Keith Urban performed at a private 40th birthday celebration in L.A. on Saturday (March 19th) for Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon. He teamed up with Taylor Swift on her hit “Shake It Off,” and later accompanied Reese and the rest of the party-goers on a rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” the same title as her 2002 film. Other guests included Jennifer Aniston and her husband, actor Justin Theroux, Matthew McConaughey, Katie Hudson, Courtney Cox, Robert Downey, Jr. and Keith’s wife, Nicole Kidman.

Lady Antebellum, Sam Hunt and Kacey Musgraves will perform during the Windy City LakeShake festival June 17th – 19th in Chicago. Joining them will be Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett and Martina McBride, among others.

Mickey Guyton, Canaan Smith and Lauren Alaina are featured in the new issue of NASH Country Weekly magazine in their Spring Fashion article. They, along with Granger Smith, modeled different looks for spring and talked about their style on and off-stage.

Darius Rucker will host his seventh annual Darius and Friends benefit concert at the Wildhorse Saloon June 6^th (as the unofficial start to the CMA Music Festival). Tickets for the show, with proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, go on sale Thursday (March 24th).

David Nail was in South Carolina over the weekend for the NeedtoBreathe Golf Classic. NeedtoBreathe is a Christian Rock band, who’ve won numerous Gospel Music Awards and topped the Christian charts.

The members of Little Big Town were apparently hanging out with superstar Justin Timberlake, writing songs . He shared a photo on his socials of him with LBT’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman and wrote, “NBD… Just writing with @littlebigtown This band is the truth!! So good!!!!”

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.

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.

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 next month’s ACM Awards. They’re joined by Jason Aldean, Tim 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 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.

On February 24^th, 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 19^th #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 20^th #1 and his 4^th 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 2^nd 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 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 12^th 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.

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 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.