• NEWS AND NOTES: Dierks, Keith, Charles, Mickey, Sam

    Dierks Bentley is among the headliners for the first night of this year’s CMA Music Festival. He’ll be joined by Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts Thursday, June 9th at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.

    Keith Urban was recently named CMC International Artist of the Year at the CMC Music Awards in Australia, his fourth win in this category, and also CMC International Video of the Year, his fifth win in this category, for “Raise ‘Em Up,” featuring Eric Church.

    Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley put on a different hat to produce Chuck Wicks on a version of Justin Bieber’s hit, “Love Yourself.” The song is available now on iTunes.

    Mickey Guyton will perform during the fifth annual Rising Women on the Row in Nashville April 8th.

    Sam Hunt is part of the Carnival Cruise Line’s fall 2016 Carnival LIVE performances, which also includes comedians Chris Tucker and Jim Gaffigan. The “Make You Miss Me” singer will perform on the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Splendor in Cozumel, Mexico October 19th and 20th.

  • KEITH URBAN ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR HIS NEW ALBUM, RIPCORD.

    Keith Urban’s eighth studio album Ripcord, the follow up to his record- breaking #1 album FUSE, will be released Friday, May 6th.   The album coincides with the release of a brand new single (Tuesday, March 29th) and the June 2nd launch of his ‘ripCORD WORLD TOUR 2016’ with Brett Eldredge and special guest Maren Morris.

    Ripcord is almost done – and it’s been an exhilarating journey,” said Urban.  “Getting to work with so many new musicians and writers and co-producers has been a divine experience for me – and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!”

    Ripcord has already produced two No. 1 songs, “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” and “Break On Me”, the four-time Grammy Award winner’s 20th chart-topper.

    For more Keith Urban information go to www.keithurban.net.

    Audio / Keith Urban describes the skydiving reference of the title of his new album, Ripcord.

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    Keith Urban (Ripcord album) OC: …this record. :37
    “There’s songs on the record that probably feel, having not skydived myself, but my wife has done it many, many, many times. There’s definitely songs that sound like that free falling at an incredibly rapid speed. The adrenaline rush of that. The pulling of the cord and suddenly just sort of cruising and coasting and floating and the combination of all those speeds, energies, exhilarations, euphoria, the view, how that changes, all of it, I think, hopefully will be captured in the diversity of songs on this record.”

  • THIS DATE IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY: March 14th

    On this date (March 14th) in 2009, Keith Urban’s “Sweet Thing” tops the Billboard country chart.

  • LUKE BRYAN AND CHRIS STAPLETON HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE LIST OF PERFORMERS AT THIS YEAR’S ACM AWARDS.

    Luke Bryan and Chris Stapleton have been added to the list of performers at next month’s ACM Awards. They’re joined by Jason AldeanTim McGraw and Thomas Rhett. Previously announced performers include Keith Urban, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Kelsea Ballerini, Cam and Florida Georgia Line.

    The 51st Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be hosted by Luke and Dierks, will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 3rd at 8pm ET/delayed PT on CBS.

  • KEITH URBAN GRABS THE ‘CORD’ FOR NEW ALBUM AND TOUR.

    Keith Urban just scored his second No. 1 single from his forthcoming album, ripCord, which is also the title of his tour. He says while the name comes from a play that recently opened in New York City, it’s more of the imagery of a ripcord that he’s drawn to for the title of his album and tour.

    “I like the sound of the word. I like the energy that it denotes, but metaphorically, I also love that it’s a thing that you grab to save your life, and that’s a really beautiful thing,” says Keith. “I was thinking about the various things in my life that I reach for, like family, faith, music, all manner of things. So, ripCord took on a whole new meaning, but it really, for me, fits the music. It definitely fits the tour.”

    The ripCord World Tour 2016, featuring Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris, launches June 2nd in Kansas City and is expected to run through November.

    Audio / Keith Urban explains where he came up with the title for his new album and tour.

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    Keith Urban (ripCord title) OC: …the tour. :32
    “The name ripCord comes from a play that’s opening in New York soon. But the image of a ripcord, I like it. I like the sound of the word. I like the energy that it denotes, but metaphorically I also love that it’s a thing that you grab to save your life, and that’s a really beautiful thing. And I was thinking about the various things in my life that I reach for, like family, faith, music, all manner of things. So, Ripcord took on a whole new meaning, but it really, for me, fits the music. It definitely fits the tour.”

