Keith Urban
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Keith Urban began his country music career when he was just a child, and despite some rocky times over the years, he is now sitting pretty at the top of his game with numerous chart-topping albums and a pretty wife at his side.
The Early Years
Keith Lionel Urban was born on October 26, 1967 in Whangarei, New Zealand. Two years later, his family moved to Australia, where he lived until he came to the United States in 1992. By age eight, he was winning talent shows and by the time he was a teenager, his band was performing in local Aussie clubs. He quit school at 15 to work on his music. From 1990 to 1991, the country crooner had four number one hits in Australia. After coming to Nashville, Tennessee, his group, The Ranch, topped the charts in 1997 with their self-titled album. The group later disbanded so Urban could pursue his solo career.
Country Music Career
In 2000, his American self-titled debut album went straight to the top of the charts. A year later, he was named Top New Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. In 2002, his hit single, Somebody Like You spent a record nine weeks at number one on the country music charts. He toured with country acts Brooks and Dunn and Kenny Chesney in 2003, and then headlined his own arena tour, Keith Urban Be Here '04. He went on the road again in Alive in '05, all the while receiving many prestigious music industry awards. In August 2006, he had the highest debuting country single in history. Once in a Lifetime hit the charts at number 17, breaking Garth Brooks' former record of Good Ride Cowboy, which debuted at number 18. In April 2007, Urban will kick off a tour promoting his latest album, Love, Pain and the whole crazy thing, performing in the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and finally the United States in June.
Country Music Awards
To date, he has received more than 35 national and international music awards. Here are some of his latest accomplishments:
- Country Music's Sexiest Man (Country Weekly - 2006)
- Top Male Vocalist (Academy of Country Music - 2006)
- Male Vocalist of the Year (Country Music Awards - 2006)
- Video of the Year: Better Life (Country Music Television - 2006)
- Best Male Country Vocal Performance: You'll Think of Me (Grammy Awards - 2006)
- Country Music's Hottest Bachelor (Country Weekly - 2005)
- Album of the Year (Be There - 2005)
- Entertainer of the Year (Country Music Awards - 2005)
- Artist of the Year (Radio Music Awards - 2005)
- International Artist of the Year (Country Music Awards - 2005)
- Country Music Artist of the Year (French Association - 2005)
- Male Vocalist of the Year (Country Music Awards - 2004)
Discography
Many of Urban's singles, videos and albums have received certified gold, platinum, double platinum, triple platinum and quadruple platinum status. His releases so far include:
- Keith Urban (1991 Australian release)
- Ranch (1997)
- Keith Urban (1999)
- Golden Road (2002)
- Be Here (2004)
- In the Ranch (2004)
- You're My Better Half (2005)
- Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing (2006)
Battling Addiction -- Not Once, But Twice
It's no secret that Keith Urban has had some addiction problems. In 1998, it was reported he was a free-base cocaine user. He checked himself into the Nashville-based Cumberland Heights treatment center. In October 2006, he voluntarily checked himself into the Betty Ford Center in Southern California for alcohol addiction. He was released in January 2007.
Marriage to Nicole Kidman
On June 25, 2006, Urban married Academy Award-winner Nicole Kidman at sundown in Sydney, Australia. The couple met in January 2005 at a gala in Los Angeles honoring noted Australians. Kidman stood at her husband's side during his recent stint at the Betty Ford Clinic. They have residences in Sydney and Nashville. This is Urban's first marriage and Kidman's second. She was married to actor Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001.
Suing Who?
Keith Urban is suing Keith Urban. In February 2007, the country singer filed suit in a U.S. District Court claiming that New Jersey artist Keith D. Urban is using the Website keithurban.com "in a deceptive manner and for commericial purposes." In the lawsuit, the Grammy winner accuses the painter of:
- Federal trademark infringement
- Dilution of a federally registered trademark
- Federal unfair competition
- Violation of the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act and the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act
While the lawsuit doesn't specify monetary damages, Keith Urban the singer is seeking the transfer of the web address. He also wants an injunction barring the artist from running a Web site that suggests any relationship to him.
Keith Urban Trivia
Impress your family, friends and co-workers with this trivia:
- He posed for Playgirl in April 2001.
- His favorite instrument is an electric guitar named Clarence.
- The three-piece band Urban played with when he made his Nashville debut was called The Ranch.
- Country singer Kenny Chesney gave him a Harley Davidson motorcycle at the end of their 2003 tour.
Additional Information
Comments
I WOULD LIKE TO GET MY HANDS ON THE PLAYGIRL MAGAZINE. HOW CAN I GET THE BOOK FOR 2001?
-- Contributed by: NANCYThis page has been accessed 1,219 times. This page was last modified 17:59, 16 February 2007.
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