• KEITH URBAN SHARES SPACE WITH ADELE, JUSTIN BIEBER AND THE CHAINSMOKERS.

    Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” will be included on this year’s Grammy 2017 Nominees album, which is set for release January 20th. The compilation also features songs by Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett, as well as Adele, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber and The Chainsmokers, among others.

    Keith says he wanted “Blue Ain’t Your Color” to be different than a traditional waltz, and he accomplished it by using a drum machine. “It’s a waltz, basically Mmm, da da, mmm da da da It’s a waltz, it’s a waltz. It’s a slow waltz, and I didn’t want it to sound like a typical waltz would sound,” he said. “We played it with drums and bass and a few other things, and it just always sounded kind of like I’ve heard it before. And the drummer I was using – Matt Chamberlain – programmed this drum machine he had, and the sort of machinery sound of it was much more appealing with the acoustic instruments. So, what you really hear is a drum machine and real drums. Real drums do come in at the chorus and play along with I t, but sort of like those old Casio keyboards that had those dink, dink, dink, those things in there, ‘cause I was interested in kind of keeping it a bit minimal and robotic, really.”

    A portion of the album’s proceeds will benefit the MusiCares Foundation and the GRAMMY Museum Foundation.

    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 the challenge of making “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” into more than a typical waltz.

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    Keith Urban (Blue challenge) OC: …much more human. 1:03
    “It’s a waltz, basically Mmm, da da, mmm da da da It’s a waltz, it’s a waltz. It’s a slow waltz, and I didn’t want it to sound like a typical waltz would sound. We played it with drums and bass and a few other things, and it just always sounded kind of like I’ve heard it before. And the drummer I was using – Matt Chamberlain – programmed this drum machine he had, and the sort of machinery sound of it was much more appealing with the acoustic instruments. So, what you really hear is a drum machine and real drums. Real drums do come in at the chorus and play along with it, but sort of like those old Casio keyboards that had those dink, dink, dink, those things in there, ‘cause I was interested in kind of keeping it a bit minimal and robotic, really. That sort of robotic thing with the drums lets everything else be human, the acoustic guitar, the electric guitar, the piano, the vocal – it’s just that much more human.”

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  • KEITH URBAN’S ‘BLUE AIN’T YOUR COLOR’ IS SCORING A LOT OF ‘FIRSTS.’

    Keith Urban scored his 22nd No. 1 on Mediabase and 21st chart-topper on Billboard with his latest SMASH hit, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” during the holidays, and it’s still going strong! Last week, the tune, written by Steven Lee Olsen, Hillary Lindsey and Clint Lagerberg, was No. 1 on three Billboard charts – Country Airplay, Hot Country Songs (which is airplay, sales and streaming) and Country Digital Song Sales.

    He said he wanted to record it the first time he heard it. “When I heard ‘Blue Ain’t Your Color’ for the first time, it just struck me as one of those rare songs that encompass so many things in it. I couldn’t even label what it was, what style it was. It’s got a bit of soul, it’s got a bit of blues, it’s got a bit of country, it’s got just a big mix of all good things,” says Keith. “Lyrically, it’s just an incredible song, incredible song. [It’s got] great melody, great lyric. I was so hopin’ I could do the song justice when we got in the studio.”

    “Blue Ain’t Your Color” is also the No. 1 Country Digital Download, No. 1 Most Shazam Country Song (for 17 Weeks – and it set the record for most weeks at the top on the Country Shazam Charts for 2016), and it’s the No. 1 Most Streamed Country Song.

    The song follows three previous No. 1 songs from his latest album, Ripcord, including “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16,” “Break on Me” and “Wasted Time.”

    Audio / Keith Urban talks about the first time he heard his latest hit, "Blue Ain't Your Color."

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    Keith Urban (1st time he heard Blue) OC: …in the studio. :31
    “I just know when I heard ‘Blue Ain’t Your Color’ for the first time, it just struck me as one of those rare songs that encompass so many things in it. I couldn’t even label what it was, what style it was. It’s got a bit of soul, it’s got a bit of blues, it’s got a bit of country, it’s got just a big mix of all good things. Lyrically, it’s just an incredible song, incredible song. [It’s got] great melody, great lyric. I was so hopin’ I could do the song justice when we got in the studio.”

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Sam Hunt, The Band Perry

    Little Big Town will perform the National Anthem at the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship between the Alabama Crimson Tide (winner of the Peach Bowl) and the Clemson Tigers (winners of the Fiesta Bowl). The game takes place at the Rayond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Monday (January 9th) at 8:30pm ET.

    Nominations were announced for the iHeart Music Awards on Wednesday (January 4th). Luke Bryan has nods in a couple of categories, including the all-genre Male Artist of the Year, as well as Country Artist of the Year, alongside labelmate Keith Urban. Dierks Bentley’s “Somewhere on a Beach” is up for Country Song of the Year, while Chris Stapleton has a Best New Country Artist of the Year nomination.

