Keith Urban started working with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital several years ago, and he hasn’t stopped since. Like most, if not all, country artists, he paired up with country radio to help with radiothons, as well as donated his time and money to St. Jude. Since 2003, his fan club at KeithUrbanFans.com have put together a limited edition, one-of-a-kind Keith calendar to raise money for the hospital.
“I think the first year I went down to see the hospital and St. Jude was 1999, and I met all the staff down there and saw what they were doing, and it just really hit me,” says Keith. “So, we’ve been involved with them in all different manner of ways over the years, even my fan club has taken it upon themselves to do a calendar each year. They do this all themselves and they raise all the money and they give it to St. Jude.”
Also, last year Keith partnered with the company Cisco and became the founding Artist Ambassador for the company’s Connected Caring program, which created private, one-to-one experiences for children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases via video connections.
“We partnered with a company called Cisco who have this technology called Telepresence which is basically like Facetime for adults with a big beautiful screen, it’s crystal clear. They set up a Telepresence unit in our house in Nashville, and they have one down at the hospital at St. Jude, and every month [last] year, I’ve done a live chat with a chosen family down there. The St. Jude people figure out who they’ll do it with, and I do like a half-hour, 40 minute chat with someone and it’s been an amazing year for that.”
What really struck Keith about St. Jude is that it’s full of hope and light. “They’re not trying to deny the situation, but what they are trying to do is make sure that hope doesn’t get buried in the midst of it, and they do a remarkable job of that.”
Keith is currently sitting at No. 1 on the country charts with his latest hit single, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” which is also the No. 1 Country Digital Single, the No. 1 Shazam Country Song (16th Week at No. 1) and the No. 1 Most Streamed Country Song.
*Keith is nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best Country Album (Ripcord), Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” The 59th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live from the Staples Center in L.A. February 12th at 8pm ET on CBS.
Audio / Keith Urban talks about some of his involvement with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. It includes an annual calendar his fan club puts out, as well as a monthly teleconference chat with patients.
DownloadKeith Urban (St. Jude) 1 OC: …for that. 1:17
“There’s something about sick children that really gets me, and I’m not alone in that. And I’ve felt that way even before I had kids, it’s just that feeling of helplessness that just goes right to the heart of me. So, I think the first year I went down to see the hospital and St. Jude was 1999, and I met all the staff down there and saw what they were doing, and it just really hit me. So, we’ve been involved with them in all different manner of ways over the years, even my fan club has taken it upon themselves to do a calendar each year. They do this all themselves and they raise all the money and they give it to St. Jude. And [then] we partnered with a company called Cisco who have this technology called Telepresence which is basically like Facetime for adults with a big beautiful screen, it’s crystal clear. They set up a Telepresence unit in our house in Nashville, and they have one down at the hospital at St. Jude, and every month [last] year, I’ve done a live chat with a chosen family down there. The St. Jude people figure out who they’ll do it with, and I do like a half-hour, 40 minute chat with someone and it’s been an amazing year for that.”
Audio / Keith Urban says St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is full of hope.
DownloadKeith Urban (St. Jude) 2 OC: …job of that. :54
“That’s the miracle energy I think we all have is hope no matter what we’re going through. It’s always resonated in my music. No matter how dark times have gotten in my life, I’ve always leaned into the light as best I could or at least reached for it. I think one of the things that I’ve always loved about my job is that I get to travel around and bring some of that to all of the places we play. It’s always felt like that. It’s very euphoric, uplifting, positive experience playing music and it’s very inclusive; it brings everybody together. And I’ve found the exact same thing happening at St. Jude, very inclusive, very up, very positive, compassionate, empathetic. They’re not trying to deny the situation, but what they are trying to do is make sure that hope doesn’t get buried in the midst of it, and they do a remarkable job of that.”
Audio / Keith Urban says Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are a natural fit.
DownloadKeith Urban (St. Jude) 3 OC: …St. Jude. :34
“It’s such a natural fit, because – and I’ve played country music my whole life, and it can be defined by a million different ways by a million different people, but the one thing I think everybody will always agree on is what country music is about is community. That’s what it is always about. The styles change, the songs change, the look changes, the sound changes, the lyrics change, but the sense of community and the heart is strong. That’s what country music is about. It’s the people’s music; by the people, for the people. That for me was such a natural fit for St. Jude.”
