Keith Urban Opry Invitation Takes Singer by Surprise
Keith Urban was caught completely off guard at his All For The Hall benefit concert last week when fellow musicians appeared with an important announcement.
Musician Vince Gill and members of Rascal Flatts, the Oak Ridge Boys and Diamond Rio surprised Urban at Tuesday's concert and revealed that the Australian singer will officially join The Grand Ole Opry later this month.
Urban had no idea that he would make an entrance to the historic and famous country music stage.
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"I'm shocked, I've got to say," said Urban, 44, standing before the sold-out crowd. "It's a huge honor and how beautiful to have this happen tonight of all nights."
After recovering, Urban dedicated the Grand Ole Opry invitation to his wife, actress Nicole Kidman, and their two daughters.
"I've been here 20 years this year," Urban said, according to the Associated Press. "1989 was the first year I came over from Australia to take my demo to the record labels. I got a lot of strange looks… This night here is in a whole other stratosphere."
The All For The Hall benefit concert took place at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena and saw major names of today's country music.
Urban and Gill collaborated on the concert, serving as co-musical directors and house band leaders. They introduced iconic musician Merle Haggard to the stage during the night, as well as Urban's childhood hero, Don Williams.
"This is one of the biggest thrills of my life, getting to play a little guitar with this guy coming out," said Gill ahead of Haggard's entrance to the stage, reported AP.
Haggard performed four songs which included "Workin' Man's Blues, while Williams played two songs, including "Tulsa TIme."
The night also saw performances by Pistol Annies, Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Thompson Square, Alabama, and Little Big Town.
All For The Hall was originally supposed to take place in January. Urban had been forced to postpone the concert due to a surgery in order to remove throat polyps that affected his voice.