    Chris Stapleton earned some heavy metal. His songs “Traveller,” “Fire Away,” “Nobody To Blame” and “Parachute” have all been certified gold.

    Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Sam Hunt are up for Favorite Male Country Artist, while Little Big Town and The Band Perry are up for Favorite Country Group at this year’s People’s Choice Awards, airing live January 18th at 9pm ET on CBS.

  • KEITH URBAN AND ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL HAVE A LONG, BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP.

    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.

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    Keith 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.

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    Keith 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.

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    Keith 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.”

    Audio / LINER Keith Urban (St. Jude Partner in Hope)

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    Video / Keith and the Connected Caring Program

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    Video / Keith Urban message about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

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  • KEITH URBAN GOES ACOUSTIC IN TRIBUTE TO SEVERAL MUSIC ICONS WE LOST IN 2016.

    Following his impressive New Year’s Eve medley paying tribute to some of the musicians we lost in 2016 during his headlining show at Nashville’s Bicentennial Mall, Keith Urban posed an acoustic version to include George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” as well as Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and the Eagles’ “Take It Easy,” (Glenn Frey, who died last January), David Bowie’s “Heroes,” Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” and Prince’s “Purple Rain.”

    Keith is currently sitting at the top of the country charts with his single, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” and is poised to stay there for another week.

    *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.

    Video / KEITH URBAN PAYS AN ACOUSTIC TRIBUTE TO SOME OF THE MUSICIANS WE LOST IN 2016.

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  • KEITH URBAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO MANY MUSICIANS WHO PASSED IN 2016.

    During his New Year’s Eve concert in Nashville, Keith Urban paid tribute to many of the iconic performers who died in 2016. The set included a medley of songs by Leonard Cohen (“Hallelujah”), Glenn Frey’s “Take It Easy,” David Bowie’s “Heroes,” Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” and “Purple Rain” by Prince. Helping him out was wife Nicole Kidman who came out on stage prior to midnight to sing backup and dance while her husband performed for thousands.

     

     

  • KEITH URBAN SET TO HEADLINE NASHVILLE’S NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY.

    Keith Urban is set to headline the Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville (#NashvilleNYE) event. Keith, who’s making his way up to the top of the country charts with “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” will lead a cool night of music which will also include rock band StyxA Thousand Horses, Charlie Worsham and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The event is free and open to the public.

    “What could be better than New Year’s Eve in downtown Nashville,” said Keith. “It’s an awesome way to ring in 2017, and I can’t wait for the party!”

    The event will take place at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park for the first time to accommodate growth and enhance security. Last year’s New Year’s event on Lower Broadway attracted a record 150,000 to downtown, generating $22.2 million in direct visitor spending.

    Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville event site will open at 4pm with a DJ. The raising of the Music Note by Mayor Megan Barry and the Fisk Jubilee Singers® will follow at approximately 6:15pm.

    Follow the NCVC on social media for event updates, information and answers to your #NashvilleNYE questions:
    Twitter: @VisitMusicCity – http://twitter.com/visitmusiccity
    Instagram: @VisitMusicCity – http://instagram.com/visitmusiccity
    Facebook: Visit Music City – http://facebook.com/nashvillemusiccity

    Audio / Keith Urban is thrilled to be headlining this year's New Year's Eve show in Nashville.

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    Keith Urban (New Year’s Eve show in Nashville) OC: …be cool. :20
    “I’m really looking forward to it. As cold as it’ll be, it won’t be as cold as the New Year’s the last time we played outdoors which is on the rim of Niagra Falls, and we played outside. It sounds like a dare, but it was crazy. I’m really glad we get to play here [in Nashville] on New Year’s Eve. I’ve lived here for 24 years, and I’ve never played a New Year’s Eve show, so it’ll be cool.”

    Video / Keith Urban on his New Year's Eve gig in Nashville

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  • NEW YEAR’S LINERS 2016

    Audio / LINER Brothers Osborne (New Year)

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    “Hey! This is TJ, and I’m John, and we are Brothers Osborne. Happy New Year.”

    Audio / LINER Canaan Smith (Happy New Year)

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    “Hey, what’s up guys? I’m Canaan Smith, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

     

    Audio / LINER Clare Dunn (Happy New Year)

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    “Hey! I’m Clare Dunn, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

     

    Audio / LINER David Nail (New Year)

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    “This is David Nail, wishing you a Happy New Year’s Day.”

     

    Audio / LINER Darius Rucker (Happy New Year)

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    “Hey y’all! What’s up? This is Darius Rucker, wishing you a Happy New Year!

    Audio / LINER Dierks Bentley (Happy New Year)

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    “Hey, it’s Dierks Bentley. Happy New Year!”

    Audio / LINER Easton Corbin (New Years)

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    “Hey everybody! I’m Easton Corbin, wishing you a Happy New Year!”

    Audio / LINER Eric Church (Happy New Year)

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    “Hey! It’s Eric Church, hoping you have a Happy New Year.”

    Audio / LINER Eric Paslay (Happy New Year)

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    “Hi! I’m Eric Paslay, wishing you a Happy New Year!”

