Keith Urban is an Australian and American country singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has achieved significant success in the music industry.
He is known for his pop-rock influences and honest lyrics, and has collaborated with many artists across different genres, including Pink, Nelly Furtado and Taylor Swift.
After finding success in Australia, Urban moved to Nashville in 1992 and released his first American solo album in 1999, which produced his first number one hit on the Billboard country chart.
He has since released 11 studio albums and charted 37 singles on the US Hot Country Songs chart, 18 of which went to number one.
In addition to his music career, Urban has also served as a judge on the reality singing competition show American Idol.
Siblings
Urban has three siblings – two sisters named Lyn and Melinda, and a brother named Shane.
Not much is publicly known about his older sister Lyn, as she tends to stay out of the spotlight, but Urban has mentioned her in interviews over the years, indicating they have a close relationship.
Similarly, details about his younger sister Melinda are limited, though Urban has spoken fondly of his sisters and the support they’ve provided him throughout his career.
In contrast, Urban’s relationship with his younger brother Shane appears to be particularly tight-knit.
Shane has collaborated musically with Keith on several occasions, playing guitar in his touring band and co-writing songs with him.
Career
Urban’s began performing at a young age, including appearances on TV talent shows and in local bands.
In his early career, he won the Golden Guitar Award for Best New Talent in 1991 in Tamworth, Australia.
Urban then moved to Nashville in 1992, where he formed the band The Ranch and released their debut album, which charted two singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
His solo career began in 1999 with the release of his first American solo album, which included the number one hit, But for the Grace of God.
Urban’s subsequent albums, such as Be Here in 2004 and Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing in 2006, further cemented his success, featuring hit singles like Days Go By, You’ll Think of Me and Stupid Boy.
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Throughout his career, he has been recognized with numerous awards, including the New Artist of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music in 2001, the Jim Reeves International Award in 2004, and the Male Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association in 2004 and 2005.
Urban has also won four Grammy Awards, including Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 2011.
In addition to his solo work, Urban has collaborated with artists from various genres, including Pink, Nelly Furtado, Jason Derulo, and Julia Michaels, as well as country music icons like Dolly Parton, The Chicks, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Eric Church and Reba McEntire.
Personally, he has been married to actress Nicole Kidman since 2006, and they have two daughters together.
Urban has also been open about his struggles with substance abuse and the importance of recovery.
In recent years, he has continued to push the boundaries of country music, releasing albums like The Speed of Now Part 1 in 2020 and The Speed of Now Part 2 in 2022, which feature his signature blend of pop, rock and country influences.
Awards and accolades
Urban has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, spanning over three decades.
He has won the Top Male Vocalist of the Year award multiple times from the Academy of Country Music, as well as the Jim Reeves International Award and the Mae Boren Axton Award for his contributions to country music.
From the Country Music Association, Urban has won the Male Vocalist of the Year award and been nominated for Entertainer of the Year several times.
At the Grammy Awards, he has won four awards, all in the Best Male Country Vocal Performance category, for songs like You’ll Think of Me, Stupid Boy, Sweet Thing and ‘Til Summer Comes Around.
Urban has also won four American Music Awards, including Favorite Country Male Artist and Favorite Country Album and six ARIA Music Awards, including the Outstanding Achievement Award for his contributions to Australian country music.
He has been recognized by the People’s Choice Awards, CMT Music Awards, and Teen Choice Awards, with nominations for categories such as Favorite Country Artist, Video of the Year and Choice Country Song.
In 2017, Urban received the Recording Artists’ Coalition Award at the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards for his support of music education, and he has been honored with the Artist Humanitarian Award for his charity work with organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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