Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman Updates 08/26/10

Urban development: Keith plays CMA Music Festival

By Jay Bobbin

Keith Urban is married to an Oscar-winning actress, but he knows he has another important relationship to maintain: the one with his fans.

Still at the forefront of country music stars, Nicole Kidman's spouse gets a big opportunity to please his followers each June, when artists and listeners converge on Nashville for a Country Music Association-sponsored event. The four-day gathering is captured for a television special, and ABC airs this year's edition of "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" Wednesday, Sept. 1.

A preview disc indicated the three-hour show offers a generous dose of the New Zealand-born and Australia-raised Urban, whose virtual greatest-hits set includes "Kiss a Girl" and "Days Go By." Among the many other talents showcased: Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Trace Adkins, and engaged couple Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton.

Though he's had a busy summer concert schedule, as have so many of his country music peers, Urban recognizes that playing the CMA Music Festival is still a prime gig.

Q: Did you enjoy performing at this year's festival as much as it appears?

A: Yeah, I really did. There's something about that crowd, and probably that little bit of extra mojo about performing in that stadium -- not long after it was under water (from the flooding in Nashville) -- was a euphoric feeling as well.


Q: Have you intentionally stocked your catalog with tunes that practically invite the audience to sing along?

A: I hoped that one day, I would have a set list where people know the majority of the songs. It's a blast to look out there and see people singing along with every song; it's incredible. I'm always happy to let my voice take a break and let the audience carry it!

Q: How have you personally experienced the growth of the festival, which used to be known as Fan Fair, over the years?

A: It's astounding to see how big it's gotten, particularly this year. I couldn't see an empty seat anywhere. It's such a win-win; what a magnificent thing that this festival is based on the genre and not on the specific artists. So many people come to celebrate their love of country music, and within three or four days, you've seen everybody.

Q: You made a point of saying in the show, "Nashville is alive and well and open for business." How are you finding it there now?

A: Certainly, it takes a little while, and it's been difficult with Opryland out of commission. I think people know we're back up and running, though, and Tennessee isn't called the Volunteer State for nothing. Everybody pulled together, and here we are.

Q: Is being the father of Sunday, your two-year-old daughter with Nicole, having an impact on your music?

A: Yeah, for sure. I'm not out there working all the time, and from being home, it's important to have something to take out onstage. I think everything benefits from it. I think the performances have more purpose for me. If we're going to go out and connect with everybody, what are we communicating? I have enormous gratitude for having found somebody and found my center ... then to be able to plug into that through my music, if I can.

**********************************

Keith plays for Target along with Taylor Swift and Enrique Iglesias
Target Center, Minneapolis MN
August25, 2010


http://twitpic.com/2i3g87



Keith in Target's red and khaki
http://twitpic.com/2i3nao




Taylor Swift: Performing at the Target National Meeting in Minneapolis has it's perks. :)

************************************

Keith in the studio jamming on Santana's "Winning".

KeithUrban.net



******************************

Ever wondered what an Aussie commercial for Keith on tour looks like? Here's an advertisement for the Escape Together tour from 2009.



******************************

Living legend Bill Anderson has a great new cd entitled "Songwriter". He was a guest on WGN radio and gave a 30 minute interview, talking about a variety of things including the Nashville flood, when he took country to disco, and tidbits on the new album. He also mentioned Keith as one of the "stars of today" being played on modern country radio.

Click HERE for the interview.

And don't forget to check out his MySpace page. You can listen to some of the new tracks including our favorite "Wherever She Is".

********************************

Are you a Keith fan that's wondered whatever happened to his songwriting partner Vernon Rust? Well Vernon is now on Facebook! You can visit his page HERE. Be sure to check out the classic photo of him with the Ranch gang!


********************************


CMA Noms TO Be Revealed Over 2 Days

Final nominees for The 44th Annual CMA Awards will be announced over two mornings, on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

On Wednesday, Sept. 1, Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert will announce the final nominees in five CMA Awards categories live from the Good Morning America studios in New York City on ABC. The announcement will air in the 8:30 AM/ET half-hour segment of the morning news program.

On Tuesday, Aug. 31, Justin Moore and Chris Young will announce the finalists in seven CMA Awards categories from Nashville at a press conference at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

In Nashville, Steel Magnolia will announce the finalists for the 2010 CMA Broadcast Award Personality and Radio Station of the Year in four categories (small, medium, large, and major markets), as well as the finalists for the CMA National Broadcast Personality.

The 44th Annual CMA Awards, known as “Country Music’s Biggest Night(TM),” will be broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM ET) on ABC.

CMT Insider Special Edition: 2010 CMA Awards Nominations, featuring in-depth coverage of the nominations, artist interviews, and more, will premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 1 (11:00 AM/ET), with several re-airings scheduled.

CMA’s official radio partner, Premiere Radio Networks, will carry the Awards and Broadcast Award nominations live to Country Radio as they are announced each day.

And don’t forget, the CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock special will air Wednesday, Sept. 1 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC.

*********************************

Twitter Updates!

eLIZabeth4315: so i was just standing next to nicole kidman & keith urban at whole foods. made my day...

CMLudwick: Walked into whole foods and of course keith urban and nicole kidman are getting dinner too! :)

GBurn: Keith and Nicole just left Starbucks as I was going in...clearly we have shared interests and should be friends.

emlamkin: Getting food at whole foodswith keith and nicole!

...and now they are sitting by us. josh is beside himself!

NateThacker: Just walk right by Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. Crazy!

brennanward: Well, I just made a fool of myself.... In front of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman.

I saw Keith Urban / Nicole Kidman, ate Pei Wei, watched Toy Story/Enchanted, and saw Taylor Swift's house. I'd call that a successful night.

ehalvey: #NicoleKidman & #KeithUrban at @WFM_Nashville getting dinner from the hot bar. She IS really tall!

bentonc02: Just sat behind nicole kidman and Keith urban in church ....no big deal.

banban0615: Just saw Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban in Cooper Kettle. Thankfully I didn't do anything too embarassing.

bubbabadgett: Keith urban and Nicole kidman within 15 ft of me. Kind odd.

plumb_artist: So Keith Urban just got his groceries in front of me. I didn't say hi. What would I have said? "hey, we're the same height!" uh..........no.

He was still cute. Even my hubby agreed. :)

VanGronigen: A lil' Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman at Whole Foods.

KaleeSorey: Selling my 2 tickets to Brooks & Dunn's LAST SHOW Nashville 9/2 I wonder if Keith Nicole Brad or Kenny will show up? http://alturl.com/n4svn

kristenwatson: @Rue_La_La Must have a glass of champagne at The Hassler Hotel in Rome! Top of Spanish Steps. Saw Nicole K & Keith U last time I was there!


kickyfeet: @krinjas Keith & Nicole are like Kris & Katy's big sis & bro. This pic is so adorbs http://bit.ly/bcUBV3

@dy7764 I'm not sure I've seen that. Nicole Keith Kris and Katy all in 1 pic? Too much pretty!

@dy7764 I'm hoping for pics of Keith & Nicole and Kris & Katy on a double date somewhere in the future! :)






From Minneapolis....

DamicoKitchen: Keith Urban visited us on the Eden patio last night! Hope he comes back tonight! Prince just ordered his dinner to go...

sank: Just saw Keith Urban no sign of Nicole.