Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, Citadel for the copy of Keith Urban by Jeff Apter. I don't read many biographies so I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I like Keith Urban so I wanted to check out this book. I appreciate how much research the author did, but I wish there had been more quotes and anecdotes that didn’t come from publications/media that are widely available. The beginning was a jumble of names and dates that didn’t form a cohesive story of Urban’s early life. Luckily, as he got more popular, the news coverage about him increased so there was more material about him that started to create an actual story. It would have helped to use dates to section off chapters instead of random quotes because it would have been easier to keep track of the passing time. I liked learning how Urban made friends with other artists and how they influenced each other. The book verified what I have always thought, that Keith Urban is not only talented but is also a good guy.

I knew Keith Urban from listening to his music, Never thought about his life, until I started reading this book. This is his journey, with all that he has gone through to get where he is today. There were detours, disappointments, setbacks, but what stands out the most is he never gave up. He was determined, when he fell, he picked himself up, and tried once again.
As Keith Urban said, “All those detours, the really dark ones, got me to where I am now. I would not want to change one leaf on any tree in the whole journey.” I enjoyed reading his story, and am really glad he kept on trying because I sure do enjoy his music.
I received an ARC from Citadel through NetGalley.

I basically knew nothing about Keith Urban except that he was a country music star and was married to Nicole Kidman when I picked up this book. My daughter loves his music but I didn't know any of his songs. As I read the book I listened to quite a few songs and found that I like his music too.

Description:
In this definitive biography of Keith Urban, music biographer Jeff Apter presents the legendary Australian country star turned international superstar whose career spans the Nashville music scene, American Idol, The Voice, and much more, including the highs and lows along the way.

Keith Urban came from humble origins. His father worked at the local landfill and Keith was a high school dropout. But Keith had a plan: conquer Nashville. “It’s my destiny,” he said. And Keith was hell-bent on scaling that musical Everest. Whatever it took.

It didn’t come easy. Keith served his apprenticeship in the beer barns of Australia, and his early trips to America were disastrous. But he never gave up, settling in Nashville in the 1990s and forming The Ranch. When the band fell apart, so did Keith, ending up in rehab (not for the last time). But Keith did eventually reach the top, through a combination of talent, charisma, sex appeal, dogged perseverance—and skin thick enough for a rhino. And along the way he married Nicole Kidman.

As Keith has said, “All those detours, the really dark ones, got me to where I am now. I would not want to change one leaf on any tree in the whole journey.”

Keith Urban is the definitive biography of an international superstar.

My thoughts:
This was a great biography of Keith Urban's life from a child in Australia to present day. He's a likeable man with a great love for music. I find it so amazing that many musicians seem to know from the time they are a child that they will be musicians and the lengths they will go to accomplish their dream. Such was the case with Keith Urban. I liked that the biography followed both his accomplishments and his failures and what he learned from them. I enjoyed the detail of some of his feelings about the music industry and his gratitude to others for assistance provided along the way. Keith Urban has a tremendous number of awards to his name! This was an interesting journey to read and I'm glad I picked up the book.

Thanks to Kensington Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on September 26, 2023.

As a country music fan ,I was interested in reading this book. Jeff Apter does a good job at documenting the rise of Keith Urban. I really don’t think there is any real new information that most fans do not already know.

I just reviewed Keith Urban by Jeff Apter. #KeithUrban #NetGalley

Keith Urban is one of my favorite musicians which encouraged me to read the book. I found the first 12 chapters a little long winded yet my interest was re-ignited from Chapter 13 once Nicole came into the picture. I enjoyed his journey in becoming a musician and am left with admiration for him with the personal struggles he endured during his bad habits. I was left proud when he went into rehab the last time, without his guitar and he is where he is today. I do believe both him and Nicole make a beautiful celeb couple and it reminds the reader that love can conquer all, as before Keith met Nicole I do believe he was a bit of a lost soul.

Personally the first 12 chapters went into too much detail related to all the other musicians which was not of much interest to me, as my interest was more focused on Keith and his personal journey.

This book is a well researched and insightful read, outlining the life of Keith Urban.
The descriptive style of writing flows in a way that is highly readable, giving details of Keith’s story in a very real and non judgmental manner.
I loved the commitment and dedication that Keith had from an early age, he followed his dreams and made them work. The reality of growing up with alcohol in the family home, having access to drugs but also the strength to seek help to achieve his goal – what an incredible story!
Nashville is the end goal for all things country, a harsh initiation into the music industry and personalities involved.
Keith Urban struggled personally and professionally to survive in his career, that is impressive.
Readers will be impressed by this well written story, the characters that Keith met on his journey and the support given by iconic names in the industry!
Keith’s marriage to Nicole Kidman has remained solid, a partnership allowing both to focus on their personal interests and thrive!
This biography could only be enhanced by some interviews with Keith himself!

Thanks to Kensington Books, NetGalley and Jeff Apter for providing a comprehensive biography of Keith Urban.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have always like Keith Urban & I love biographies/autobiographies. So when this booked popped up, I was excited to have the opportunity to read it. While parts of it were enjoyable, I think I would have liked it better if it had been written by Keith Urban himself. It seemed very technical & I would have preferred a more in depth look at his personal life. But sometimes booms just don't hit right at the exact moment. Perhaps I'll try it again in the future.
Thanks netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review & opinion.

Thanks Netgalley and Jeff Apter for allowing me to read this. First, let me say I’m a huge Keith fan. I’ve been to 3 of his concerts and loved his music from the beginning. It’s his tone, his attitude, his voice and passion for music He’s also a great guitarist. Amazingly talented
This author explains why he’s so talented and more importantly how hard he’s worked since he was 7 years old! He never gave up and was rejected for many years. He also had addiction problems.
If you’re a music fan it’s a good read. I learned so much, and of course it made me love Keith Urban even more.

