Keith Urban warmed up the crowd in chilly Toronto when he performed at an invite-only gig this week. The New Zealand-born artist, who spent his childhood Down Under and was in town to help promote Australian tourism, had to spend Valentine's without his wife Nicole Kidman.
But she was clearly on his mind as he performed his hit single Once In A Lifetime, proudly telling the audience: "I wrote this for my wife".
Earlier in the day, the country music star had been presented with several awards from his record label EMI for his new album Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing which debuted at number one on the Billboard Country Albums Chart.
His Canadian fans who missed him on his short hop-over will get the chance to see their idol again in the coming months. He'll be returning to North America later in the year for his official world tour, getting the show on the road first in Phoenix on June 8.
The Nashville-based singer, 39, continued on to New York where he told chat show host Matt Lauer about life post-rehab. He had entered a clinic just four months after his romantic Sydney wedding and says the decision was "nothing to do with contentedness and happiness because I had all of that."
Indeed, his relationship with the Oscar-winning beauty seems to be stronger than ever. "They say grief makes hearts and closer bonds than joy ever can," he said. "We've been through a lot, and she's been extraordinary."
Photo: Canadian Press
Photo: Peter Bregg
