Keith Urban opened up about his sobriety, saying he’s thankful his alcoholism didn’t ruin his music career in an article published by the New York Post on Apr. 18.
The country singer, who completed two stints in rehab-one in 1998 and one in 2006, according to the Post–said he had to find a way to be “different” following his commitment to getting sober.
“I had to find a way to be different in this world,” Urban said, later adding that he felt “lucky” his battle with alcoholism didn’t affect his career or his ability to write music.
“I’m glad it didn’t change anything about my music,” he shared. “I wrote plenty of hit songs while drunk. I wrote plenty sober. I feel lucky it hasn’t defined my creativity.”
Urban, who grew up in an “alcoholic house,” said it took him awhile to believe he was “wired the same” and that everyone does what they want in order to “have a good time.”
In addition, Urban shared that he realized he was “allergic to substances.”
“I just realized I’m allergic to [substances],” Urban explained to the Times. “Someone said, ‘You have an allergy? What happens when you drink?’ And I said, ‘I break out in cuffs.’”
Urban also admitted that his alcohol problem caused a rocky start to his marriage with now-wife, actress, Nicole Kidman.
Urban spoke with Rolling Stone in 2016, telling the magazine, he made things “implode.”
“I caused the implosion of my fresh marriage,” Urban confessed. “It survived, but it’s a miracle it did. I was spiritually awoken with her. I use the expression ‘I was born into her,’ and that’s how I feel. And for the first time in my life, I could shake off the shackles of addiction,” he shared.
Urban cited his wife as being his saving grace throughout the dark periods in his life.
“[The fans] know me now as being married to [Nicole]. “They’ve seen me on TV. And they just sort of thing, ‘He’s the luckiest guy in the world,’” Urban told Rolling Stone. “There’s just so much sh*t underneath all that you didn’t see,” he explained.
It was wife, Kidman, who staged an intervention in 2006 that led to Urban entering rehab for the second time, the interview revealed.
Urban expressed his gratitude for his wife and her critical role in his recovery by writing a song for her called, “Thank You,” according to the Post. Urban released the song in 2009 on his album, Defying Gravity.
“And I thank you for my heart / I thank you for my life / And I thank God for grace and mercy / And that you became my wife / I’m seeing for the first time / The stars, the sun and moon / But they’ve got nothing on the power / Of this love I have for you / And I thank you, I thank you,” Urban sings on the chorus of the song.
His wife expressed similar sentiments, saying, “I’ve learned an enormous amount having a relationship with someone who is in recovery. I’m more than willing to walk it with him.”
Despite opening up about his battle with addiction, Urban said he doesn’t talk about it a lot because he wants his fans to enjoy themselves at his concerts.
“I don’t talk a lot about it because I love my audience being able to just come and have a great time,” he said. “I’ve [got] nothing against drugs or alcohol.”
Urban is currently performing on his U.K. leg of his Speed Of Now tour. The tour, which runs through December 2022, also features dates in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, concluding in Melbourne.
In addition, Urban is also serving as a coach on The Voice Australia alongside Rita Ora, Guy Sebastian, and Jessica Mauboy.
