Keith Urban and Eric Church picked up an early CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year for “Raise ‘Em Up.” This is Keith’s fourth win in the category. Previous wins include “Start A Band” with Brad Paisley (2009); “Highway Don’t Care” with Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift (2013); and We Were Us” with Miranda Lambert (2014). This win ties him with Vince Gill, McGraw, and Paisley for the most wins in the category. Urban is the only artist to win three years in a row.
“I’ve been real fortunate to get to collaborate with some great artists, but doing this song with Eric was truly magical,” said Urban. “It’s an incredible piece of songwriting, and we’re both so grateful it’s resonated the way it has! Big shout out to our fans and to Country radio and TV for all the support we’ve had along the way!”
One of the top nominees in 2015, this is Church’s second CMA Award – his first was for Album of the Year for Chief in 2012. His nominations include Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Single of the Year for “Talladega,” and Song of the Year for “Like A Wrecking Ball,” which he co-wrote with Casey Beathard.
Audio / Keith Urban says “Raise ‘Em Up” was a perfect duet for him and Eric Church.
DownloadKeith Urban (Raise ‘Em Up-Church) 2 OC: …new place. 1:04
“It’s not a duet, but it hit me that this might be a good song for us to do as a duet because it’s an extraordinary song to begin with. When I got sent it, it got sent under the heading of ‘Song of the Year,’ and I thought, well that’s a tall order for a song. Then I saw the writers Jeffery Steele, Tom Douglas, and Jaren Johnston, and I went, ‘Okay we’ve got some pretty stout writers on this song.’ The lyric is just absolutely extraordinary, and all the things ‘Raise Em-Up’ can apply to. I felt this song was such a journey and a deeply American aspect to this song too, particularly in the second verse. And what ‘Raise Em-Up’ can mean, all the various things that that phrase can mean; it’s such a cinematic song, and I’ve always considered Eric as a cinematic artist, and I sent him the song and he was in the studio immediately. I am so glad he wanted to be a part of it because it took the song to a new place.”
