b'Just the FactsKEITH URBAN 96.3 Real Country welcomes Keith UrbanHes known as being anGod." His second album, 2002\'sto his residency at the Coliseum at Caesars Australian country music singer,Golden Road, included two more but Keith Lionel Urban wasNo. 1 singles: "Somebody Like You"Palace April 24 & 25, July 10 & 11, August 7 actually born in Whangarei, Newand "Who Wouldn\'t Want to Be Me."& 8 and November 20 & 21.Zealand on October 26, 1967, toIn 2001, he was named Top New Bob & Marienne Urban. Male Vocalist at the Country MusicHe grew up in Caboolture,Association Awards. singing competition show American Idol, as a duet Queensland, Australia (a suburb After touring with the likes ofwith the show\'s winner, Kris Allen.of Brisbane). Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Chesney, In the fall of 2009, Urban performed at the CMAHe has an older brother, ShaneUrban headlined his own tourAwards and received several honors for his and as the baby of the family, growing up, Keithsin 2004. He also released another album, Be Herecollaborative effort with Brad Paisley on "Start a nickname was Suburban because he was the secondand the following year he was named the CMA\'sBand." He was also named Favorite Male Artist at the of two sons. Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year andAmerican Music Awards. In 2010, Urban receivedWhile Urban\'s father ran a convenience store, KeithInternational Artist of the Year. In early 2006, Urbanhis third Grammy Award (Best Male Country Vocal got his hands dirty tending to animals on the farm.won his first Grammy Award (Best Male CountryPerformance), for "Sweet Thing." That November, He learned how to milk cows, collected the eggs fromVocal Performance) for "You\'ll Think of Me." Also inhe released another album, Get Closer, and the chickens and cleaned out the pigsty.2006, he was honored as the CMA\'s Male Vocalist offollowing year, he nabbed his fourth Grammy (BestKeith Urban learned to play guitar as a child and beganthe Year and the Academy of Country Music\'s TopMale Country Vocal Performance), for "Til Summer entering local music competitions at a young age, asMale Vocalist. Keith is the first New Zealander to winComes Around."well as acting in a local theater company. He startedthe Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the In 2012, Urban was chosen as a new judge for season performing at country music festivals at age 10. TheYear award. 12 of American Idol, premiering in January 2013. singer dropped out of high school to pursue his music The singer always writes down his songs in an inkUrban starred alongside Randy Jackson, Mariah career at age 15. pen. No pencil or typing for Mr. Urban. Carey and Nicki Minaj in his debut season. A popularIn addition to the guitar, he learned to play a slew of Urban has often talked about how his relationshipjudge, he remained with the show for four seasons, instruments including the bass, drums, piano, ganjowith Nicole Kidman might have saved his life. Soonthrough the end of its initial run in 2016.(a six-string banjo), and sitar. The first song he fullyafter getting married, he entered rehab and emerged He earned $5 million for his stint as a judge on learned was House of the Rising Sun by The Animals.a better and happier man. Kidman said that sheAmerican Idol Season 13a paltry sum compared By the time he was a teenager, Keith Urban had wondidn\'t think she\'d ever find true love again after herto Jennifer Lopezs $17.5 million paycheck for the several talent shows and joined a country band. Hisdivorce from Tom Cruise.The actress says she wassame gig.signature style emerged during those formative years.in a lonely place prior to meeting Urban atGDay Urban released his own signature line of guitars and In 1991, he debuted his first album, which enjoyedL.A.however, after a few dates, she found herselfaccessories in October of 2013.success in his native Australia. He decided it was timewilling to open her heart to him.Maintaining his career as one of country music\'s to move to Nashville.Urban\'s album Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thingmost popular stars, Urban released Fuse in 2013. was released in the fall of 2006. It spawned severalDebuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the He met his wife of nine years, actress Nicolehits, including "Once in a Lifetime" and "Stupid Boy,"album included the tracks "We Were Us," a duet Kidman, at GDay L.A. which won a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocalwith Miranda Lambert, as well as "Cop Car" and , an event in Hollywood that celebratesPerformance in 2008. Later in 2008, Urban released a"Somewhere In My Car." Urban followed in 2016 with Australians ingreatest hits collection and toured extensively. the Grammy-nominated Ripcord, which included his January of 2005. Prior to falling in love with his now-wife, Urbanduet with Carrie Underwood on "The Fighter" among They starteddated supermodel Niki Taylor. Their relationship wasits singles.dating six monthsone of the better-kept secrets in country music, as In 2018, Urban delivered a new studio effort Graffiti after meetingthey somehow avoided gossip pages. After they split,U. The album produced four singles, "Female," and wereshe kept the house and went on to marry NASCAR"Parallel Line," "Coming Home" and "Never Comin\' married in Junedriver Burney Lamar. Down," and earned a CMA nomination for Album 2006 in Sydney, Urban continued his string of hits with anotherof the Year. The artist followed with the single, "We Australia. album Defying Gravity which was released in MarchWere," in May 2019.2009 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200his Urban is also known for his role as a coach in tThe country star sang backing vocals on INXSs livefirst album to do so. The lead single off the album,he Australian version of the singing competitionalbum Live Baby Live, which was released in 1992. "Sweet Thing," immediately hit No. 1 on the BillboardThe Voice. Urban\'s first Nashville band The Ranch was verycharts. The album\'s second single, "Kiss a Girl," was Today, he supports education and has endorsedsuccessful and the group released a self-titled album inperformed during the season eight finale of thethe Music Makes Us program, which raises funds 1997 to commercial acclaim. Shortly thereafter, Urbanto buy musical instruments and other resources for decided to leave the band to pursue a solo career.public school music classes. Keith and Nicole alsoAfter arriving in the United States, Keith wasntrecently donated $500,000 to help fight the brushlegally allowed to take a non-music job. He wasfires in Australia. quickly recruited by some of the biggest names in country music, including Garth Brooks. Fortunately, he was able to score steady work as a road guitaristUrban and Kidman welcomed a baby girl on July 7, 2008, and for Brooks & Dunn and the Dixie Chicks, as wellnamed her Sunday Rose Kidman Urban. "We want to thank as Alan Jackson. Fans can spot a very young Urbaneverybody that has kept us in their thoughts and prayers," Urban featured in the music video for Jacksons 1993 hitwrote on his website shortly after Sunday Rose\'s birth. "We feel Mercury Blues. very blessed and grateful that we can share this joy with all ofUrban\'s first solo hit wouldn\'t come until 1999 you today."seven years after he moved to Music City. The couple had a second daughter, Faith Margaret Kidman Urban,In 1999, Keith released a self-titled solo album, whichon December 28, 2010.featured the No. 1 country hit "But for the Grace of 22 April 2020'