    Audio / LINER Gary Allan (New Year)

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    “Hey everybody! I’m Gary Allan. Happy New Year!”

    Audio / LINER Jon Pardi (New Year)

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    “Hi! I’m Jon Pardi, wishing you a Happy New Year!”

    Audio / LINER Josh Turner (New Year)

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    “Hey! I’m Josh Turner. Happy New Year!”

     

    Audio / LINER Kacey Musgraves (New Year)

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    “Hey! It’s Kacey Musgraves, hoping you have a safe and Happy New Year!”

     

    Audio / LINER Keith Urban (New Year)

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    “Hey everyone! This is Keith Urban. Have a safe and happy New Year.”

    Audio / LINER Kip Moore (New Year)

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    “It’s Kip Moore, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

    Audio / LINER Lauren Alaina (New Year)

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    “This is Lauren Alaina, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

    Audio / LINER LBT (New Year)

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    “Hey! We’re Little Big Town. Happy New Year!”

    Audio / LINER Luke Bryan (New Year)

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    “Hey! This is Luke Bryan, hoping you have a Happy New Year.”

    Audio / LINER Mickey Guyton (New Year)

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    “Hey! This is Mickey Guyton, wishing you a Happy New Year.”

    Audio / LINER Sam Hunt (Happy New Year)

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    “Hey everybody! I’m Sam Hunt. Happy New Year!”

    Audio / LINER Shania Twain (Happy New Year)

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    “Hi! This is Shania Twain. Happy New Year!”

    Audio / LINER TBP (New Year)

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    “Hey everybody! We are The Band Perry wishing you a Happy New Year.”

  • CHRISTMAS 2016: Keith Urban

    Keith Urban just wrapped his Ripcord World Tour in Brisbane, Australia over the weekend, so he’s off for a few days. Keith and his family, including wife Nicole Kidman and daughters Sunday and Faith, are enjoying the holiday in Sydney, Australia, visiting family and hitting the beach, which is what he did on Christmas when he was a kid.

    “We had great Christmases growing up. I really, really enjoyed them,” says Keith. “Mostly, we’d go to the beach, you know, ’cause there it’s summertime. Load up the station wagon and head off to the beach.”

    He’s expected to return following Christmas to get ready for his headlining gig on New Year’s Eve in Nashville.

    Keith’s latest song, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” is poised to top the country charts in the new year.

    Audio / As a kid in Australia, Keith Urban headed to the beach for Christmas. Because it's summer Down Under during the holidays, most families hang out in the surf and sun.

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    Keith Urban (Christmas-beach) OC: …to the beach. :24
    “I have great memories of getting up early and going and jumping on your parents’ bed and getting them up. You know, and then of course you tear open the presents and then it’s done and it’s like eight in the morning, and you’ve got all morning now to sort of wish you had more presents to open. We had great Christmases growing up. I really, really enjoyed them. Mostly, we’d go to the beach, you know, ’cause there it’s summertime. Load up the station wagon and head off to the beach.”

    Audio / LINER Keith Urban (Christmas)

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    “Hi folks, this is Keith Urban, wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.”

    Audio / LINER Keith Urban (Holiday season)

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    “Hi everyone, this is Keith Urban, wishing you and all your family the very best this holiday season.”

  • KEITH URBAN PERFORMS ‘THE FIGHTER’ WITH CARRIE UNDERWOOD IN AUSTRALIA.

    Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood have been spending the past couple of weeks touring Australia, and they’re wrapping up the trek Down Under this weekend. Every night, the pair would perform together, singing “The Fighter” from Keith’s Ripcord album, as well as the Stevie Nicks-Tom Petty duet “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.”

    “We’ve toured together before, but we’ve never had a song together to do, so it’s great that we get to do ‘The Fighter.’ It was actually released as a single in Australia quite a while back and was a hit down there, so people are gonna know that song,” says Keith. “It has all been a very organic thing about us going down together at the same time and touring together. We would’ve been doing it had we not had the song, but with the fact that we’ve got ‘The Fighter’ as well is excellent.”

    Keith’s Ripcord World Tour is set to wrap in Brisbane on Saturday (December 17th).

    Keith, whose latest single “Blue Ain’t Your Color” is sitting in the Top 5 on the country charts, will headline Nashville’s New Year’s Eve Celebration at Bicentennial Mall.

    Audio / Keith Urban talks about being able to perform 'The Fighter'with Carrie Underwood during their tour Down Under.

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    Keith Urban (Carrie Australia) OC: …excellent. :24
    “We’ve toured together before, but we’ve never had a song together to do, so it’s great that we get to do ‘The Fighter.’ It was actually released as a single in Australia quite a while back and was a hit down there, so people are gonna know that song. It has all been a very organic thing about us going down together at the same time and touring together. We would’ve been doing it had we not had the song, but with the fact that we’ve got ‘The Fighter’ as well is excellent.”

    Video / Keith and Carrie singing 'The Fighter.'

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    Video / Keith and Carrie singing 'Stop Draggin' My Heart Around'

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