  • KEITH URBAN MAKES HISTORY!

    On February 24th, 2001 a little known country music singer scored his first #1 song with his third single “But For The Grace of God,” from his self-titled debut album.  Fifteen years later, almost to the day, the four-time Grammy Award winner and multiple ACM nominee celebrates another #1, only this time setting not only a new career high, but an historic mark on Billboard’s All-Time Country Airplay Chart.

    “Break on Me,” the second release from Keith Urban’s upcoming album ripCORD, marks his 19th #1 song on Billboard’s All-Time Country Airplay Chart.  This moves Urban into #8 all-time, moving him ahead of Garth Brooks.  The song also marks Urban’s 20th #1 and his 4th consecutive (dating back to 2013’s “We Were Us”) on the Aircheck/Mediabase Country Chart.

    “Music for me has always been about expression and connection,” said Urban.  “So to have all of these songs connect in the way they have hits me on so many different levels.  I’m constantly inspired by the passionate support I get from all of the fans, my friends at country radio and of course Capitol Records.  “Break On Me” holds a very special place in my heart for personal reasons, and for the incredible timing of it hitting number one almost to the day of my very first number one! Truly divine.”

     Urban recently announced his ‘ripCORD World Tour 2016” with Brett Eldredge and special guest Maren Morris.  It gets underway on June 2nd in Kansas City, and thus far will play more than 50 shows in amphitheaters and arenas throughout the U.S.  ‘ripCORD World Tour 2016’ will not only see Urban’s first headlining shows ever in Youngstown (Ohio), Lincoln (Nebraska), Orange Beach (Alabama), Bloomington (Illinois) and Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), but will see his return to several cities in which he hasn’t appeared in three years, including Tampa (Florida), Kansas City (Missouri), Lake Tahoe (Nevada) and West Palm Beach (Florida).

     “Break On Me” is the follow up to “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16”, second #1 song from ripCORD.

    For more official keith urban news and information go to www.keithurban.net or follow him on www.facebook.com/keithurban or @keithurban.

  • KEITH URBAN SCORES HIS 20TH CAREER NO. 1.

    Keith Urban scores his 20th No. 1 single as “Break on Me,” leaps to the top of both the Billboard and Country Aircheck country singles charts. The song, written by Ross Copperman and Jon Nite, is a feeling Keith can relate to from both sides.

    “‘Break On Me’ is just one of those songs that I, the first time I heard it, it hit me in all the right ways, because having been in that place where I’ve needed someone to ‘break on,’ but also of course being someone who could be strong for somebody else,” says Keith. “I’d gotten the song and not long after that was when [my wife] Nic lost her dad, and I found myself living out that song.”

    “Break on Me” is the second the second single from his upcoming album, Ripcord, and the follow-up to his previous No. 1, “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16.”

    • Keith will certainly have a place for this song and many other No. 1 hits when he hits the road on his Ripcord World Tour, featuring Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris, on June 2nd in Kansas City.
    • Keith is set to headline the sixth annual All for the Hall concert with pal Vince Gill April 12th at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The show’s theme is Mashville: The Music City in 2016 and will feature performances by Luke Bryan, Peter Frampton, Sam Hunt, Jason Isbell, Maren Morris, Maddie & Tae, Emmylou Harris, Peter Frampton and Florida Georgia Line, among others.
    • You can also catch Keith every Wednesday and Thursday on the final season of American Idol on FOX at 8pm ET.

    Audio / Keith Urban talks about his latest single, “Break On Me.”

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    Keith Urban (Break On Me) 1 OC: …same reasons. :37
    “‘Break On Me’ is just one of those songs that I, the first time I heard it, it just, it hit me in all the right ways, because having been in that place where I’ve needed someone to ‘break on,’ but also of course being someone who could be strong for somebody else. I’d gotten the song and not long after that was when [my wife] Nic lost her dad, and I found myself living out that song. Once we got it on the road and started playing live, I’d started getting a lot of stories back from people who loved the song for the exact same reasons.”

  • KEITH URBAN WILL PERFORM ON THE ACM AWARDS.

