Opry inducts Urban
Sunday, April 22, 2012 – Keith Urban was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry Saturday by Opry members Trace Adkins and Josh Turner.
On stage after Urban had performed his hits Days Go By and Without You, Adkins presented him with his Opry Member Award and made membership official.
"Thank you very much! Yee haw! That is awesome!" Urban began. After thanking the Opry's members, his parents (who "got me into country music and drove me around to all the gigs"), his wife and daughters, and his fan, Urban said, "It's a long way from Caboolture [Queensland, Australia] to the stage here at the Grand Ole Opry ... and to stand in this circle is the most phenomenal thing. I just want to thank the Opry for this honor, but also the responsibility. This is a responsibility that I take deep to the heart of me. ...This once and for all shows the global popularity and reach of country music. ... I honor the history of country music, but I absolutely fully dedicate myself to the future of country music, as well. God bless you all."
After the induction Urban added his name plaque to the Member Gallery backstage at the Opry by using a pocketknife given to him by Opry member Marty Stuart. Later during an after show reception, Urban used the same knife to cut the Fender-shaped guitar cake. Urban joked, "I just got this knife tonight and already I've used it to screw in a plaque and cut a cake."
More news for Keith Urban
CD reviews for Keith Urban
Get Closer
In a conversation with John Fogerty on CMT's "Crossroads" show, Keith Urban commented that his goal as a young man growing up was to have songs that people heard on the radio, and they would turn them up and sing along. Following that line of thinking, and the influence of catchy songwriters such as Fogerty, Urban continues to hit his mark on "Get Closer."
The song quality is on par with past Urban releases; the musicianship, as is to be expected, is top notch. »»» |
Defying Gravity
Keith Urban's 2006 album, "Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing" seemed to mirror his life in all its tabloid-baiting chaos, and you can only hope that 2009's "Defying Gravity" does the same. If this album is an indication, Urban has clearly put that chaos behind him, replacing it with the love and joy that comes from marriage and a new daughter. The 11 songs dance along, driven by joyful rhythms and guitar hooks. Even the one song that starts off like a kiss-off, »»» |
Keith Urban Greatest Hits: 18 Kids
Keith Urban subtitles this best of CD "18 Kids," which is a little strange because Urban is not usually noted for his songwriting, even though he gets writer's credit on many of these hits. Instead, it's more common for respected songwriters to describe their compositions as children, whom they appear to love almost as much as their very own offspring. There's so much topnotch material on this collection, however, it's easy to see why Urban speaks of its track list so fatherly. »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: Steve Earle doesn't rest (on laurels) –
If you didn't realize Steve Earle had a new disc out, "The Low Highway," it would have been no problem realizing that quite and quickly.
That was because Earle started the two-hour show with three straight tracks from "The Low Highway," and he would not be done for the night. The title track of was a midtempo effort... »»»
Concert Review: The Howlin' Brothers leave the radar behind –
The Howlin' Brothers - this trio, in reality, contains no brothers - are about eight years into their career and on their fifth album. To say they've been under the radar screen may be an understatement. You couldn't even say they've been flying under that screen because they have stuck very close to their Nashville environs.... »»»
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Dark Dirty Mile
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