History of Keith Urban in Timeline
Keith Urban is a highly acclaimed Australian and American country music artist, known for his skills as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has garnered significant recognition throughout his career, including four Grammy Awards, fifteen Academy of Country Music Awards, thirteen CMA Awards, and six ARIA Music Awards. His song "For You," from the film Act of Valor, earned him nominations for Best Original Song at both the Golden Globe Awards and the Critics' Choice Awards, further highlighting his success and impact in the music industry.
October 1967: Keith Urban Born
On October 1967, Keith Lionel Urban was born in Whangārei, New Zealand, marking the start of his life.
1980: Appearance on New Faces
In 1980, Keith Urban appeared as a contestant on the Australian TV talent show New Faces.
1990: Signs with EMI and releases Debut Album
In 1990, Keith Urban signed with EMI in Australia and released his self-titled debut album.
1991: Nomination for ARIA Award
In 1991, Keith Urban appeared on the compilation album Breaking Ground – New Directions in Country Music, which was nominated for the ARIA Award for Best Country Album.
1991: Self-Titled Debut Album Release
In 1991, Keith Urban released his self-titled debut album in Australia, which charted four singles.
1993: Touring with Slim Dusty
From 1993, Keith Urban toured as a backup act to Slim Dusty.
1994: Touring with Slim Dusty
Keith Urban continued touring as a backup act to Slim Dusty through 1994.
1995: Co-Wrote 'Jesus Gets Jealous of Santa Claus'
In 1995, Keith Urban co-wrote "Jesus Gets Jealous of Santa Claus" on Toby Keith's album Christmas to Christmas.
1996: Co-Wrote 'That Was Him (This Is Now)'
In 1996, Keith Urban co-wrote 4 Runner's single "That Was Him (This Is Now)".
1997: Forms The Ranch band
In 1997, Keith Urban formed a band known as The Ranch.
1998: Checked into Cumberland Heights
In 1998, Keith Urban checked into Cumberland Heights, a treatment centre in Nashville, for substance abuse.
1998: Release of Raining on Sunday by Radney Foster
In 1998, Radney Foster released Raining on Sunday, Keith Urban later had a hit with this same song.
1999: American Solo Debut
In 1999, Keith Urban made his solo American debut with a second eponymous album, which was certified platinum in the US.
1999: Released Self-Titled American Debut Album
In 1999, Keith Urban released his self-titled American debut album, which featured the number 1 hit "But for the Grace of God".
2000: The Kinleys released the song "I'm In"
In 2000, The Kinleys released the song "I'm In", of which Keith Urban covered.
2001: Won Top New Male Vocalist and Horizon Award
In 2001, Keith Urban won the Top New Male Vocalist Award at the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Country Music Association's Horizon Award, marking significant recognition in his career.
July 2002: Release of 'Somebody Like You'
In July 2002, Keith Urban released "Somebody Like You", which spent six weeks at number one.
2002: Release of Golden Road album
In 2002, Keith Urban released his second Capitol album Golden Road, with "Somebody Like You" becoming a major hit and was named by Billboard as the biggest country hit of the 2000s decade.
July 2004: "You Look Good in My Shirt" Charts
In July 2004, although not officially released as a single, "You Look Good in My Shirt" spent one week at number 60 on the country charts, remaining a fan favorite.
2004: Performance at Slim Dusty Tribute Concert
In 2004, Keith Urban performed "Lights on the Hill" at the Tamworth tribute concert following the death of Slim Dusty.
2004: Release of Be Here Album
In 2004, Keith Urban's third American album, Be Here, was released and became his highest-selling album, achieving 4x Platinum certification.
January 2005: Met Nicole Kidman
In January 2005, Keith Urban met Nicole Kidman at G'Day LA, a Hollywood event promoting Australia.
September 2005: Golden Road Certified Triple Platinum
On September 22, 2005, Keith Urban's third studio album, Golden Road, was certified triple platinum for sales of three million copies.
2005: Won Grammy Award
In 2005, Keith Urban won the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "You'll Think of Me."
June 2006: Married Nicole Kidman
On 25 June 2006, Keith Urban married Nicole Kidman at the Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in Sydney.
August 2006: "Once in a Lifetime" Debuts
On August 21, 2006, Keith Urban's "Once in a Lifetime" debuted at No. 17, setting a record for the highest-debuting country single at the time.
October 2006: Checked into Betty Ford Center
On 19 October 2006, Keith Urban checked into the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California, for rehab related to his struggles with addiction. On 20 October, he released a statement regarding the situation.
2006: Release of Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing Album
In 2006, Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing was released, featuring "Once in a Lifetime" and his second Grammy Award-winning song, "Stupid Boy".
January 2007: Completed Rehab
On 18 January 2007, Keith Urban announced he had completed rehab and planned to go on tour to promote his album.
February 2007: Filed Lawsuit Over Domain Name
In February 2007, Keith Urban filed a lawsuit against a New Jersey painter with the same name over the domain KeithUrban.com, which he ultimately lost.
November 2007: Greatest Hits: 18 Kids Release
On November 20, 2007, Keith Urban released his first greatest hits collection, Greatest Hits: 18 Kids, which included all of his Top 10 hits and two new songs.
2007: Greatest Hits Album Release
In late 2007, Keith Urban released a greatest hits package titled Greatest Hits: 18 Kids, showcasing his successful singles.
January 2008: "Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride World Tour" Begins
In January 2008, Keith Urban began the "Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride World Tour" with Carrie Underwood.
January 2008: Announced First Pregnancy
On 7 January 2008, Nicole Kidman announced that she and Keith Urban were expecting their first child together.
May 2008: Debut of "A New Sunshine" at the Grand Ole Opry
In May 2008, Keith Urban debuted a new song titled "A New Sunshine" at the Grand Ole Opry.
2008: Duet with Brad Paisley
In 2008, Keith Urban collaborated with Brad Paisley on the single "Start a Band," which was included on Paisley's album Play.
2008: Unreleased Music
In 2008, music was made that was not released, but later re-released in 2021.
January 2009: "Start a Band" Reaches No. 1
In January 2009, Keith Urban's duet with Brad Paisley, "Start a Band," reached No. 1.
March 2009: Release of 'Kiss a Girl' and 'Defying Gravity'
In March 2009, Keith Urban released "Kiss a Girl" as the second single from his fifth studio album, Defying Gravity, which was also released around the same time.
March 2009: Defying Gravity Album Release
On March 31, 2009, Keith Urban released the album Defying Gravity, adding to his discography.
June 2009: Escape Together Tour and "Only You Can Love Me This Way" filming
In June 2009, Keith Urban's Escape Together tour, which supported the Defying Gravity album, included performances with opening acts like Taylor Swift and Sugarland. On 27 June 2009, Urban filmed a video for "Only You Can Love Me This Way" in Des Moines, Iowa.
May 2010: Started working on Get Closer album
In May 2010, Keith Urban began working on his new album, "Get Closer", in the studio, documenting the recording process on his official website.
November 2010: Get Closer Album Release
On November 16, 2010, Keith Urban released Get Closer, further expanding his collection of studio albums.
December 2010: Birth of Second Daughter
On 28 December 2010, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman had their second daughter, Faith Margaret Kidman Urban, via gestational surrogacy.
November 2011: Joined The Voice Australia as Vocal Coach
In November 2011, Keith Urban was confirmed as one of the vocal coaches in the Australian version of The Voice.
April 2012: Invitation and Induction into the Grand Ole Opry
In April 2012, Keith Urban was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Vince Gill on 10 April. He was then officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on 21 April 2012.
September 2012: Departure from The Voice Australia
In September 2012, Keith Urban announced that he would not return for season two of The Voice Australia.
September 2012: Joined American Idol as a Judge
On 16 September 2012, it was announced that Keith Urban would replace Steven Tyler as a judge in season 12 of American Idol.
2012: Release of "For You"
In 2012, Keith Urban released "For You", which was featured as the theme song of the action film Act of Valor and appeared on the film's soundtrack.
May 2013: Release of "Little Bit of Everything"
On 13 May 2013, Keith Urban released the single "Little Bit of Everything", which was the first single from his eighth studio album, Fuse.
July 2013: Debut of "Little Bit Of Everything" Music Video
On 25 July 2013, the official music video for Keith Urban's "Little Bit Of Everything" debuted on VEVO.
August 2013: Returned as Judge for American Idol Season 13
On 1 August 2013, it was confirmed that Keith Urban would return as a judge for season 13 of American Idol.
September 2013: Fuse Album Release
In September 2013, Keith Urban released the album Fuse, which produced four number-one hits on the Country Airplay chart.
September 2013: Release of Fuse album
On 10 September 2013, Keith Urban released his eighth studio album, Fuse.
October 2013: Launched Signature Guitars on HSN
In October 2013, Keith Urban announced he would sell 'signature' guitars and accessories through Home Shopping Network (HSN).
October 2013: Introduction of Signature Guitar Line
In October 2013, Keith Urban introduced his own signature line of guitars and accessories.
December 2013: "We Were Us" reached number one
In December 2013, Keith Urban's duet with Miranda Lambert, "We Were Us", reached number one on the Country Airplay chart.
2013: Guitar performance on Tim McGraw's single
In 2013, Keith Urban played guitar on Tim McGraw's single "Highway Don't Care", which also featured Taylor Swift.
January 2014: Release of "Cop Car"
In January 2014, Keith Urban released "Cop Car" as a single.
June 2014: Release of "Somewhere in My Car"
In June 2014, Keith Urban released "Somewhere in My Car" as a single.
June 2014: Returned as Judge for American Idol Season 14
On 23 June 2014, it was announced that Keith Urban would return to the judging panel for season 14 of American Idol.
January 2015: Release of "Raise 'Em Up" to Country Radio
On 26 January 2015, Keith Urban's duet with Eric Church, "Raise 'Em Up," was released to country radio.
