Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967) is a New Zealand-born country mus… Read Full Bio ↴Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967) is a New Zealand-born country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Originally the front man for The Ranch, a three-piece group that released one album in 1997 to critical acclaim, Urban disbanded the group to pursue a solo career. In 2004 his album "Be Here" was nominated for best country album at the Grammy Awards and at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Urban was born in Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand (on 26 October, 1967). Before he turned two years old his family moved to Australia. By age seven, Urban was already thinking about emigrating to America and making his mark in Nashville. Urban began to learn the guitar at age six and began winning talent contests at age eight. By twelve he was booking his band in local clubs, and at fifteen he quit school to hit the road. In 1990, Urban signed with EMI in Australia and recorded his first solo album, which charted four No. 1 country hits in Australia. In 1992, he moved to Nashville to pursue the largest country music market in the world. Originally the front man for The Ranch, a three-piece group that released one album in 1997 to critical acclaim, Urban disbanded the group to pursue a solo career.

In the late 90's Urban battled an addiction to cocaine. After reaching a personal rock bottom in 1998, he became determined to give up the habit and checked into Cumberland Heights, a treatment center in Nashville. After cleaning up, Urban released his self-titled American debut in 2000, achieving three top 5 hits and securing the title of Top New Male Vocalist Award at the 2001 Academy of Country Music Awards. Urban, openly regarded as a modern day guitar virtuoso, has performed as a session musician on albums such as Garth Brooks' Double Live and the Dixie Chicks' Fly.

In an attempt to gain more exposure, Keith then appeared semi-nude in an interview for Playgirl magazine's April 2001 issue. The publicity attempt worked as Keith was on the cover of the magazine's readers' most requested issue.

Keith Urban released Golden Road in 2002, and the success of the single "Somebody Like You" sent his career into high gear. The single spent eight consecutive weeks at the top of the charts, remaining at No. 1 longer than any other country artist in 2002. Three other singles were released, two went to No. 1 and the third was No. 3. The album went platinum in every country where it has been released and is triple platinum in the United States. In 2004 Be Here was released and nominated for best country album at the Grammy Awards and at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Out of the five singles released from Be Here, three went No. 1, and two fell just shy of that mark to land at No. 2. In 2006 the album went triple platinum in the U.S. Urban has also released Days Go By, a greatest hits collection, in Europe. With a career total of 13 singles released, seven singles went to No. 1, two went to No.2, two went to No.3, one went to No. 4, and one went to No.18.

Touring as a supporting act for renowned country acts Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Chesney honed Urban's skills and stage-craft. Country video channel CMT signed on as the title sponsor of Keith Urban's first headlining arena tour titled Keith Urban Be Here '04. Urban continued his meteoric rise to fame in 2005 with the very successful Alive in '05 tour. He performed in the Live 8 Philadelphia concert on July 2, 2005 and had been chosen by The Gap to appear alongside seven other musical stars in their "Favorites" campaign. In 2005 he was named CMA's Entertainer of the Year. He released a DVD in late September entitled Livin' Right Now, recorded in California on December 2004. Urban performed "Better Life" on the CMA Awards and "You'll Think of Me" on the American Music Awards. He also performed at the Grammys playing "You'll Think of Me" and "The Lucky One" with Faith Hill. At the 2006 ACM Awards Urban gave two performances when he performed "Tonight I Wanna Cry" and played guitar for Brooks & Dunn's song "Believe."

Personal life
On arriving in Nashville, Tennessee in 1992, Urban quickly fell for veterinary technician Laura Sigler. The pair shared an on-off relationship from 1992, and lived together between 1998 and 2002. Urban paid tribute to Sigler in the sleeve notes to his self-titled first hit album, and dedicated love song "You're The Only One" to Sigler, writing "For Laura" at the bottom of the lyrics. After proposing to Sigler in 2001, the pair broke up in 2002.

In 2002, after his painful breakup with Sigler, Urban met supermodel Niki Taylor, who played his love interest in his music video for "Somebody Like You." Taylor had told her hair/makeup person, Debra Wingo, that she might be interested in being in a country music video. Wingo also does hair/makeup for Urban, and she mentioned that he was getting ready to do a video. Urban and Taylor dated on and off for three years until their split was officially announced July 2005.

Urban met actress Nicole Kidman at an event in Hollywood in January of 2005. In May of 2006, Urban and Kidman announced their engagement, and their plans to wed in Australia. They got married in Australia on 25 June 2006 at the Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in the grounds of St Patrick's Estate, Manly, Sydney.

John Cougar John Deere John 3:16 (2016 Grammy No
Keith Urban Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm a 45 spinning on an old Victrola
I'm a two strike swinger, I'm a Pepsi Cola
I'm a blue jean quarterback saying "I love you" to the prom queen
In a Chevy
I'm John Wayne, Superman, California
I'm a Kris Kristofferson Sunday morning
I'm a mom and daddy singing along to Don McLean
At the levee

And I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old
Just another rebel in the great wide open, on the boulevard of broken dreams
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16

Hey, hey
Everything I needed
That's right

I'm Mark Twain on the Mississippi
I'm Hemingway with a shot of whiskey
I'm a TV dinner on a tray trying to figure out the Wheel of Fortune
I'm a Texaco star, I'm a Gibson guitar
I'm still a teenage kid trying to go too far
I'm a jukebox waiting in a neon bar for a quarter

I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old
Just another rebel in the great wide open, on the boulevard of broken dreams
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16

I spent a lot of years running from believing,
Looking for another way to save my soul
The longer I live, the more I see it, there's only one way home

I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old
Just another rebel in the great wide open, on the boulevard of broken dreams
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16

I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old
Just another rebel in the great wide open, on the boulevard of broken dreams
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16

(John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16)
Everything I needed
(John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16)
Everything I needed

(John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16)
That's right

Overall Meaning

The song "John Cougar John Deere John 3:16" by Keith Urban is a nostalgic tribute to various iconic figures and things that shaped the singer's life. The song opens with the image of an old-fashioned 45 RPM record spinning on a Victrola, which sets the tone for the rest of the song's retrospective mood. The singer identifies with a wide range of characters and objects, from John Wayne and Superman to Hemingway and Mark Twain, from TV dinners and Texaco Stars to Kris Kristofferson and Don McLean. All of these people and things represent various aspects of the singer's identity and experiences, from adolescent love and rebellion to the discovery of rock and roll and the salvation of his soul.

The song's title refers to three specific elements of American culture that serve as symbols of the singer's personal history. "John Cougar" represents the 1980s heartland rocker John Cougar Mellencamp, whose music and lyrics often reflected the struggles and triumphs of working-class Americans. "John Deere" is the legendary agricultural equipment company that has become synonymous with farm life and rural values. Finally, "John 3:16" is a Bible verse that declares God's love for humanity and the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. All three of these references reflect the singer's connection to his roots and his search for meaning and purpose in life.

Overall, "John Cougar John Deere John 3:16" is a poignant reflection on the power of popular culture to shape our identities and values. The song celebrates the people, places, and things that have influenced the singer's life, while also acknowledging the complexity and contradictions of modern society. By drawing on classic Americana imagery and themes, Keith Urban creates a timeless anthem for anyone who has ever felt a deep connection to the music, movies, and icons of their youth.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm a 45 spinning on an old Victrola
I am classic, timeless, and have been around for a while, just like an old record player.

I'm a two strike swinger, I'm a Pepsi Cola
I take risks and have a bold, exciting personality, just like a baseball player who swings despite having two strikes. I also have a refreshing aspect to me, like a cold Pepsi on a hot day.

I'm a blue jean quarterback saying "I love you" to the prom queen In a Chevy
I am a romantic and a leader, showing my love to someone special in a classic American setting, traveling in a Chevy car.

I'm John Wayne, Superman, California
I have strength, bravery, and represent a legendary coolness, like iconic figures John Wayne, Superman, and California.

I'm a Kris Kristofferson Sunday morning I'm a mom and daddy singing along to Don McLean At the levee
I embody the nostalgia and simplicity of a Sunday morning with Kris Kristofferson music, as well as the family bonding and community gathering of singing along with Don McLean at the levee.

Hey, hey Everything I needed That's right
I have found everything I need and am content with who I am.

I'm Mark Twain on the Mississippi I'm Hemingway with a shot of whiskey I'm a TV dinner on a tray trying to figure out the Wheel of Fortune I'm a Texaco star, I'm a Gibson guitar I'm still a teenage kid trying to go too far I'm a jukebox waiting in a neon bar for a quarter
I am diverse and can be many things: literary like Mark Twain, bold and adventurous like Hemingway, curious and entertained like someone watching Wheel of Fortune, iconic and recognizable like a Texaco star or Gibson guitar, and always pushing boundaries like a teenage kid. I am also nostalgic and represent a simpler time, like a jukebox in a neon bar.

I spent a lot of years running from believing, Looking for another way to save my soul The longer I live, the more I see it, there's only one way home
I have struggled with faith and spirituality for a while, trying to find different paths to redemption. However, the wisdom that comes with age has taught me that there is only one true way to find peace and solace.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROSS COPPERMAN, SHANE MCANALLY, JOSH OSBORNE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@marinellmasicat6838

3y↑3

Wow, Keith! What an excellent performance! I watched it so many times tonight, I’m sure I’ll be watching it again soon...

@gracebilavi8525

3y↑2

Keith!!!!!

@denisehedden5108

🥀Amazing Song I love it! Keith Urban knows exactly how to capture an audience with his unique vocals and his humor lol but true I love all of his song's since the 90s oh yeah🥀🤘🎸