Keith Urban's father Robert Urban is unfortunately dying in hospice care.
ADVERTISEMENT
Keith, 48, revealed the sad news Wednesday at his Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit, and it might affect his filming schedule for American Idol's fifteenth season.
"He's probably only got a few weeks, if that. I've just been dealing with that the last couple of days. This has all come at a very strange time where it's typical of a career that has extreme highs and extreme lows all often at the exact same time," Keith told The Tennessean.
"So [the exhibit] is bittersweet a little bit because [my dad] is the catalyst for all of this. My dad is the catalyst for me living in America."
The exhibit called "Keith Urban So Far..." reportedly features old performance outfits, family photos, instruments and other memorabilia collected through Keith's 48 years of life. Keith's father instilled a love of country music in him and even made some of his early stage clothes.
ADVERTISEMENT
"My dad particularly always thought it was important that I dressed like a performer," the singer said. "A lot of these country music talent quests I did in Australia, they often had categories for best dressed male or best dressed female and I often won. Sometimes it was the only thing I won."
Keith said Robert started him on this journey because he introduced him to a Don Williams album.
"I said, 'How do you know it's going to be good?' He said, 'It's Don Williams,'" Keith explained to the newspaper. "It hit me in such a way that I thought, 'I want to make those kinds of records, that people know are going to be solid and they go out and get it.' I want to thank Dad for starting me on this journey."
Keith's wife Nicole Kidman just lost her father, Dr. Antony Kidman, to a fall at age 76 last year. Keith reportedly canceled a few concerts to support her during that tough time.
American Idol's fifteenth --and farewell -- season will premiere Wednesday, January 6 at 8PM ET/PT.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski