One of the world’s most celebrated and well-respected musicians, Keith Urban, will be inducted into the Roll of Renown at the Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards on Saturday, January 25.
The prestigious honour, which recognizes extraordinary creative contributions to the Australasian country music industry, marks yet another significant milestone in Urban’s already storied career.
“Keith’s influence on the global country music scene is on-going and immeasurable,” said Toyota Golden Guitar Awards executive producer Peter Ross said.
“His dedication to the genre, his boundary-pushing artistry, and his unwavering commitment to music make him a natural choice for the Roll of Renown.”
Keith will be at the awards to take home this year’s Golden Guitar Award for Top Selling Australian Country Album of the Year for HIGH. His 11th studio recording reached the top of the ARIA charts, earning him widespread praise for its emotional depth and musical sophistication.
Keith was last in Tamworth for a charity concert at the Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall to benefit drought victims.
Urban’s journey to superstardom began in Tamworth, busking at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, performing at local venues. His early involvement in the festival’s Talent Quest and his victory in the Star Maker competition at the age of 22 set him on a trajectory that would forever shape his career and the genre itself. Even then, his extraordinary guitar playing, musical curiosity, ability to command a stage and creative exploration were apparent.
Since then, Urban’s become a global icon who’s won four GRAMMY Awards, thirteen CMAs, (two for Entertainer of the Year), fifteen ACMs, three AMAs, 6 ARIA Awards and 15 Golden Guitar Awards including the Top Selling Australian Country Album of the Year for HIGH. His career has been sprinkled with creative collaborations that have shown his brevity and thirst for musical possibility; Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, P!nk, Post Malone, The Rolling Stones, Vince Gill and Taylor Swift, who first opened for Urban on his Escape Together World Tour in 2009.
He’s a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
While Urban’s career has taken him well beyond his humble beginnings, his ties to Tamworth remain unwavering. His Roll of Renown is a full-circle moment for Urban, celebrating not just his achievements, but his enduring connection to the town that helped shaped him.
“Keith Urban embodies the essence of the Tamworth Country Music Festival,” Festival Manager Barry Harley said.
“His journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and talent.”
As his influence continues to grow, so too does Urban’s ability to inspire future generations of artists. Whether through his mentorship, collaborations, philanthropic contributions or groundbreaking music, Urban remains at the forefront of the country music landscape.
The Roll of Renown was established in 1976 by Radio 2TM and has since honoured country music legends whose contributions have had a lasting impact on the genre. Previous inductees include the late Tex Morton, Slim Dusty, John Williamson, Joy McKean, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley, Graeme Connors and Beccy Cole, among many others. Urban joins an exclusive list of artists whose legacies continue to inspire the next generation of country musicians.
The Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards is set to be a night of celebration and recognition, with Keith Urban’s induction into the Roll of Renown serving as one of the evening’s most anticipated moments.
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