Keith Urban
Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, this sexy singer-guitarist finally found his niche in Nashville playing American-style country. Raised by country-loving parents, the precocious musician b...
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BirthDate BirthPlace |
10/25/1967
Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand |
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American Idol viewing figures drop to an all-time low
May 16, 2013 8:17pm ESTMariah Carey and Nicki Minaj's drama-filled antics on American Idol have failed to keep the struggling show afloat - the talent contest captured its smallest ever audience for finale performances on Wednesday (15May2013). The singing competition's latest line-up of judges - Carey, Minaj, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson - have struggled to make their mark with U.S. viewers, with only 11.57 million people tuning in to watch season 12's finalists battle it out to win. The series has lost more than two million viewers a night compared to season 11. The previous low for a final performance was registered last year (12) with a 4.2 rating compared to Wednesday's 2.9 score. Idol's ratings drop comes as the show's only remaining original judge, Randy Jackson, prepares to leave the panel on Thursday's (16May13) finale. This year's (13) panel has been tarnished by a series of bitter bust-ups between Carey and Minaj, with the pair arguing over their career success on several occasions.
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Candice Glover and Kree Harrison on Their 'Emotional' 'American Idol' Singles
May 16, 2013 2:09am ESTWhile performing on stage at the Nokia Theatre in front of a crowd of 7,000 people (and millions more on TV) was exhilarating for American Idol finalists Candice Glover and Kree Harrison, it was also a deeply emotional experience — especially singing the lyrics for their potential coronation singles. Both songs seemed tailor-written to address each woman's struggles, Candice's battle for self-confidence and Kree losing both parents at a young age. "I got emotional in the middle of the song, but I couldn't stop because I didn't want to go off key," Glover confesses to reporters after her performance of "I Am Beautiful." "Then at the end I got emotional again because of the lyrics — I connected with them. Even when I first heard the song I got emotionally connected to it. So it was definitely easy to put myself into the lyrics." Harrison echoes that sentiment. "It was really easy to get emotionally connected to the song. Lyrically, melodically — I couldn’t have wrote it better myself," she says of "All Cried Out." "I’m so thankful that I’m given this. The best part of tonight for me was being able to sing my single, hopefully, to all of these people. The energy in the room was insane…unbelievable." Although Harrison has a deep well of tragedy to dig from, she has actually found it more difficult to connect with emotional songs. "The truth is, I felt like coming into this competition, I wasn’t so good with emotional songs," she says. "I had always had a wall up because I didn’t want to get to that point where I couldn’t handle the lyrics and I couldn’t really get it out, but I found that there’s a happy medium with connecting with all of you and really showing your heart through the lyrics. I think that it’s just been this journey that’s helped me figure that out." Watch both performances below. Which one's your favorite? More:Keith Urban Would Return to Judge 'American Idol''Idol' Finalists on Their Potential SinglesRatings Might Be Sinking, But Don't Blame 'Idol' Judges Follow Jean on Twitter @hijean From Our Partners:Watch Justin Bieber Attacked in Dubai (Celebuzz)33 Child Stars: Where Are They Now? (Celebuzz)
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Keith Urban Would Return to 'American Idol' Next Year
May 16, 2013 1:40am ESTRandy Jackson may be stepping back from the American Idol judges' table — with Nicki Minaj and likely Mariah Carey not far behind him — but Keith Urban says he'll happily stay put on the panel for Season 13. When asked if he'd return next year, Urban told reporters at the American Idol finale that he'd love to stay on board. "I would, yeah. I mean, I literally enjoy coming to work every day and that's a rarity," he said. Urban's judging style is more calm and level-headed, but always honest. "I think it's more like being part record producer, part A&R person, and an artist as well," Urban said of his role. "For me it's just about seeing things about them that they need to get rid of because they get in the way of their true talent — little bad habits when you're starting out. You chip away all the stuff that is there in the beginning. In a lot of ways it's just picking up on those things that I probably had at that age as well." The two remaining finalists, country-tinged Kree Harrison and soulful Candice Glover, have very different vocal styles but Urban says the things he loves most about them are their similarities. "In a lot of ways, as different as they are, they share a lot of [traits]. That's why it was hard tonight," Urban says. "They have a lot of vulnerability and strength that are both apparent when they perform. They're both survivors. They both come from very rootsy, earthy, real families, and I think that's what's apparent in what they do. There's no pageantry in either of them; that's why I love them both so much. They sing because they need to sing, not because they want to be famous. That's what they do and we're really lucky to have them." More:How 'American Idol' Gave Me a Crush on Keith UrbanKeith Urban Cops to Crying During Kree's Performance'Idol' Finalists Kree and Candice on Their Potential Singles Follow Jean on Twitter @hijean From Our Partners:Watch Justin Bieber Attacked in Dubai (Celebuzz)33 Child Stars: Where Are They Now? (Celebuzz)