Jeff Apter, Keith Urban, Kensington Books Citadel, September 2023.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Jeff Apter has adopted an incisive and detailed, but accessible style which suits his topic – an Australian boy from Caboolture who wanted to succeed in Nashville. In particular, Apter has given the reader so much information about why the various people, as well as Keith Urban, might have acted as they have, but does not pass judgement. This is a style that enhances the biography in which Urban’s attempts at rehabilitation, his behaviour toward managers, bands, other performers, his marriage and attitudes towards expressing himself, are covered. There are plenty of clues to dwell upon as to why an attitude, behaviour or event might have occurred – but there is no overt or covert opinion expressed by this most delicate of biographers. I enjoyed the Australianness of the early chapters, they give Urban a background that cannot be eradicated by his life in America, and this resonates as a reality. At the same time, Nashville becomes an experience for those who know little about it, along with the development of a style of music that has changed over the period. So, too, do we learn about Urban as a songwriter, a man struggling towards success, and then eventual success in his personal and public life and someone as at home in each of the various spheres he now works and lives in.

Professional success did not come easily to Urban, and the stories of his work from a young age in Australia, move to Nashville to live out his dream, successes and failures are compelling reading. That Urban was successful in Nashville before becoming known and well regarded in Australia is interesting reading, particularly when the likes of Slim Dusty and other Australian icons were part of his Australian experience.
Personal success was also elusive, although Apter writes of Urban’s various relationships, always dealing with them sensitively. Nicole Kidman’s impact on Urban, and his on her, is also covered thoughtfully. This is a biography that, while being truth telling and making a picture of Urban, his family and friends that is open, also avoids gossip and maliciousness. There appears to be no resiling from the reality of Urban, his life and his attitudes, but what is presented is a story about Urban that is readable, and begs to be read.

And then, the music and song writing – what a history of the period through this medium is presented by Apter. Alongside the personal story there is such a wealth of information about the way in which styles were adapted and enhanced, bands were brought together, and recordings were made. As I read about Urban and his music I thought of the Ken Burns documentary, Country Music, and how enthralling I found it despite my lack of interest in country and western music in general. The story of Urban’s music and country music and its development is also well rendered by Apter, making a fine contribution to understanding Urban and his work.

Jeff Apter’s biography of Keith Urban is a readable, fascinating and informative work. I am pleased to have read it and shall look for more of this author’s writing.

The biography, Keith Urban by Jeff Apter, is well written with tons of insight into Keith’s journey to become a country music star. It was interesting to read about his dream as a young boy to come to America and live in Nashville, and all the trials and tribulations he faced along the way. This is a good book for Keith Urban fans.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. Keith Urban is one of my favorite country artists and i loved learning about him and his life. And this book has everything, his childhood, to making it in nashville, to his drugs and alcohol sturggles to his marriage to nicole kidman. It shows you how hard he worked to become the super star he is. Now i'm ready for more music from him.

A good read for true Keith urban fans. Very technical and focused on his rise to fame moreso than his personal life or thoughts. Very thorough, in depth, and comprehensive.

It was a great insight to his life and journey making music. I grew up with the hugest crush on Keith Urban so I really enjoyed this! Highly recommend this to any fan of his

I am not a country fan but I do like Keith Aruban and wanted to know more about his life and career. It felt more like reading a newspaper article than a biography as the author did not allow us a lot of personal information. I do hope one day the singer chooses to publish his autobiography to get a better feeling of his emotions.

I did learn and I will follow his career more steadily now.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher fro granting me a complimentary e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thoroughly love reading biographies. This one is no different. Jeff Apter did a great job at giving us an in-depth look at how Keith Urban became a musical superstar. It was a great read and enjoyable.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Kudos to the author for a really interesting autobiography of Keith Urban. He has led a really interesting life. His home completely burned to the ground when he was young. He kept on keeping on. Keith is an absolutely gifted guitarist. He (seemingly with his parents support) decided he didn't need to finish high school and that his obsession with music would pay off. So he decided to head to Nashville; which wasn't quite as easy as it sounded to this 'kid" on his own trying to make it work in the United States.

I was wondering if this book would bring up Keith's addictions. It does.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the advance review copy of Keith Urban in exchange for an honest review. I do like country music, but I'm not a fanatic. (I have not purchased (or downloaded) a record/CD in decades.) But I do like a good memoir/biography and this is a good one. In many ways it (almost) reads like fiction. Super interesting.

What would make this book better? Pictures. Maybe sneak in the Playgirl photo shoot (kidding ... kind of).

Many thanks to the author Jeff Apter and publisher Kensington Books for approving my request for the advance read copy.

My thanks to Net Galley and Kensington for the arc of this book.

As Keith fan I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well written and researched, lots of musical names of the past mentioned as well. A pleasure to read.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

This is a good read. Keith Urban’s dream since childhood was singularly focused on Nashville. He blazed a trail for others in the country music industry with his crossover appeal. The story is told mostly about the business side of his struggle, with a dash of the personal interspersed.

The only part I did not enjoy was the cussing with the F – word used. But this was done sparingly, so I kept on reading. But that is the reason for the 4-star review.

a great biography about Keith Urban's life and career and opportunities that presented itself. Jeff Apter did a wonderful job of telling it. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy for a honest review.

An insight into the world of the country rock star and the trials and tribulations into the stardom he had always hoped would happen. Through the years of hard work and perseverance Keith Urban became the Australian country singer that made it in the USA but struggled in his homeland. This was a great read that never shied away from the rollercoaster filled with fame, fortune, drugs, down turns and a romance no one ever saw coming.