May 2015: "Raise 'Em Up" Reached Number 1 on Country Airplay
In May 2015, Keith Urban's "Raise 'Em Up" reached number 1 on Country Airplay.
June 2015: Release of John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
In June 2015, Keith Urban released "John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16" as the lead single from his eighth American studio album, Ripcord.
September 2015: Celebrated Golden Road Album Certification
On 22 September 2015, Keith Urban celebrated the tenth anniversary of his third studio album Golden Road being certified triple platinum.
October 2015: Teased and released "Break on Me"
In October 2015, Keith Urban teased a new song called "Break on Me" and released it to the public on 23 October. It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart.
2016: Judging American Idol Season 15
In 2016, Keith Urban returned to judge the 15th season of American Idol.
2016: Performance on "Forever Country"
In 2016, Keith Urban was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country," a medley celebrating 50 years of the CMA Awards.
November 2017: Release of "Female"
On 8 November 2017, Keith Urban released "Female", inspired by the Harvey Weinstein scandal, featuring background vocals from Nicole Kidman.
2017: Retirement from American Idol
In 2017, Keith Urban announced his retirement from being a judge on American Idol.
August 2018: Release of "Never Comin' Down" and Success of "Coming Home"
In August 2018, Keith Urban's "Coming Home" reached number one on the Mediabase Country Chart on 5 August. "Never Comin’ Down" was released to radio as the fourth single.
2018: Graffiti U Album Release
In 2018, Keith Urban released his tenth album, Graffiti U, which included the Top 10 hit "Coming Home".
May 2019: Released "We Were" Single
On 16 May 2019, Keith Urban released a brand new single, "We Were", a reflective mid-tempo ode to mischievous youth, co-written by Eric Church.
November 2019: Played Grey Cup Halftime Show
On 24 November 2019, Keith Urban played the halftime show at the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup championship in Calgary.
February 2020: Released "God Whispered Your Name" Single
On 27 February 2020, Keith Urban released the single "God Whispered Your Name" to country radio. The track was co-written by contemporary Christian artist Chris August.
May 2020: Hosted Drive-In Concert and Announced New Album
In May 2020, Keith Urban hosted a drive-in concert for medical workers at the Stardust Drive-In movie theatre. Later in May 2020, he announced that his eleventh studio album, The Speed of Now Part 1, would be released on 18 September 2020.
August 2020: Released "Change Your Mind" promotional single
In August 2020, Keith Urban released the promotional single, "Change Your Mind".
September 2020: The Speed of Now Part 1 album release
On 18 September 2020, Keith Urban's eleventh studio album, The Speed of Now Part 1, was released.
December 2020: Named in Rolling Stone Australia's List
In December 2020, Keith Urban was listed at number 29 in Rolling Stone Australia's "50 Greatest Australian Artists of All Time" issue.
December 2020: Return to The Voice Australia
On 15 December 2020, Keith Urban rejoined The Voice Australia for season 10.
2020: The Speed of Now Part 1 Album Release
In 2020, Keith Urban released his eleventh album, The Speed of Now Part 1, featuring the global hit "One Too Many" with Pink.
2020: Appointed Officer of the Order of Australia
In 2020, Keith Urban was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours for distinguished service to the performing arts and to charitable organizations.
2020: Featured in Slim and I Documentary
In 2020, Keith Urban was featured in the Australian documentary film Slim and I, discussing the influence of Slim Dusty and Joy McKean on his life.
April 2021: Featured on Taylor Swift's "That's When"
In April 2021, Keith Urban was featured on Taylor Swift's track "That's When" from Fearless (Taylor's Version).
August 2021: Released "Wild Hearts" Single
In August 2021, Keith Urban released the single "Wild Hearts".
March 2022: Released "Nightfalls" Single
In March 2022, Keith Urban released the single "Nightfalls".
June 2022: Embarked on "The Speed of Now World Tour"
In June 2022, Keith Urban embarked on his headlining "The Speed of Now World Tour", with Ingrid Andress as his opening act.
July 2022: Released "Brown Eyes Baby" Single
In July 2022, Keith Urban released the single "Brown Eyes Baby,", which was co-written by Morgan Wallen.
October 2022: Released "Street Called Main" Single
In October 2022, Keith Urban released the single "Street Called Main".
October 2022: Departure from The Voice Australia Again
In October 2022, it was announced that Keith Urban would not be returning to The Voice Australia for the twelfth season in 2023.
2023: Not returning to The Voice Australia
In 2023, Keith Urban did not return to The Voice Australia, due to upcoming tours.
2023: Named One of Rolling Stone's Greatest Guitarists
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Keith Urban as the 241st greatest guitarist of all time.
September 20, 2024: Release of High Album
On September 20, 2024, Keith Urban released his twelfth studio album, High.
February 2025: Home Burglarized
In February 2025, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman's home in Beverly Hills was burglarized, but the family was not present at the time.
