Keith Urban is getting ready to hit the road again with a new world tour to promote "Ripcord," his upcoming new album.
The tour will have the "American Idol" judge return to performing inside arenas and amphitheaters for the first time in two years.
"I'm always trying to work more on how to connect and how to do things more intimately in that large setting," the 48-year-old said.
"[I want to] bring in some other elements to the show musically that are different than what we've done before, [think about] how to incorporate some of the old material in a new way, potentially reaching into some album tracks from way back."
Accompanying Urban on the tour will be Brett Eldredge and country newcomer Maren Morris, who was invited after impressing Urban with her singing ability. "[The song was] ''80s Mercedes' and it was just immediate," he said of first hearing Morris. "It was like, 'Oh my God, this is a big single right here' and every song had that thing. She is just one of those people that people need to hear."Morris shared her enthusiasm for the Ripcord tour, writing on Twitter, "Excited to announce that I'll be hitting the road w/@KeithUrban & @bretteldredge for the ripCord World Tour!," alongside a colorful poster featuring the trio.
Until the tour commences, Urban will continue to work on the still unfinished Ripcord and can be seen judging "American Idol's" final season on Wednesday and Thursday nights at 7 p.m. on Fox.
