Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman Updates 07/28/10

07.26.2010
GUITAR JAM IN THE STUDIO


Take a listen as Keith figures out the guitar riff for a new song.




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Country Weekly

Keith & The Kids
















published July 27, 2010 by Ken Tucker

Ever dream of jamming with Keith Urban? Some lucky campers got the chance.

On July 23, Keith, a three-time Grammy award winner himself, headlined the Grammy Foundation's signature benefit Starry Night concert at the LA Tennis Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Keith Urban poses with the GRAMMY Campers
at the GRAMMY Foundation’s Starry Night benefitphoto by WIREIMAGE.COM

As part of Keith's sold-out, two-hour concert, six Grammy Camp participants were called up to the stage to perform his No. 1 hit "Days Go By." Katie Gavin of Winnetka, Ill., Savannah Meares of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Brenna Miles of La Canada Flintridge, Calif., sang background vocals; India Pascucci of Burbank, Calif., played drums; and guitarist Kristen Castro of Simi Valley, Calif., and violinist Kevin Schwarzwald of Pacific Palisades, Calif., were both featured with solos during the song.

"Having those kids onstage with us on Friday really serves as a reminder of what is possible when you're lucky enough to find your passion," Keith said in a statement after the performance. "I was so impressed by their talent and their obvious love for playing."

The kids first met Keith onstage prior to the concert during his afternoon soundcheck, when he and his band worked with the campers to put the finishing touches on their performance.

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Keith Urban Encourages Kids to Be Real Guitar Heroes

* Posted Jul 26th 2010 1:00PM by Donna Hughes

Jordan Strauss, WireImage
Keith Urban was in Los Angeles on Friday (July 23) to headline the Grammy Foundation's Starry Night show, which benefits the Grammy in the Schools music education programs for high school students. Keith says it's very important to have music programs in schools, and notes that one of the reasons he wanted to lend his time and talents to the program was because of his life-changing relationship with music.

"I feel really fortunate that I got to start at such a young age," Keith explains to The Boot. "I was six when I started playing guitar and devote the 10,000-hour[s it generally takes to learn how to play]. I was able to rack that up at a good age and get professional at what I did ... I was impacted by, first of all, having an opportunity to play an instrument, which a lot of kids can do, but they don't have any access to instruments. And then if they do, they don't have access to teachers, they don't have environments that really foster that focus."

With the loss of music programs in many schools, Keith feels very strongly about raising money and awareness to assist children in pursuing a love affair with an instrument and finding places where they can develop and nurture their passion. "There's a lot of talented kids that are just looking for that place where they can apply their being to," he says. "They're sort of born to be a guitar player, born to be a piano player, fiddle, sax, whatever it is. And all they have to do is find an instrument, and then they're off to the races ... I'm passionate about continuing that at schools where the funding cuts off the arts and the dramas."

The saucy Aussie also feels passionate about kids actually practicing a real instrument as opposed to video games, and to actually create as opposed to imitate. "It's really important for the kids to put in the time," states Keith. "Right now, we're seeing a lot of kids with 'Guitar Hero,' and I'm not dissing 'Guitar Hero,' but it's not a great use of hours and hours and hours of time ... it's not about 'I've got to create. I want to create. I'm an artist, and I want to create.' Hopefully, getting involved in this [program] will allow kids to be able to create and have the right thrust for this."

Next, Keith will take his passion to the Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles, Ca., on Wednesday, July 28.


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KC Masterpiece Youtube videos






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"I'm In" Keith's current single, moved up to the #4 spot on the Mediabase charts!

Mediabase


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It was reported Cameron Diaz bought a home in Los Angeles in the same neighborhood as Keith and Nicole. Those really in the know know the Urbans have a home there (despite the skeptics' lies) and it's the same community as a very famous older American actress whose residence has been known for years! Haters, you have no clue!

And speaking of having no clue, there's nomorefan!

Nicole and Keith were spotted seeing Salt, the new movie with Angelina Jolie

JustJared

nomorefan: The paps knew to hang out at some random movie theater in Sherman Oaks . . . yea right!


Clearly nomorefan doesn't know anything about LA. The theater was at the Sherman Oaks Galleria, a large shopping complex where celebrities are photographed. How uninformed can one poster be? If you think a cd should cost as much as a kitchen appliance, Kate Spade sunglasses, or a laptop, you might be as dense as nomorefan!

Or you might be as idiotic. For example, E! tried to make issue of the dress Nicole wore to the movies but the readers weren't having any of it!

Caption Nicole Kidman's Granny Style

Normally we don't read E's "fashion" pages but a reader sent this in and we knew the skeptics would love to see the results, especially immature Mimosa.

Mimosa thinks every tweet about Nicole and Keith is coming from Nashville. If she's too dense to figure out how to tell where the tweets are coming from well we can't help her.

But here's a great tweet from the Co-Director of the Toronto Film Festival. He was comparing TIFF films to drinks

cameron_tiff: RABBIT HOLE = pinot noir about 11 hours ago via web



But here's some more tweets from "Nashville"! Enjoy!

jvhdior: Sitting next to Nicole Kidman at the fountain coffee shop at the BHH. Love my life. #fancyallthetime 2:31 PM Jul 26th via UberTwitter

johnnywaiver: In line for Keith Urban Concert. (@ Bradley Center) http://4sq.com/6s3tq7 about 13 hours ago via foursquare

nsure_nvest: Enjoying Keith Urban in concert in Milwaukee with 10,000 of my Northwestern Mutual buddies! about 12 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®


TyMatthews: Keith Urban is doing work in Milwaukee. The energy is contaigious http://twitpic.com/29b62a about 10 hours ago via Twitpic


mwholbrook: Got done with a private Keith Urban concert for Northwestern Mutual. I underestimated your talent as a musician. I apologize & am now a fan. about 8 hours ago via web


ClayWalker: @KeithUrban i didn't know u were still a teenager...LOL...how's the little "BEE"...cw about 8 hours ago via web in reply to KeithUrban

Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban Updates 07/26/10

Good Causes: Nicole Kidman and Omega for UNIFEM
By Ricki Berger | Manhattan magazine | July 19, 2010

At a charity concert in Hong Kong where her hubby, Keith Urban, joined her onstage for an impromptu performance, Nicole Kidman and luxury watchmaker Omega debuted a limited-edition timepiece from Omega’s Constellation series and raised more than $175,000 for UNIFEM, the United Nations’ development fund for women.

Now the actress and Omega are taking their good intentions to NYC: Kidman autographed 30 boxes of Constellation watches for the Fifth Avenue boutique, with a portion of these sales again benefiting UNIFEM. There couldn’t be a better time for a splurge.

711 Fifth Ave., 212.207.3333

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Farmers Classic Nets More Than $500,000 For Charity

More than 12,000 fans filled UCLA's Straus Stadium at the LA Tennis Center this weekend on the eve of the Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, for special events that raised more than $500,000 combined for charity.

On Friday night, Keith Urban and the Avett Brothers performed before a packed stadium as part of Starry Night to benefit the GRAMMY Foundation as well as the Southern California Tennis Association.

Tennis returned to Straus Stadium on Saturday, as another capacity crowd saw Andre Agassi defeat John McEnroe at Stars Under the Stars, presented by Grubb & Ellis, to benefit the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education.

"The most important thing from the past couple days is that we raised needed funds for some very worthy causes that really emphasize helping children," said tournament director Bob Kramer. "The entertainers and tennis legends who have performed at UCLA the past couple days wowed the crowd, and we look forward to the same as today's tennis stars take to the court for the start of the Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, on Monday."

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From the Oh Heavenly Day blog

Living in Nashville typically means you’ll see celebrities every once and a while. This past week after we were finished doing a photoshoot with Jeremy Cowart, an incredible photographer, I made a comment along the lines of “I’ve lived in Nashville for 2 months now and haven’t seen anyone majorly famous.” (And was a little dissapointed that I hadn’t. Yes, we’ve worked with Lady A, etc. but seeing someone out being normal is a completely different experience. Good thing I didn’t knock on wood. That night Mary Catherine and I saw Charles Kelley of Lady A and his gorgeous wife at Station Inn. Then today was the big one. My family was in town and we decided to go to J. Alexander’s for dinner on their way to the airport. We walk in and there sits Phil Simms. (As a college football enthusiast I was embarassed that I didn’t know who he was and even MORE embarrassed that I didn’t know who his son was who was sitting in the booth next to him.) Yes, Chris Simms, quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, was sitting in the booth behind us. I love football. Except he played for UT. Secretly wanted to show off my Aggie Ring.

