Keith Urban, the famous Australian country singer who gave us songs like “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and “Somebody Like You,” has a cool story with the Grand Ole Opry, a special place for country music.
Long before he became a big star, Keith got to play at the Opry with his band, The Ranch. They were the backup band for another Australian country legend, Slim Dusty. Back then, Keith dreamed of standing in the spotlight at the Opry all by himself one day.
That dream came true on April 21, 2012. It had been over ten years since he started singing on his own in 2000. A famous singer named Vince Gill invited Keith to join the Opry during a benefit concert in Nashville. After the show, Keith got a surprise gift—a duffel bag with a microphone stand inside. Then, on April 21, 2012, another country star, Trace Adkins, welcomed him as an official member.
That night, Keith said something really neat, which Billboard shared: “This is amazing! It’s a long trip from Caboolture, Australia, to this stage at the Grand Ole Opry. Standing here is the coolest thing ever. I’m so thankful for this honor, and I promise to take it seriously. It shows how country music is loved all around the world. I respect its past, and I’m excited to help make its future even better. Thank you all!”
Keith Urban also did something special for another country star, Crystal Gayle, at an event called Opry 100. Crystal is the younger sister of Loretta Lynn and a big name in country music. Keith told everyone how awesome she is, saying, “She first sang at the Opry when she was just 16. Her big sister, Loretta Lynn, made her an Opry member right on this stage. Crystal has always done things her own way. She was the first woman in country music to sell a million copies of an album!”
Then Keith sang her famous song, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” which everyone knows her for. Crystal was there in the audience, watching Keith honor her with his performance. After that, he sang one of his own hits, “Wasted Time,” from 2016. You can see a quick video of it below.
