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Keith Urban has it all; the hunky good looks, the bad boy image and the guitar chops, making him one of the most popular artists on the American country music scene. Which is why it's always so surprising to remember that this guy is from New Zealand. Proving that, as a genre, the rootsy sound and universal themes of country music know no borders, Urban has turned a career as a local pub rockers into international mega-success. Keith Urban specializes in both sincere, touching ballads and whisky-soaked boot stompers, and the accomplished musician can pull off both styles with commendable skill. Nor is he afraid to explore the darker themes, such addiction, that has characterized his own, sometimes-troubled life. One also forgets that Keith Urban is an accomplished guitarist, and his solos are always unpredictable and creative, even when he's covering classic tunes like James Taylor's "Country Road" or Steve Forbert's "Romeo's Tune." Legend has it that, even while growing up in Queensland, Australia, Keith Urban was obsessed with old Nashville records. Showing surprising focus for a toddler, he deliberately set about studying and mimicking Nashville's trademark guitar and vocal techniques at the young age of 6. Keith Urban entered any child talent competition he could find and was performing in clubs and pubs when he was 12. No surprise, then, that the ambitious singer quit school at 15 and hit the road. At 24, Keith Urban finally followed his dream to Nashville, where he quickly found work as a touring and session musician for legends like Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson. Sadly, while living the fast life and touring, Urban became addicted to cocaine. Today, Keith is painfully forthcoming about the dark times in his career, and he addresses these themes in both his music and in public appearances. In 1999, Keith released the self-titled Keith Urban, which featured singles "Only You" and "I Never Work On Sunday." 2006 was a big year for Keith Urban; not only did he release his most powerful album to date, Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing, he also married the Australian actress Nicole Kidman. The two met at an event celebrating Australians in show business.

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