THEN… My dad says, “oh that’s keith urban.” What? Just casually mentions it and sure enough Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman were having dinner with their adorable daughter in the back of the restaurant. Not to mention when my family and I were saying bye in the parking lot they walked out and said hi as he got in their car. so sweet. ilovehim. she’s beautiful.

Keith's Aston

(didn’t know it was his until they came out and got in it!)


Note: Fans might remember Keith was spotted in Australia before his wedding test driving an Aston Martin :)


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Nicole Kidman's The Others makes UK list of Best Films With a Twist

[ONLY CLICK ON LINK IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE FILM ENDINGS]

Spoiler alert: The Sixth Sense voted film with best twist

In a poll conducted to coincide with the DVD release of Remember Me, the Robert Pattinson film whose final reel reveal failed to find universal favour in cinemas, The Sixth Sense beat Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (Norman Bates's mum is a skeleton) into second place. Bryan Singer's The Usual Suspects (Kevin Spacey's character Verbal is actually baddie Keyser Soze) came in third

The biggest film shocks of all time

1. The Sixth Sense

2. Psycho

3. The Usual Suspects

4. The Empire Strikes Back

5. Saw

6. Fight Club

7. The Wicker Man

8. The Others

9. Seven

10. Planet Of The Apes

Keith Urban Updates 07/24/10

Grammy Foundation's Starry Night Benefit
















Keith with NARAS President Neil Portnow
















Keith rehearsing with Grammy Camp students

























For more pics visit Life.com, Zimbio.com and WireImage.com















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Urban Developments





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Be sure to check out Keith's interview with Go Country 105 in Los Angeles. You don't want to miss the cute Daddy story.

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Mark your calendars fans and check your local country radio station! There's another Keith Urban radio special coming our way. In previous years they've been more industry focused shows with album cuts and hosted by friends like Brooks and Dunn and Wynonna. This time it's all about the fans.

Westwood One Offers Urban’s Backstage Experience


Westwood One is taking country radio listeners backstage for a personal experience with Keith Urban in a unique 1-hour radio show from August 7-15.

Recorded on location at several shows around the country, Urban answers fan questions and talks about his 2010 Summer Lovin’ tour. The fans themselves will be a part of the show, and give their favorites moments from the tour. In addition, the show spotlights Urban’s biggest hits from the past few years.

Urban’s tour sponsors, Kingsford Charcoal and KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauce, present this show free to all radio stations so fans will be able to share in the excitement. For more information, contact Donny Walker at 917-957-5028 or donny_walker@westwoodone.com

Keith Urban To Headline Grammy Foundation's Starry Night Concert

Urban To Headline Starry Night



















GRAMMY Foundation signature concert to feature performances by Keith Urban and the Avett Brothers and benefit educational programs

June 2, 2010 - 4:00am


The GRAMMY Foundation has announced three-time GRAMMY winner Keith Urban will headline its signature benefit Starry Night concert on July 23 at the Los Angeles Tennis Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. Rising folk combo the Avett Brothers will open the benefit.

This event is presented in association with the Farmers Classic tennis tournament and will be held three nights before the tournament opens. Starry Night will benefit the GRAMMY Foundation's GRAMMY in the Schools music education programs for high school students and the Southern California Tennis Association Foundation.

"Keith Urban's career is defined by both exceptional musicianship and extraordinary generosity," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation. "And it is meaningful and moving that Keith is lending his time and talents during the busy summer touring season in support of the GRAMMY Foundation and our GRAMMY in the Schools music education programs. We are also delighted to have the Avett Brothers showcase their unique and powerful music at our Starry Night benefit."

