Sideshow | Urban comes clean about his rehabBy Tirdad Derakhshani
Inquirer Staff Writer
Seems Keith Urban doesn't have problems expressing his feelings. The very pretty, nicely voiced trophy husband to the one true love of gossiper hacks the world over, that brilliant, cosmic flame, Nicole Kidman, has posted a video testimonial on his Web site (keithurban.net) sharing of himself as a recovering addict. Keith, who just finished a 90-day rehab stint for alcohol abuse, said "there was no cataclysmic event that happened right before I went in... . It was a lot of small things that were happening in my life... that were making my life unmanageable." (Did Nicole threaten to leave lest he get clean? He didn't say.)

Urban, 39, did rehab in the '90s for cocaine addiction. He said he recently found himself "a long way away from [the] program of recovery" he had since followed. The star, whose record Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing came out in the meantime, said, "My wife stayed extraordinarily strong and loving." (He knows he doesn't deserve Nicole. He knows it!)

And he thanked his fans for their letters of support. "It helped so much. Especially through a lot of the lonely days."

Here is an article from the Tennessean that was posted on NKU.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...T0501/701230378
Tuesday, 01/23/07

Urban skips Oprah, Katie (and me), and talks directly to fans about rehab
By BEVERLY KEEL

Almost as interesting as what Keith Urban said Monday about rehab is where he decided to first speak publicly about his 90 days at the Betty Ford Clinic.

Rather than giving an exclusive to Oprah or Katie Couric, Keith bypassed all traditional media outlets and instead spoke to fans directly on his Web site, www.keithurban.net. Expect this move to help accelerate the trend of celebrities using video on their official Web sites to directly talk at length about significant events in their lives. (Sen. Hillary Clinton announced presidential campaign plans with a video and statement on her Web site Sunday.)

Recently, Britney Spears, Mel Gibson and Michael Richards endured the downside of the Internet's immediate and widespread access. Thanks to ** link disallowed due to risk to members** and gossip sites such as TMZ.com and PerezHilton.com, these stars played damage-control catch-up as info (correct or false) reached the nation in moments. But recognizing the positive attributes also offered by the Internet, Urban's camp decided to use it in an attempt to speak directly to his supporters, address his treatment issues honestly, avoid exploitation and return the focus to his music.

Here's why it was smart:

• Everyone gets it at once. There'll be no hurt feelings of every media person who didn't get the exclusive. And by everyone, I mean everyone. Virtually every show and publication from numerous countries submitted interview requests for Keith. According to his camp, some big-name TV anchors personally called to try to get the exclusive interview. After the video was posted, a transcrïpt and video were made available to the media.

• Keith controlled all aspects of the video, from the timing to what was said and how he looked. He didn't have to deal with any questions about rumors of drug use, infidelity or anything else

•It removed any chance that Keith's remarks could have been misinterpreted or misstated by media. Fans hear exactly what he said without editing of any kind. It also makes the fans feel that they are Keith's No. 1 priority, because he talks directly to them.

• By addressing it this way, he can now move on, if he chooses. While he will be asked about rehab in every interview for the next year (and more), he can say that he's already spoken on that and has nothing more to say. He can't be accused of refusing to talk about it.

Keith Urban's not waiting until his next songwriting session to tell fans about his hard-knock year. Instead, the country superstar has taken his story directly to the people.

In a video message posted Monday to his official Website (keithurban.net), the recently rehabbed singer explained to fans the unexpected course his life took last October, when he voluntarily checked himself in to the Betty Ford Center near Palm Springs, California.

"There was no cataclysmic event that happened right before I went in," said Urban, who taped the message last Thursday. "What it was, was a lot of small things that were happening in my life and a lot of small moments that were starting to accumulate that were telling me very loud and clear that I was a long way from my program of recovery...and that were making my life unmanageable."

The 39-year-old entertainer, who in the early '90s completed a stint in rehab for cocaine addiction, said that while the timing of his program was "far from ideal" and held "a lot of consequences"—forcing him to be MIA for his birthday, the holidays, the release of his fifth studio album, Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing, and his being crowned Male Vocalist of the Year at the CMA Awards—he initially only intended to be away for 30 days.

However, after beginning treatment he quickly found himself "learning to surrender," particularly with regards to his career, and that it got to the point where "30 days became 60, 60 days became 90."

"I learned what they say in there, that abstinence is the ticket into the movie, it's not the movie," he said.

