http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070304/COLUMNIST0501/703040361/1121

Keith Urban is home. And he's back.

The reigning CMA male vocalist gave an unexpected show Thursday night at City Hall and sounded better than I've ever heard him, and that goes back to the mid-1990s when he was playing at Jack's Guitar Bar.

"How's it going, Nashville?" Keith asked the screaming audience. "It's nice to be back in town. It's very nice to be back in town."

Wife Nicole Kidman was tied up with movie work, so Keith came home, where he's expected to remain until embarking on a mid-month Australian promotional tour. "We just found out I could be here two days ago," said Keith, who initially decided to play only a small gig after discovering that his entire band was in town.

He had forgotten the nation's top radio programmers would be in town for Country Radio Seminar, so his label encouraged him to book a bigger venue to accommodate industry and fan demands. He agreed, and the show was quickly assembled — although a set list wasn't.

"We're just going to wing the whole show," Keith said, and wing it he did . . . for more than 2 hours. Facing the glow of cell phone cameras, he trotted out his hits, including "Raining on Sunday," "Once in a Lifetime," "Days Go By," "Stupid Boy," "You'll Think of Me," "Where the Blacktop Ends," "Somebody Like You" and "Better Life." He threw in a few covers, too: "Mama Tried," "The Joker," "867-5309," "Rock and Roll Girls." In response to the crowd's enthusiasm, he said, "We're in the right place, no doubt."

He was among friends, including Ronnie Dunn, who joined Keith in the aptly selected "Brand New Man." Ronnie told the crowd that Keith's rehab stint was "an extremely admirable thing to do."

A few days before entering rehab last year, Keith visited Ronnie in his barn. "We talked about God, we talked about politics, we talked about everything a man could talk about who was searching," Ronnie said. "I was so moved he made the choice he did, and I'm so proud of him."

Keith looked healthy, relaxed and happy, almost serene. The cliche "inner peace" came to mind as I watched him delightfully immersed in the music he so loves.

While the international media has had a long field day with his rehab stay, I believe it will eventually become a blip on the screen of what will evolve into a long and influential career, a la Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette and Elton John.

I also believe he hasn't made his best music yet, and his guitar playing and singing will become the standard for contemporary country music, much in the same way that Vince Gill's has. In a genre increasingly full of singers, this man is an artist. And with this behind him, he can return to his art perhaps with greater knowledge and insight than before.

Unfortunately, Keith isn't special at all when it comes to addiction, which affects people from all walks of life. I received several calls from sweet, older women wanting to share their support and personal addiction stories with Keith. Perhaps this was a wise tune-up that prevented what could have been a serious breakdown further along the road.

When word of his rehab broke, people started asking, "What was he thinking? He had it all: money, fame, a beautiful wife. Why would he risk that?" But that is the antithesis of what Keith's experience teaches us. Addiction is so powerful that it can bring down the biggest careers and greatest loves, and if you've avoided its life-threatening grasps, be thankful.

While this experience has strengthened Keith, it won't define him. Now that his first post-rehab interview, his first post-rehab TV appearance and his first post-rehab Nashville show are behind him, the focus will shift back to his music and future.

And here's hoping that it will be just an anecdote he and Nicole will shake their heads and laugh about while celebrating their 10th anniversary.

Quote :

urbanaddict4life wrote : Keith looked healthy, relaxed and happy, almost serene. The cliche "inner peace" came to mind as I watched him delightfully immersed in the music he so loves.

This makes me so happy! I am so excited for Keith & the way his life is going. I am a very proud fan indeed

Thanks for posting the article.  Wow, what a well written piece.  I really agree that he has more years to come for making the best music, and that the re-hab will be a blip to a long career.  That's what it is really all about - Keith's music and now it's time for him to move on and do what he does so fantastically, performing live and connecting with his fans.