Keith Urban facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keith Urban
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Urban in 2020
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Keith Lionel Urbahn
26 October 1967 Whangārei, New Zealand
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| Years active | 1990–present |
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| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
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| Origin | Caboolture, Queensland, Australia |
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Keith Urban (born Keith Lionel Urbahn on October 26, 1967) is a famous country singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is from both Australia and the United States. Keith Urban has won many important awards, including four Grammy Awards. He also has 15 Academy of Country Music Awards and 13 CMA Awards.
Keith Urban has released 11 studio albums and one album with his band, The Ranch. Many of his songs have become number one hits on the US country music charts. He has also worked with many other artists, like Pink, Nelly Furtado, Dolly Parton, and Carrie Underwood.
Born in New Zealand, Keith Urban moved to Australia when he was a child. He started his music career there before moving to the United States. He became a coach on The Voice in Australia and a judge on American Idol.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Keith Urban was born in Whangārei, New Zealand. When he was two years old, his family moved to Caboolture, Queensland in Australia. He loved music from a young age. He got a ukulele at age four and started playing the guitar at six.
His parents enjoyed country music, which influenced him. He took guitar lessons and entered local music competitions. Keith Urban also performed in a local theater group. He was inspired by rock guitarists like Mark Knopfler and Lindsey Buckingham.
In 1980, Keith Urban appeared on an Australian TV talent show called New Faces. He later became part of the Australian country music scene. He performed on TV shows and won a Golden Guitar award with Jenny Wilson at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. He was also in a band called 'Kids Country'.
Musical Journey
Early Career and The Ranch
In 1990, Keith Urban signed with EMI in Australia. He released his first album, Keith Urban, in 1991. He toured with famous Australian country singer Slim Dusty and even sang backing vocals for the band INXS.
Keith Urban moved to Nashville, USA, in 1992. He played guitar on albums for other artists like Garth Brooks. In 1997, he formed a band called The Ranch with Peter Clarke and Jerry Flowers. They released one album and had two songs on the US country charts.
Solo Success and Hit Albums
Keith Urban released his first solo American album in 1999, also called Keith Urban. This album was very successful and included his first number one hit, "But for the Grace of God". He won awards like Top New Male Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
His second American album, Golden Road, came out in 2002. The first song from this album, "Somebody Like You", was a huge hit, staying at number one for six weeks. Another song from this album, "You'll Think of Me", won him his first Grammy Award in 2005.
In 2004, his album Be Here became his best-selling album. It included hit songs like "Days Go By" and "Making Memories of Us". In 2006, he released Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing, which featured "Stupid Boy". This song earned him his second Grammy Award in 2007.
Continued Hits and Tours
In 2007, Keith Urban released a greatest hits album called Greatest Hits: 18 Kids. In 2008, he toured with Carrie Underwood. He also had another number one hit with Brad Paisley called "Start a Band".
His album Defying Gravity was released in 2009. It included hit songs like "Sweet Thing" and "Only You Can Love Me This Way". He went on the Escape Together tour, with opening acts like Taylor Swift and Sugarland.
In 2010, Keith Urban released the album Get Closer. This album had several number one hits, including "Put You in a Song" and "Long Hot Summer". In 2012, he was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a famous country music stage.
Recent Albums and Collaborations
Keith Urban's album Fuse was released in 2013. It featured many different producers and included the number one duet "We Were Us" with Miranda Lambert. Other hits from this album were "Somewhere in My Car" and "Raise 'Em Up" with Eric Church.
In 2016, he released Ripcord. This album had major hits like "Blue Ain't Your Color", which was number one for 12 weeks. He also had a duet with Carrie Underwood called "The Fighter".
His tenth album, Graffiti U, came out in 2018. It included the song "Coming Home" with Julia Michaels. In 2020, he released The Speed of Now Part 1, which featured the global hit "One Too Many" with Pink. In 2021, he collaborated with Taylor Swift on her re-recorded album Fearless (Taylor's Version).
In 2024, Keith Urban released his twelfth studio album, High. This album includes songs like "Straight Line" and "Messed Up as Me". He also had a song called "Go Home W U" featuring Lainey Wilson.
Television Appearances
The Voice Australia
In 2011, Keith Urban became a vocal coach on the Australian version of The Voice. He was a coach for the first season. He returned to the show for its tenth season in 2020 and the eleventh season in 2022.
American Idol
Keith Urban joined American Idol as a judge in 2012 for season 12. He judged alongside Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Nicki Minaj. He continued as a judge for seasons 13, 14, and 15, leaving the show in 2016.
Documentary Film
In 2020, Keith Urban appeared in the Australian documentary film Slim and I. In the film, he talks about how the famous Australian country music duo Slim Dusty and Joy McKean influenced his life and music.
Signature Guitar Line
In October 2013, Keith Urban announced that he would sell his own line of 'signature' guitars and accessories. These were sold through the Home Shopping Network (HSN). A part of the money from these sales helps charities like The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation.
Personal Life
Keith Urban is a citizen of both Australia and the United States. He met Australian actress Nicole Kidman in 2005. They started dating and got married on June 25, 2006, in Sydney, Australia.
Keith and Nicole have two daughters. Their first daughter was born in 2008 in Nashville. Their second daughter was born in 2010. In February 2025, their home in Beverly Hills was broken into, but the family was not there at the time.
Discography
Solo Studio Albums
- Keith Urban (1991)
- Keith Urban (1999)
- Golden Road (2002)
- Be Here (2004)
- Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing (2006)
- Defying Gravity (2009)
- Get Closer (2010)
- Fuse (2013)
- Ripcord (2016)
- Graffiti U (2018)
- The Speed of Now Part 1 (2020)
- High (2024)
The Ranch Studio Albums
- The Ranch (1997)
Filmography
- Paradoria (2015) - Various roles (voice)
- The Amazing World of Gumball (2016) - Guitar Man (voice)
- Paradoria 2: Enchanted Realm (2019) - Various roles (voice)
- Back to the Outback (2021) – Doug (voice)
Tours
Headlining Tours
- CMT on Tour: Keith Urban Be Here '04 (2004)
- Alive in '05 (2005)
- Still Alive in '06 (2006)
- Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy World Tour (2007)
- Escape Together World Tour 2009 (2009)
- Summer Lovin' 2010 Tour (2010)
- Get Closer 2011 World Tour (2011)
- Light the Fuse Tour (2013–2014)
- Raise 'Em Up Tour (2014)
- ripCORD World Tour (2016–2017) (Carrie Underwood joined Urban as co-headliner for the New Zealand and Australia shows)
- Graffiti U World Tour (2018–2019)
- The Speed of Now World Tour (2022)
- High and Alive World Tour (2025)
Co-headlining Tours
- A.C.M Presents : Keith Urban & Rory Gilliatte '6 String Bandits' Tour (2008)
- Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour (2008) co-headlined with Carrie Underwood
Supporting Tours
- Brooks & Dunn's Neon Circus & Wild West Show 2001
- Eagles Summer 2010 Tour (2010) – Opened for The Eagles and The Chicks
Residencies
- Keith Urban the Las Vegas Residency (2023)
- High in Vegas (2024–2025)
Awards and Honours
Keith Urban was honored as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2020. This award recognized his great work as a singer and songwriter, and his support for charities.
In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine named Keith Urban one of the 241 greatest guitarists of all time.
See also
In Spanish: Keith Urban para niños
