Posted on 10/22/2006 5:27:14 PM PDT by SkyPilot
New Zealand-born country singer Keith Urban has checked himself into a rehabilitation treatment centre for alcohol abuse.
Less than four months ago, Urban's career was on a crest when he married actress Nicole Kidman in a star-studded ceremony in Sydney.
And yesterday a statement from his publicist said his new wife was by his side when he went into rehab on Thursday, at an undisclosed location.
"I deeply regret the hurt this has caused Nicole and the ones that love and support me," Urban said in the statement.
Urban, who turns 39 on Thursday, has publicly acknowledged a former addiction to cocaine, and has also been described as a recovering alcoholic.
"One can never let one's guard down on recovery, and I'm afraid that I have," the statement reads. "With the strength and unwavering support I am blessed to have from my wife, family and friends, I am determined and resolved to a positive outcome."
Urban's uncle, Paul Urbahn of Hikurangi, Northland, said he heard the news on the radio. "It was a bloody shock." Urbahn, who attended the couple's wedding with his wife Julie, said they had never heard anything first-hand about Urban's substance abuse problem.
"It's all second and third-hand, out of newspapers and women's magazines. It's their business, I've learned over the years that everything is played very close to the chest."
Urban was born in Whangarei to Bob and Marienne Urbahn. Two years later, the couple took Keith and his brother Shane to Brisbane. A few years later, the family moved to a farm near the Sunshine Coast town of Caboolture. Keith first picked up a musical instrument, a ukulele, when he was four. He quit school at 15 and signed his first record deal with EMI in 1990 after winning a talent competition. He moved to Nashville in 1992 and dropped the "h" from his name for commercial reasons.
Kidman and Urban married on June 25. They then moved to Nashville, where Urban records. Urban won a Grammy this year for best male country vocalist for "You'll Think of Me," and was named top male vocalist for the second successive year by the Academy of Country Music.
A Country Weekly magazine reader poll this year named him country music's sexiest man.
Urban's new CD, Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing, will be released on November 7 as scheduled, but he will postpone all upcoming promotional appearances. Urban will also likely cancel a scheduled appearance on the Country Music Association awards next month, his publicist said.
Keith Urban doesn't write/sing about human troubles?
He's a very talented guy who would not make it outside of country music. Country music fans embrace more than just fiddle playin'.
You know, I think his slight scruffiness may actually be contributing to his appeal somewhat - he's a real honest-to-goodness guy.
Do we really want him to turn into one of those Nashville metrosexuals with L'Oreal highlights & a permanent wave?
I don't think so!
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