Artist: Keith Urban

Born: Keith Lionel Urban on October 26th, 1967 in Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand

Music Career: 1990-Present

Breakout Song/Album: “But for the Grace of God,” Keith Urban (1999)

Rating: 5/5

Few foreign country singers have made such a significant dent in the country music world as Keith Urban. The Australian has produced 10 albums over the course of 27 years, while also producing 4 compilation albums with several other chart topping country music artists, like Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, and Eric Church. Urban has also been presented with 39 different musical awards spanning from the CMAs, CMTs, Billboard, and the Grammy Awards.

Urban’s lyrical content is truly amazing, but his skill on the guitar that makes him shine brighter than his contemporaries. The riffs he can put out in songs like the chart toppers, “The Fighter” and “Somewhere In My Car”, are just the tip of the iceberg. Keith Urban is arguably the best guitar player in country music today, a true master of anything you can strum, pick, or shred.

Urban’s personal life, however, has been anything but smooth. During the early years of his career, he became addicted and was a frequent user of cocaine. In 1998, Urban pledged himself to give up his habit and seek rehab. He ditched his problem and successfully completed rehab in 2007, just in time for his Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing Tour. Prior to the completion of his rehab, in 2006, Urban met his future wife, Nicole Kidman. Kidman and Urban are still a powerful couple in the music world today. In fact, Keith’s truly amazing song, “The Fighter,” is written about Nicole, and the things that they went through together, still staying with each other through it all.

“The Fighter” is a true and strong masterpiece of Urban’s. Keith’s fast paced guitar playing, combined with his and Carrie Underwood’s vocals and a deep, loving meaning are what makes “The Fighter” Keith Urban’s crown jewel.

Also, it’s Urban’s deep and soulful meaning to his songs that set him apart from the normal country music crowd. He sings about the enjoyable and happy things in life, while also adding a spicy twist of his Australian roots into the beat of the music he plays. The way Urban’s guitar and smooth vocals blend together so perfectly produces an ear melting sound anytime any of his songs waft in through the radio as you’re cruising down an empty highway with the windows down and a pair of shades on. Keith Urban is most definitely one country singer I would have on repeat for any road trip.