"I was so fortunate to have been exposed to music at such a young age," said Urban. "It touched my heart and opened up a world of adventure and possibilities beyond anything I'd ever known. Being a part of this concert, supporting the efforts of the GRAMMY Foundation and the Southern California Tennis Association Foundation, is something that I feel very strongly about, because I know firsthand what art, music and sport can do for our youth."

"The Farmers Classic is again delighted to collaborate with the GRAMMY Foundation to help raise funds for this worthy charity," said Bob Kramer, Farmers Classic tournament director. "The Southern California Tennis Association and UCLA are extremely proud to be involved with such important causes and to provide a lively and entertaining kickoff for the 84th annual Farmers Classic at UCLA."

In 2001 the Country Music Association honored Urban with its Horizon Award, designating him a talented artist with a bright future. To this day Urban remains the only Horizon Award winner in history to go on to win the CMA's Top Male Vocalist of the Year, a title he's captured three times, and the coveted Entertainer of the Year. Nine years later and nearly 15 million albums sold, Urban has won three GRAMMY Awards and in the past year has added an American Music Award and People's Choice Award to his mantle. He's won five Academy of Country Music Awards, has 11 No. 1 singles, 22 Top 5 hits, and two consecutive No. 1 albums, including his latest Defying Gravity, which debuted atop both the Billboard 200 and Country Albums charts.

In December 2009, Urban was named the year's Top Overall Performer for Country Aircheck/Mediabase based on his country radio airplay, thanks to hits including "Sweet Thing," "Kiss A Girl" and "Only You Can Love Me This Way." In addition, his 2002 smash "Somebody Like You" was named the No. 1 Country Song of the Decade by Nielsen BDS, based on radio airplay and audience impressions.

But Urban's reputation as an elite songwriter, musician, vocalist, and virtuoso guitarist is no more evident than when he is onstage. His electrifying concerts have played to sold-out venues from Australia to Germany to England to Canada and the United States, and have received high praise from critics. In fact, 2009's Escape Together World Tour, as well as 2007's Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy World Tour, were both top-grossing tours for their respective years, according to Pollstar.

There is no harmony like brotherly harmony. Something indelible in the weave of voices and play of sensibilities is stamped into the fraternal DNA and also stems from a lifetime of shared experiences. You can clearly hear that fraternal magic at work in the songs of Scott and Seth Avett, better known as the Avett Brothers. That magic is abundantly evident on I And Love And You, the Avett Brothers' big-label debut. Its 13 songs are delivered in a style that defies pigeonholing, but might be described as a rootsy amalgam of folk, country, bluegrass, rock, and pop, with a jab of punk-style dynamics in places. Drawn by the naked honesty of their songs and the rousing intensity of their live shows, legendary producer and talent scout Rick Rubin signed the Avett Brothers — consisting of siblings Scott and Seth, plus bassist Bob Crawford — to his American Recordings label in 2008.

By the time Rubin found them, the Avett Brothers had compiled their own impressive track record with five full-length albums and two EPs on their manager's Ramseur Records label. They debuted in 2001 with a self-titled six-song EP and then issued a full-fledged album, Country Was, a year later. Mignonette (2004), Four Thieves Gone (2006) and Emotionalism (2007) followed, which offered a generous 49 songs among them. The Avett Brothers' latest release, an EP titled The Gleam II, reached No. 82 on the Billboard 200 in 2008 — quite a showing for an independent album with minimal marketing and publicity.

The GRAMMY Foundation helps preserve our nation's musical heritage and provides programs that foster future generations of music professionals. Organized under the GRAMMY in the Schools banner, the Foundation's education programs include GRAMMY Camp — to be held this year from July 10–19 at USC — as well as the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles, GRAMMY Career Day, GRAMMY Signature Schools, and GRAMMY SoundChecks. For the first time, this year Urban will serve as GRAMMY Camp's honorary dean to affirm his commitment to the GRAMMY Foundation's music education programs for young people.

For more information, visit grammyintheschools.com

Tickets for Starry Night go on sale at Ticketmaster on June 11 at 10 a.m. PST.