    Keith Urban is among the initial list of performers for this year’s ACM Awards. He’ll be joined by Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line and Cam.

    Keith is nominated for both Vocal Event and Song of the Year for “Raise ‘Em Up” with Eric Church.

    Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

    The 51st Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley, will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 3rd at 8pm live ET/delayed PT on CBS.

  • KEITH URBAN CONNECTS TO BOTH SIDES OF ‘BREAK ON ME.’

    Keith Urban is closing in on the top of the country charts with his last single, “Break On Me,” the second single from his upcoming album, Ripcord, and the follow-up to his recent No. 1 “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16.”

    The song, written by Ross Copperman and Jon Nite, is a feeling Keith can relate to from both sides.

    “‘Break On Me’ is just one of those songs that I, the first time I heard it, it hit me in all the right ways, because having been in that place where I’ve needed someone to ‘break on,’ but also of course being someone who could be strong for somebody else,” says Keith. “I’d gotten the song and not long after that was when [my wife] Nic lost her dad, and I found myself living out that song.”

    Keith will certainly have a place for this song and many other No. 1 hits when he hits the road on his Ripcord World Tour, featuring Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris, on June 2nd in Kansas City.

    TIDBIT: If “Break On Me” hits the top of the chart, it will be Keith’s 20th No. 1 hit.

    Audio / Keith Urban talks about his latest single, “Break On Me.”

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    Keith Urban (Break On Me) 1 OC: …same reasons. :37
    “‘Break On Me’ is just one of those songs that I, the first time I heard it, it just, it hit me in all the right ways, because having been in that place where I’ve needed someone to ‘break on,’ but also of course being someone who could be strong for somebody else. I’d gotten the song and not long after that was when [my wife] Nic lost her dad, and I found myself living out that song. Once we got it on the road and started playing live, I’d started getting a lot of stories back from people who loved the song for the exact same reasons.”

    Audio / LINER Keith Urban (Break on Me intro)

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  • THIS DATE IN HISTORY (Wednesday, February 24th): Keith Urban

    On February 24th, 2001, Keith Urban scored his first No. 1 single, “But for the Grace of God.” He co-wrote the song with Jane Weiland and Charlotte Caffey from The Go-Gos, and it appeared on his 1999 self-titled album, Keith Urban.

    Keith is now on the cusp of scoring his 20th No. 1 single with “Break on Me,” the second release from his upcoming album, Ripcord.

    Audio / At the No. 1 party for “But For the Grace of God,” The Go-Gos’ Jane Weiland, who co-wrote the song with Keith and her bandmate Charlotte Caffey, explained that she had some preconceived notions when she came to write with Keith, and it didn’t turn out the way she expected.

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    Jane Weiland (Keith Urban) OC: …on the eyes. :36
    “Keith knows who he is, and you can’t make him be who you want him to be, which is how the session started out. I know I came in with some preconceived notions of him being kind of like a sort of rockabilly-crossover-country guy, and I’m like, ‘No, you should do this,’ and he’s like, ‘nope, nope, nope.’ And I’m like, ‘Dang it! He won’t listen to me!’ And that’s ‘cause he knows who he is, and I think that is really one of the most important character qualifications that an artist needs to have. In Keith’s case, he’s the finest guitar player I’ve ever seen, literally the finest guitar player, and he is a pitch-perfect singer and he is easy on the eyes.”

    Audio / At the No. 1 party for “But For the Grace of God,” Keith Urban said the writing session with Jane Weiland and Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Gos didn’t start off well, but when they were about to throw in the towel, a title sparked the song.

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    Keith Urban (The Go-Gos) OC: …came out. :32
    “From The Go-Gos session that I did with the two girls, I just thought it was a disastrous idea to begin with, theoretically it looks pretty bad.  They had these ideas, and they were tossing out these ideas, and they were just so not me. It was so mismatched, and I was uncomfortable and squirming in my chair, and I was like, ‘Oh, wow! (laughs) whatever.’ And it was it. We decided this was a complete waste of time, let’s go get something to eat, and then Charlotte said, ‘Well, I’ve got this title called ‘But For the Grace of God,’ and boom, the song came out.”

     

    Video / Keith Urban But For the Grace of God video

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