"It's hard to quantify what I learned in 90 days, but suffice it to say, it's been one of the most impactful times of my whole life."

Not least of all, Urban said, because of the barrage of unexpected support, in the form of hundreds of emails and letters, he received from fans.

"I can't even tell you how much that helped me. I felt very, very loved and I felt very supported," he said.

The Grammy winner credits the well-wishes with being particularly helpful through "a lot of the lonely days, which, there was plenty."

Though his fans weren't the only ones whose merited a shout-out on the video—his wife of seven months, Nicole Kidman, was also heralded.

"My wife stayed extraordinarily strong and loving," he said.

Urban checked into the clinic on Oct. 19 and confirmed that, as of last week, he had successfully completed his stint.

"It's been really overwhelming," he said in his video message. "It feels really good to have gone through it and be where I am right now, 'cause where I am right now is starting on that road to getting back to doing what I love, which is playing music."

In fact, he's already on the road—literally and figuratively.

Last week, he appeared on the German talk show Wetten, das...?, where Urban said he was "feeling much better." He also revealed that his single "Once in a Lifetime" was inspired by his marriage to Kidman.

That song is up for Male Country Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 11. Then in April, Urban kicks off an extended road trip, performing a handful of intimate club dates in the U.K. and Germany followed by arena tour in Australian in May. He'll bring the whole crazy show to the U.S. in June.

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=16c5b759-cbfa-48b6-b7aa-ebbc3f7b3a54

Keith Urban: Nicole Is a 'Ray of Sun'
TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2007 03:40 PM EST
By Tim Nudd

Keith Urban on Jan. 20

Photo by: Patrick Seeger / Colourpress / JPI  

To get a sense of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman's marriage, give his new album a listen.

"There's a handful of songs on the record that were inspired by her and by the way my life changed when we met – so much for the better," Urban tells the German magazine Stern in a new interview. "She was a good ray of sun in my life. I didn't intend to write any songs about her. I just wrote, and obviously what was coming out was how I was feeling."

The record, Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing, was released while Urban was undergoing a 90-day treatment for alcohol addiction. He left rehab this month, and credits Kidman for helping him handle the ordeal.

"We've gone through a lot in the last three months," he says, "and I think it's been the strength of our marriage (that) has carried both of us through."

Urban dismisses rumors that surfaced while he was in rehab that he'd had an affair with a lingerie model while he and Kidman were dating.

"I know and God knows where my heart is at," Urban says. "I waited 39 years before I got married. It means everything to me to be married. Like everybody, I really want to do it only once. I'm very loyal in that respect, and committing to somebody means once that ring is on, I'm gonna stay."

The country singer says he and Kidman, both 39, would also love to have children – "when the time is right." For now, he's itching to get back on stage.

"I spent six months working on an album, and you know, I was in rehab when the record came out," he says. "So I am really looking forward to finally performing."  

Urban, out of rehab, thanks all
LOS ANGELES: Keith Urban has thanked his wife, Nicole Kidman, for staying “extraordinarily strong and loving” through his three-month stint in rehab.

In an emotional four-minute video message released on his website yesterday, Urban also thanked his family, friends and fans for their support while he battled alcohol abuse at the Betty Ford clinic in Palm Springs, California.

The 39-year-old country music star detailed how initially he planned to spend just 30 days in rehab, but extended it to 90 days.

The Australian, who has also battled drug addiction in the past, dismissed speculation his decision to enter rehab came after one major incident where he went off the rails.

“There was no big cataclysmic event that happened right before I went in,” Urban, looking into the camera, said in the video message.

“But what it was was a lot of small things that were happening in my life and a lot of small moments that were starting to accumulate that were telling me very loud and clear that I was a long way from my program of recovery and they were making my life unmanageable.

“I got to the point where I wanted to go in for treatment.”

Urban entered rehab on October 26.

It was four months after his romantic wedding to Kidman in Sydney and on the eve of the release of his ironically named new album, Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing.

“My wife stayed extraordinarily strong and loving,” Urban said.

“Man, it’s just been really overwhelming.”
http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/bm/national/626993.html

the transcrïpt of what he said..

You are able to view the message at www.keithurban.net  below is a transcrïpt of what Keith had to say!

