the birth of a baby girl this morning in Nashville. Sunday Rose Kidman Urban weighed in at 6 pounds, 7 1/2 ounces. Urban was by Nicole’s side. “Mother and baby are very well,” according to a press release. This is the couple’s first child. Kidman has two other children with her former husband Tom Cruise, Isabella, 15, and Connor, 13.Country Music Photo Gallery

Tour Time for Country Music Stars!

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I’m sure the prices at the gas pumps are skyrocketing travel costs for everyone, but it’s unlikely to stop country artists and fans from hitting the road to search for the ultimate concert experience this summer. It seems most country artists are focusing their tours on the warmer months this year. Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Sugarland and Toby Keith are just some of the acts already on the road, but tours are also in the works for Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson. Brad Paisley recently completed a tour and will start another one in June. And the king of the summer tours — Kenny Chesney — is back on the road for a series of shows at amphitheaters and major stadiums. Here’s a brief rundown of the tour plans of 10 of country music’s most popular acts: Kenny Chesney He’s been performing some informal shows at clubs near college campuses, but Chesney’s Poets & Pirates tour with LeAnn Rimes kicks off April 18-19 at the Mohegan Sun hotel and casino in Uncasville, Conn. Fourteen stadium dates are scheduled featuring five different talent lineups. Among those featured at selected stadiums are Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Gary Allan, Luke Bryan, Big & Rich, Sammy Hagar and Rimes. All in all, Chesney is now set to do 37 shows from coast to coast before closing his tour on Sept. 13 at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis with Urban, Rimes and Allan. More on Kenny Chesney’s 2008 concert tour… Alan Jackson Jackson returns to the road on April 11 to headline a stadium show in Tuscaloosa, Ala., as part of the Gridiron Bash at the University of Alabama. The bulk of his tour dates begin in Canada with an April 16 show in Calgary, Alberta. Three other Canadian dates follow before he begins the U.S. leg on May 1 in Laredo, Texas. His concert schedule now extends through July 25 in Kelseyville, Calif. More on Alan Jackson’s 2008 concert tour… Toby Keith Keith is busy this week in Texas with a Thursday night (March 13) appearance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He has another 20 concerts scheduled between now and a Sept. 19 show in Albuquerque, N.M. More on Toby Keith’s 2008 concert tour… Tim McGraw McGraw warms up for his summer roadwork with an April 27 performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and a May 4 appearance at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif., before officially launching his tour on May 9 in Tampa, Fla. He has dates scheduled through July 6 in Pittsburgh. More on Tim McGraw’s 2008 concert tour… Brad Paisley Paisley announced at the recent Country Radio Seminar in Nashville that his 2008 tour will feature Jewel, Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough. With 42 shows currently booked, the tour begins June 11 in Albuquerque, N.M. Paisley’s schedule extends through an Oct. 18 appearance in San Antonio. More on Brad Paisley’s 2008 concert tour… Rascal Flatts With Taylor Swift opening the Continue reading Tour Time for Country Music Stars!→

Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood 2008 Concert Tour

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Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood have announced three more dates for their 2008 concert tour together. The Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride concert tour will hit Hershey, Pa., on Feb. 14, Tallahassee, Fla., on Feb. 29 and Anaheim, Calif., on March 12. Previously-announced stops include the tour opener at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 and other shows Feb. 16 in Roanoke, Va., March 7 in Omaha, Neb., and March 11 in San Jose, Calif. Be sure to get your Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood Concert Tour Tickets NOW! Simply use the ticket selection menu on the right. Save time, buy online! 2008 Tour Dates: 02/01/08 Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino – Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT 02/02/08 Blue Cross Arena – Rochester, NY 02/13/08 Madison Square Garden – New York, NY 02/14/08 GIANT Center – Hershey, PA 02/15/08 Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall – Atlantic City, NJ 02/16/08 Roanoke Civic Center – Roanoke, VA 02/29/08 Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center – Tallahassee, FL 03/01/08 Mississippi Coast Coliseum – Biloxi, MS 03/05/08 Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO 03/07/08 Qwest Center Omaha – Omaha, NE 03/09/08 Pepsi Center – Denver, CO 03/11/08 HP Pavilion at San Jose – San Jose, CA 03/12/08 Honda Center – Anaheim, CA 03/20/08 East Coast Blues and Roots Music Festival – Byron Bay, Ne 03/22/08 Point Nepean Festival – Melbourne, 0 04/12/08 Bryce Jordan Center – State College, PA 04/18/08 Charlotte Bobcats Arena – Charlotte, NC 04/19/08 RBC Center – Raleigh, NC 04/24/08 The Arena at Gwinnett Center – Duluth, GA 04/25/08 The Arena at Gwinnett Center – Duluth, GA 07/26/08 Gillette Stadium / New England Patriots – Foxboro, MA In related news Keith Urban will also share the headlines with Kenny Chesney on his 2008 Poets and Pirates concert tour at Gillette Stadium near Boston, on July 26, according to the tour section of his Web site. Billed as the New England Country Music Festival, Chesney will be joined by Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Gary Allan and Sammy Hagar. For Carrie Underwood 2008 concert tour dates, tickets, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Urban and Kidman Expecting : Charlie Daniels Gets Inducted: Bluebird has a Birthday

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Just a few noteworthy news bites: E! Online reports that Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are now expecting their first child together after a year and a half of marriage. This is in addition to the two children Nicole had adopted with former husband Tom Cruise. CMT says legendary Charlie Daniels will finally join the ranks at the Country Music Hall of Fame on January 19th. He will be honored by Marty Stuart and Connie Smith at his induction ceremony. Country Weekly reminds us that the well-renowned birthplace of many of todays greatest artists turns 25! The Bluebird Cafe celebrates a milestone for certain!Country Music Photo Gallery

Country Album Sales Dropped 16.3 Percent in 2007

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“Country albums in 2007 suffered a 16.3 percent dip in sales from those of a year before, falling from almost 75 million copies to just under 63 million, according to the annual compilation from Nielsen SoundScan.”-CMT Rumor has it sales are down in Nashville. While some seem surprised by this, I certainly am not. It used to be that each new star had somethin’ about them that really stood out. The hot canadian. The rustic cowboy. The rodeo man. The girl next door. You know who I’m talkin’ about. But in the year 2007 if I were interested in buying say… 10 new albums from the newest chart-toppers I’d be hard-pressed to find 10 that sounded different from each other. Hmmm… tough choice #1; Kelli Pickler or Taylor Swift? Kenny Chesney or Kieth Urban? Who can tell the difference anymore? I think sales only dropped in proportion to the number of options. ~WC~ Country Music Photo Gallery

Keith Urban joins Kenny Chesney on the 2008 Poets and Pirates tour

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Kenny Chesney will get a little help from old friend Keith Urban when he hits the road next summer on his annual stadium tour . Kenny announced Friday that Keith would join him for the July 26 date in Foxboro, Mass., followed by as many as eight other stadium shows on his 2008 Poets & Pirates tour. Kenny Chesney first took Keith Urban out on his Guitars, Tiki Bars & a Whole Lotta Love tour three years ago. “Which is why I’m glad I have the ability to play stadiums,” Kenny says. “It’s the only way that it would make sense for Keith where he is in his career to be able to come out and do some shows with us. We couldn’t do this anywhere else…and it’s something I’ve wanted to do since he played the first stadiums shows with us three years ago. “If you’re committed to bringing the fans the best show possible,” Kenny continues, “who else would you call? Keith does it all — and he’s someone I’ve spent time in the islands with, toured the country with, laughed with, hung with, made music with. It’s gonna be as much fun backstage when we’re not rocking as it is onstage — and that’s saying something.” Keith Urban says he’s excited about joining the tour too. “What Kenny Chesney’s stadium concerts are is the biggest party you’ve ever been to with the loudest ghetto blaster you’ve ever heard and the audience still singing louder than us,” he says. “Me, I’m just a kid like 65,000 others that are going to run away with the circus this summer. Bring it on, Kenny.” The tour will also feature LeAnn Rimes as an opening act. ~Courtesy of GACTV Be sure to get your Kenny Chesney 2008 Concert Tour Tickets NOW! Simply use the ticket selection menu on the right. Save time, buy online! 2008 Tour Dates: 04.26.08 University of South Carolina – Columbia, SC 05.03.08 Pizza Hut Park – Frisco, TX 05.10.08 M & T Bank Stadium – Baltimore, MD 05.24.08 Cleveland Browns Stadium – Cleveland, OH 05.31.08 University of Phoenix – Phoenix, AZ 06.08.08 AT & T Park – San Francisco, CA 06.14.08 Heinz Field – Pittsburgh, PA 06.21.08 Soldier Field – Chicago, IL 07.05.08 LP Field – Louisiana Pacific Field – Nashville, TN 07.13.08 Turner Field – Atlanta, GA 07.17.08 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater – Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA 07.19.08 Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA 07.26.08 Gillette Stadium / New England Patriots – Foxboro, MA 08.02.08 Ford Field – Detroit, MI 09.13.08 Lucas Oil Field – Indianapolis, IN Stay tuned for additional tour dates!Country Music Photo Gallery