Keith Urban

Ironically, one of America's most celebrated country musicians is a New Zealander. Keith Lionel Urban was born in Whangarei, New Zealand in 1967, though his parents moved to Queensland, Australia soon after his birth. A musical prodigy, Keith began performing while still in middle school and dropped out at age 15 to go on tour. Signed to EMI, he released a self-titled album in Australia in 1990. Already one of the most popular country musicians in Australian history by age 25, Keith moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1992 to try his hand in the much larger American country record industry.

The plane ticket proved to be the best investment he ever made. A technically accomplished guitarist in addition to a vocalist, he got his start and a sideman and session musician in Nashville, recording and touring with the likes of Alan Jackson, The Dixie Chicks, and Brooks & Dunn. In 1997 he formed The Ranch, a three-piece country outfit that recorded only one album before breaking up. The album sold modestly, but reached the 34th slot on the Billboard Top Country Albums when it was reissued at the peak of his career in 2004.

After a short stint in rehab due to cocaine, Urban released his self titled American debut in 1999. The album sold over 100,000 copies due to the radioplay received by singles Where the Blacktop Ends and But for the Grace of God, but his career absolutely skyrocketed with the release of sophomore record Golden Road in 2002. Selling quadruple-platinum and staying on the Billboard Hot Country Albums chart for two straight years, Golden Road spawned three chart-topping #1 singles, including Somebody Like You and Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me.

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