Keith Urban will become a member of one of the most prestigious institutions in country music – the Grand Ole Opry – on Saturday (April 21st). He couldn’t be more proud to represent the famed organization. “It’s a big moment for me,” says Keith. “I was thinking what it means to me to be inducted into the Opry is probably no more than just a feeling of they know where my heart is…[my] foundation was always country, so to get this induction…this is exactly where my heart is; always has been.”
If you can’t be there in person to see Keith’s induction for yourself, you can catch it on TV. Noteworthy at the Opry, featuring the entertainer’s induction, will air live Saturday, April 21st at 9pm ET.
In other news, he is hitting the airwaves with his new single, “For You,” and he is donating his proceeds to the Navy SEAL Foundation. For more information, log onto nswfoundation.org.
AUDIO: Keith Urban explains what it means for him to be asked to join the Grand Ole Opry.
Keith Urban (Opry knows his heart) OC: …always has been. :57
“I was thinking what it means to me to be inducted into the Opry is probably no more than just a feeling of they know where my heart is – that’s what it means to me to get this induction. My whole childhood is predominantly immersed in traveling around to country festivals and performing and competing in these talent quests. And you know, I was in this heavy metal band for like two weeks, and I got fired for playing these chicken-picking guitar solos ‘cause it’s a band that plays all this Judas Priest and Whitesnake and everything, but I’m totally immersed in Ricky Skaggs at the time. I bought Highways and Heartaches, and I just discovered Ray Flack and I’m like, ‘This is fantastic.’ And I’m like, [sings guitar picking] every time they throw me a solo, and I got fired from the band. You know, I was 15, and that to me, that sums up what my conundrum was at the time was sort of like, ‘Well, what do I do? What sort of music should I be making?’…And the foundation was always country, so to get this induction…this is exactly where my heart is; always has been.”
AUDIO: Keith Urban says joining the Grand Ole Opry is going to be a “big moment” for him.
Keith Urban (big moment) OC: …for me. :02
“It’s a big moment for me.”
AUDIO: Keith Urban, who will be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, recalls the first person he met at the Grand Ole Opry — Ricky Skaggs.
Keith Urban (1st person met at Opry) OC: …laidback. :25
“Really the first guy that I met out there, when I went out early on, was probably Ricky Skaggs. And ‘cause I was such a Ricky fan, you know. He was just so approachable and easy to talk to, and I was just really such a fan that I kept thinking, ‘Oh my God! I’m talking to Ricky Skaggs. This is so cool,’ you know? But that was the behind-the-scenes vibe at the Opry. It’s just like that. Everybody’s just so approachable and laidback.”
AUDIO: Keith Urban had no clue that his Opry induction would take place on April 21st. He said the calendar had him attending a birthday party, which was a complete lie.
Keith Urban (21st plans) OC: …gonna go. :15
“I [didn’t] know anything about it. All I know is that it was a friend of my wife’s birthday on the schedule, which apparently is totally fictitious, but [laughs] that was it. It was Monica’s birthday on the 21st. So, I didn’t question it. I was just gonna go.”
