MAIN Pop Culture Country Music   Keith Urban

Known for loyal fan bases in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand — as well as for a famous celebrity marriage to actress Nicole Kidman — the Grammy award winning country music singer and "musician's muscian" was born Keith Lionel Urban on October 26, 1967 in Whangarei, New Zealand.

Later moving with his parents to Caboolture, Queensland, Australia, young Keith was already winning local singing contests by age 10. By his early teens, he had decided that country music stardom would be his life's goal.

It didn't take long. By 1990, Urban signed his first record contract with EMI in Australia, and his first self-titled album was released the following year, spinning off a total of four No. 1 hits.

Moving to Nashville by 1992, his dream of conquering American country music began as backup guitarist for Brooks & Dunn, later forming his own band The Ranch. Although he would meet with much resistance from an industry favoring "real American country", Urban perservered and eventually made his solo U.S. debut album in 1999 resulting in his first American No. 1 single, "But for the Grace of God."

Three years later, his second album, "Golden Road" spun off his first major megahit in "Somebody Like You" and a Grammy Award for "You'll Think of Me".

With his reputation in American country music secured, Urban's U.S. career continued to skyrocket with hit albums such as "Be Here" (2004) followed by major industry accolades as the Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards in 2005.

In 2006, he released "Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing" and later toured in 2008 with Carrie Underwood on the very successful Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour.

Personal Notes

Offstage, Keith Urban made tabloid headlines in 2005 for a romantic relationship with Australian actress Nicole Kidman, who he met in Los Angeles. The celebrity couple were married in Sydney, Australia on June 25, 2006.

Months later, Urban was again making news for having checked into the Betty Ford Center for alcohol and drug abuse — personal demons the star admits originated with his arrival in Nashville and his struggle to break into the American country music scene.

Now on the road to recovery, Keith Urban happily announced with wife Nicole Kidman that they were expecting their first baby due in July 2008. The baby will be the first for both Urban and the 40-year old Kidman, who has two adopted children with ex-husband Tom Cruise.

Keith Urban on the Web:

Keith Urban - The official site offering music videos, photos, tour date schedule, street team signup.

KeithUrbanFans.com - Major fan site featuring the latest news headlines, tour dates, bio, photo gallery, online forum.

UrbanIntensity.com - A Keith Urban Fan Site - Busy fan forum, photos, news, bio.

CMT.com - Keith Urban - Complete bio, photo galleries, music videos, lyrics, tour date & ticket information, fan message boards, related links & resources.

Keith Urban : People.com - The latest news & celebrity rumors, photos, career profile & fun facts.