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Nicki Minaj is Probably Leaving 'American Idol' Too
May 15, 2013 5:45pm ESTLittle Ladybugs! Nicki Minaj has some bad news for you: The American Idol judge is likely not returning to the Fox reality hit after Season 12 ends Thursday night, with either Candice Glover or Kree Harrison the recipient of a confetti shower on the Nokia Theatre stage. According to Us Weekly, a source confirmed to the magazine that "it's safe to say" Minaj's tenure is over. "She's okay with it," the source says. "She had a great time but was only going to do one season anyway. Although Fox reps declined to comment on the story, it seems quite plausible to any casual Idol viewer. Although Minaj's brash honesty was a welcome addition to the show, it never seemed that she was fully committed to her role as judge. She was the first person late to an Idol broadcast in 12 seasons, after all. Minaj's possible departure comes the week after Randy Jackson confirmed that he's stepping down from the judges' table after more than a decade with the show. Previous reports have indicated that the entire panel will be replaced for Season 13, Mariah Carey and Keith Urban have remained mum on their future with the show. Will you miss Nicki? Should Idol put together a completely new judging panel for next year? More:'Idol' Finalists Kree and Candice on Their Potential SinglesRandy Jackson Leaving 'Idol' Is Not Dope, Y'allRatings Are Low, But Don't Blame the 'Idol' Judges Follow Jean on Twitter @hijean From Our Partners:Watch Justin Bieber Attacked in Dubai (Celebuzz)33 Child Stars: Where Are They Now? (Celebuzz)
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John Fogerty staging album release concert on his 68th birthday
May 14, 2013 5:42pm ESTVeteran folk rocker John Fogerty is inviting fans to join in his upcoming birthday celebrations by staging a one-off concert on the day he turns 68. The former Creedence Clearwater Revival star will perform at Los Angeles' El Rey Theatre on 28 May (13) and the birthday gig will double as an album release party for his new duets project, Wrote a Song for Everyone, which features collaborations with the likes of Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Foo Fighters, Bob Seger and Tom Morello. The show will be filmed and broadcast live on America's AXS TV.
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Katy Perry performs with Rolling Stones
May 12, 2013 5:28am ESTKaty Perry brought a little pop to The Rolling Stones' show on Saturday night (11May13) by joining them onstage in Las Vegas. The Brown Sugar hitmakers continued their 50 & Counting anniversary tour by headlining at Sin City's MGM Grand, and they thrilled fans with a special guest. Perry performed a rendition of the Stones' track Beast of Burden, from their 1978 album Some Girls, and she took to her Twitter.com page to reveal she got up close and personal with singer Sir Mick Jagger. In a post on her page, she writes, "Yes, I just (sic) did gyrated on Mick Jagger. WHAT?!" The I Kissed a Girl hitmaker is the latest famous face to guest at a show on the band's tour - veteran rocker John Fogerty, Gwen Stefani, Keith Urban and Tom Waits have appeared at previous concerts.
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Keith Urban accidentally dragged fan around arena
May 10, 2013 7:13pm ESTCountry star Keith Urban was left red-faced at a concert when he realised he had been dragging a fan around an arena after accidentally snagging her with his guitar. The Somebody Like You singer/songwriter likes to take trips through the audience during shows to get up close and personal with fans, but he grew annoyed with a devotee at one gig when she wouldn't let go of his guitar. He tells U.S. talk show host Conan O'Brien, "I notice that she's just tagging along with me and she's latched on to my guitar, and I'm like, 'Hi, give me back my guitar,' and the further I go, she is just keeping up with me... I'm thinking, 'This woman is crazy,' and I'm trying to almost kick her off the guitar, literally. "I'm pulling the guitar neck so aggressively and I look down and she's got this top that I've snagged in my guitar and I've actually been pulling her along for about 40 feet. She's trying to get untangled... So I untangled it all, like a fish from the net, and her whole top was just sagging down." And that wasn't his only embarrassing moment with a fan at a gig: "This girl yelled out... 'Will you sign my leg?' and I thought, 'This'll be a good moment, I'll bring her up onstage, sign the leg and everything,' and I said, 'Sure' and I see her head disappear in among all the people... and the next minute, her head comes up and she throws this thing at the stage; she's unhooked this prosthetic leg. "I signed it and then I'm thinking, 'What's the proper prosthetic leg returning etiquette? Do you throw it back, do you crowdsurf it, do you make her hop up onto the stage'?... I sort of gingerly crowdsurfed it back."
