Keith Urban Speed of Now World Tour, and why Loretta Lynn was such a big fan of Urban
By Karen Cotton for Country Music News International Magazine
Keith Urban is currently on tour with his Speed of Now World tour, but yesterday he took a moment to reflect on his friendship with the late legend, Loretta Lynn.
In an Instagram post that Country Music News International got permission to use in this article, Urban paid tribute to Lynn, “There’s unique artists, and I mean truly unique artists, and then there’s the very rare ‘one of one’ unclonable originals. That was THE Miss Loretta Lynn. Bold, Fearless, unfiltered, hilarious, smart as a whip, trailblazing (all with a glint in her eye), and gold in her heart.
I was honored to have been her date for the 2005 CMT Awards. From that night all the way through her 87th birthday bash in 2019 when Miss Loretta asked me to jump out of a cake for her – which I gladly did – she’s been a true believer.
It’s hard to quantify what she brought not only to country music, but to millions of people everywhere. A voice that was needed. Subjects and themes nobody else would dare write and sing about. She did it.
I’m profoundly grateful for this all too brief time I got to spend with her. Blessings to you and your eternal light Miss Loretta and to all of your family and friends.”
Concert review: Here’s why country fans world-wide, need to catch Keith Urban’s Speed of Now World Tour, and why Loretta Lynn was such a big fan of Urban. Keith Urban’s Speed of Now World tour lived up to its name when he performed on Sept. 16 at Denver’s Ball Arena. His opening acts were Tyler Hubbard and Ingrid Andress and they were the perfect openers for Urban’s show.
When it was time for Urban to take the stage the lights were turned down low and a spotlight hit the dark stage. Urban held up his guitar in the air above his head and he lowered it. Then he played the first chord and the crowd went wild. The first song of the night was “Tumbleweed” and the second was “Days Gone By,” and Urban had the crowd on his feet.
Throughout the night he played some of his biggest hits;“John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16,” “Wild Hearts,” “Kiss a Girl,” “Brown Eyes Baby,” “Long Hot Summer,” “Never Comin’ Down,” “Somewhere in My Car,” “God Whispered Your Name,” “You Look Good in My Shirt,” and his newest single “Brown Eyes Baby,” and many more.
During his show Urban picked a fan out of the crowd who was holding up a sign that read that this is her 26th Keith Urban show and she wanted a selfie with him. So he brought her up on stage and he delivered. His fan was thrilled.
He sang John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High” because he was in Colorado. He made use of technology and the screens behind him and when his duet “The Fighter” with Carrie Underwood came up on his set list a video of her came up on the screen and she sang her parts. And Urban also made use of his sold out crowd and they sang some of Underwood’s duet, too.
Pink also joined Urban in his duet “One Too Many” in the form of a prerecorded video hologram. He also sang “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” and had the crowd joining in. After the song ended he said, “When you wake up tomorrow at noon and you’re having your Eggos and that song pops into your head, you’re welcome!”
Urban also showcased the talents of some of his band members including a member that hails from Colorado. The crowd loved Urban’s show so much that they demanded an encore and Urban delivered. He came out again in a spotlight and played “Stupid Boy” with just him and his acoustic guitar for accompaniment. After the show he greeted fans who flocked to the front of the stage and took selfies with them and signed autographs.
For Keith Urban information head to his official website: