Keith Urban

Keith Urban
 
Keith Urban has found much success in the country music world after picking up and moving from his home in Australia to Nashville, Tenn.  Since 2001, Urban has had eight number 1 Billboard singles.  He has also had many nominations and has won several ACM, CMA and Grammy’s throughout his career. 
keith-urban
 
From Australia to Nashville
Keith Lionel Urban was born October 26, 1967.  While he was born in New Zealand, Urban grew up in Australia, learning to play guitar at the early age of six.  Growing up Keith looked up to his father who was highly interested in American culture as well as country music. 
 
By the 1990’s Urban got a record deal with EMI in Australia and after recording one album he decided to move to Nashville, Tenn.  But Urban wasn’t a solo act at first.  He and two fellow Australians formed a band they called The Ranch, leading to a record deal with Capitol Nashville.  After the band put out one album, Urban was finding more success with his remarkable guitar skills and decided to record another solo album.
 
In 2001 on his self-titled album Keith had his first number 1 single “But For The Grace of God.”  The next year he put out his second solo album titled Golden Road, which gave him his next three number 1 singles.  From there he has been one of the most successful male artists of this generation. 
 
Keith & Friends
Urban has teamed up with many great artists throughout his career.  But before he was singing with them, he was often playing guitar and opening up for them on tour.  He played guitar on many artists’ albums including Garth Brooks, Dixie Chicks, Brooks and Dunn and Charlie Daniels.  He also opened up for Dwight Yoakam, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. 
 
Urban has teamed up to do a duet with Brad Paisley for the song “Start a Band.”  He has also worked with pop act, Nelly Furtado on a song called “In God’s Hands.”  And his “Raise the Barn,” song on Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing features vocals from Ronnie Dunn. 
 
Keith Urban Hit Albums & Singles

  • 1999 Keith Urban - “But For the Grace of God,” “Where the Blacktop End”
  • 2002 Golden Road- “Somebody Like You,” “Raining on Sunday,” “Who Wouldn’t Want to be Me?” “You’ll Think of Me”
  • 2004 Be Here- “You’re My Better Half,” “Making Memories of Us,” “Better Life,” “Tonight I Wanna Cry”
  • 2006 Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing- “Stupid Boy,” “I Told You So,” “Everybody,”
  • 2007 Greatest Hits: 18 Kids- “You Look Good In My Shirt”
  • 2009 Defying Gravity- “Sweet Thing”

 
Keith Urban Awards & Recognitions

  • 2001 Academy of Country Music Top New Male Vocalist
  • 2001 CMA Horizon Award
  • 2004 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
  • 2005 Academy of Country Music Album of the Year: Be Here, & Top Male Vocalist
  • 2005 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, & International Artist of the Year
  • 2005 Billboard Awards Top-selling Pop Catalog Album of the Year; Golden Road
  • 2006 Grammy Awards Best Male Country Vocal Performance: “You’ll Think of Me”
  • 2006 Academy of Country Music Top Male Voaclist
  • 2006 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
  • 2008 Grammy Awards Best Male Country Vocal Performance: “Stupid Boy”

 
Fun Facts About Urban

  • In 2006 Urban married fellow Australian and actress, Nicole Kidman. 
  • On July 7, 2008 Nicole gave birth to their daughter, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban.
  • Keith has two older brothers.
  • Keith also has four tattoos: “love,” an eagle, a thunderbird, a design around his wrist, and a "Nicole" tattoo on his right arm.