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'American Idol' Top 2 Results: The Most Unthinkable, Shocking Elimination in Years
May 09, 2013 9:09pm ESTWhat just happened? Against all odds, the clear favorite to win the whole shebang on American Idol, Angie Miller, was sent home in the most shocking Idol elimination in years. But how? Obviously Candice Glover nabbed a spot in the Top 2 thanks to her insurmountable talent. It was Kree Harrison, who's struggled in past weeks to regain her footing, that was most likely to face the chopping block. Still, when Ryan Seacrest opened the cruel, cruel envelope the news fell like a boulder on a greenhouse. Angie's visions of her glitter shower were dashed right before her eyes, and we watched her deflate like a shiny, red ballon. We all thought she'd win, and it was clear she thought so too. Still, it seems more than a little strange that Angie is the eliminated party this week. She was a clear favorite throughout the competition and every time she even slightly slipped, she'd step back behind that piano of hers and the magic would happen. So how did the Disney princess (or Miley Cyrus-look-a-like depending on how Nicki Minaj is feeling) fall to the bottom? The best guess is a combination of her video package during the Hometown visits portion of Wednesday night's show and the always overwhelming power of country music. Despite Kree's spot in the bottom two last week, she's a country girl and watching Keith Urban swoon over her vocal stylings has to do something for her voters. Then there are the Hometown visits. Both Kree and Candice's visits were full of heart and growth. Each visit showed how far they've come and the hardships they'd overcome, resulting in the their final performances in front of their friends and neighbors. Angie's, while sweet, lacked the gravity of her competitors. It was as if she'd already skipped ahead to the successful pop star phase of life. Everywhere she went, crowds followed, treating her like Beverly, Massachusetts' own personal Miley. This is a show whose message is all about plucking singers from hardship, small towns, and other forms of extreme obscurity, and it's a little hard to buy into that when one contestant is already slipping right into the role of star. Watching Kree and Candice sweetly react in genuine awe to their improbable circumstances is the push voters needed (on top of their incredible ballads Wednesday night) to send them right to the top. The competition is too tight for those elements to not matter. All three girls are incredibly talented. All three girls represent different genres. The real difference at this point is personality. Who do we like best? Who do we want, with our heart of hearts, to reach that shining stage at the finale? Do we want the girl whose body image held her back for so much of her life, but who rose up to be an incredible, confident performer? Do we want the young woman who perservered after life ripped her family from her to become a sweet, caring, motherly person with the voice of an angel? Or do we want a gifted, bubbly, easy-going girl who doesn't seem to have a care in the world? Answers to that question may vary, but voters' reponses seems clear. Angie just wasn't doing it for them the way powerhouse Candice and the inhumanly kind Kree were. But that doesn't make it any easier to watch the chipper songstress receive her fate and tear up through her swan song. Much like Amber Holcomb before her, Angie could barely muster a complete lyric after her elimination, but powered through until Ryan brought her family onstage to comfort her. It's always hard to watch someone go, especially when witnessing the cut from Top 3 to Top 2, but seeing Angie's sparkling tears was especially tough, because it seemed almost impossible that Angie wouldn't be standing in the final duo and only slightly impossible that she wasn't going to win the whole thing. No one was expecting this. But it's done now. Angie is out and Kree and Candice are in. Will Idol fans continue their country streak and crown Kree? Or will they reward Candice's brain-melting voice and give her her moment like this? Follow Kelsea on Twitter @KelseaStahler More:Randy Jackson is Leaving 'American Idol''American Idol' Hometown Visits Recap: Who's Going Home?The Ratings Are Low, But Don't Blame the 'Idol' Judges From Our Partners:Watch Justin Bieber Attacked in Dubai (Celebuzz)33 Child Stars: Where Are They Now? (Celebuzz)
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John Fogerty performs with the Stones
May 09, 2013 7:37pm ESTVeteran rocker John Fogerty became the latest special guest to join the Rolling Stones on tour when he joined the band onstage in San Jose, California on Wednesday night (08May13). The Northern California native hit the HP Pavilion to perform It's All Over Now with Mick Jagger and his bandmates. Since the Stones' 50 & Counting anniversary tour began in Los Angeles last week (03May13), they've been joined onstage by Gwen Stefani, Keith Urban and Tom Waits. The group's former guitarist Mick Taylor is also joining his old pals for select dates.
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Randy Jackson to quit American Idol after 12 years
May 09, 2013 7:30pm ESTAmerican Idol judge Randy Jackson is to quit the show after 12 years. The producer/musician will give up his seat on the panel next week (16May13) after the latest Idol queen is crowned. The news comes amid reports that all four judges - Jackson, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban - are poised to depart after the current season ends, and hours after it was announced that Carey had dropped Jackson as her longtime business manager. He tells E! News, "To put all of the speculation to rest, after 12 years of judging on American Idol I have decided it is time to leave after this season. "I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry. It's been a life-changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company, Dream Merchant 21, and other business ventures." Jackson is the last remaining member of the original panel, which included Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul.