Hello everyone –
today is January the 18th, 2007. And I just wanted to take a moment today to talk a bit about the last 3 months. On October 19 I checked into the Betty Ford center in Palm Springs California. With the support of my wife and my family and friends for what I thought was going to be a 30 day stay at Betty Ford. Now there was no big cataclysmic event that happened right before I went in. But what it was was a lot of small things that were happening in my life, a lot of small moments that were starting to accumulate that were telling me very loud and clear that I was a long way from my program of recovery and they were making my life unmanageable. And I got to the point where I wanted to go into treatment. And so I went in on that day. It was far from an ideal time to go into treatment, let me say that much too. While I was in there of course I had my birthday on October 26th, um my record was released I missed Thanksgiving and all the holidays, so it was a time that had a lot of consequences that particular 3 months. The reason why it was so long too was was just what I was learning as I stayed in there. That first 30 days I learned what they say in there that abstinence is the ticket into the movie, it’s not the movie. So learning about abstinence was one thing, but then there’s all this other area of my life to start learning about. So 30 days became 60 and 60 became 90 and with each week that passed I found myself really learning to surrender. Especially with my career, with playing music because it’s what I’ve always done. I love playing guitar, I love touring and I was going to be doing a lot of that right when I went in. But I had amazing support from everybody while I was in there. That helped, I cannot even tell you guys how much that helped me. It was, I felt very very loved and I felt very supported and it made the time go by. I never felt alone. And as I said during that time, I started to learn a lot about myself and how I got to be in this position that I’m in right now. And it’s hard to quantify what I learned in 90 days, but suffice to say its been one of the most impactful times of my whole life and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everybody out there who’s watching this right now for your support. I got cards, I got letters, I got emails. When I finally got to my laptop and I could retrieve them all, there was hundred of emails. And I just didn’t expect that kind of support, I truly didn’t. And it helped so much, especially through a lot of the lonely days which there was plenty of those in there. But, my wife stayed extraordinarily strong and loving. And my friends and family were there and man its just been, its been overwhelming. I feel so much gratitude. And it feels real go to have gone through, be where I am right now. Cause where I am right now is starting on that road to getting back to doing what I love which is playing music. And I’m looking forward to coming to your town to see all you guys and thank you personally for the support I’ve gotten. I know I keep harping on that, but it’s meant so much to me. And I wanted you guys to hear that from me personally. I look forward to seeing you guys very soon and from the bottom of my heart thank you and God Bless everyone.

This article was posted in the National Ledger AZ this morning. A different take on the video from Keith.

Keith Urban: The Healing Journey Continues--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Lynn Hayes
Jan 23, 2007  

Keith Urban has a new video on his website today, thanking his fans for their support during his stint in rehab and explaining what happened to encourage him to seek help and talking about the recovery process. In the video he says that during the first 30 days he learned that abstinence is only the ticket to the movie, not the movie itself. Evidently he chose to stay longer in order to learn more about himself and what led to his problems that made his life "unmanageable."

Back in October when Urban entered rehab I wrote that he was beginning a challenging transit of Pluto, the planet which pushes us to transformation, to Chiron in his chart. Chiron is the "wounded healer," and a transit of Pluto to that sensitive point brings up old painful emotions and feelings. This is a difficult process, since we typically hide from our feelings of discomfort and push them away to a place where they won't bother us. Pluto can be rather ruthless when it hits a sensitive point in our chart and demands that we give up whatever is holding us back from our evolutionary process. The transit of Pluto to Chiron that began for Keith Urban in October demands that he face the demons of his pain and work through the healing process. Surrender is required, and it appears that he is facing the challenge: he says "Thirty days became 60. Sixty days became 90 and, with each week that passed, I found myself really learning to surrender." He also talks about how much he is learning about himself, which is the key to this planetary cycle.

I had never seen him before, and was struck by the obvious sincerity and sensitivity he displays in this video, thanking the fans for their support and explaining why he failed to go on tour after his album was released. Keith has a strong sense of responsibility to those that love him, with Mars (his drive) in Capricorn (responsibility and hard work) and Venus (relating to others) in Virgo (service and usefulness).

The Pluto cycle that has created this pressure on him to heal his inner wounds has eased off but he will face the second phase of the cycle this year. Pluto will make what's called a "station" on this sensitive point in his chart between June and November, a critical time in his healing process. Hopefully he will be able to continue his journey of healing and recovery and gain a greater sense of peace within.

Lynn Hayes has been a practicing astrologer for over 20 years, specializing in psychological and transformational astrology.  Visit her on the web and learn more about astrology at www.astrodynamics.net  

--Last edited by smartmove on 2007-01-25 00:05:02 --