Keith Urban: Back On Track

Out Of Rehab, Has New CD, Is Starting World Tour

(CBS)  Country music star Keith Urban is hoping for great things in 2007.

The Aussie singer-songwriter and husband of Nicole Kidman has a new album, "Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing," which hit No. 1 when it debuted in November. He kicks off a much-anticipated world tour in April.

And Urban looks forward to a fresh start following a second stay in alcohol rehab.

On The Early Show Tuesday, he told co-anchor Hannah Storm the album "feels brand new," even though it's been out three months.

Urban called rehab "a real exercise in surrender. It really was — to let go of everything and recognize that, 'This is where I am, this is where I'm meant to be.' And just let everything go, give it up, you know."

The album proving successful while he was in rehab was, says Urban, "amazing. You know, I didn't go in expecting any of that sort of support. I went in with — it was a journey, and I'm still on it. And to get that support was phenomenal."."

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Photos: Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman

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He admits performing in front of live audiences again has him excited but "kind of antsy a little bit, actually."

And Urban says going on the road could be therapeutic: "I think seeing people sing along with the new songs, especially, is great. And just feeling that thing that happens in the room when that moment comes with the music and the people have come — there's all that connectedness. When that happens, it gets to a single place and it's not individual. It's just all of us as one for that moment. It's extraordinary."

One song on the new ablum. "Stupid Boy," has a cute tale behind it.

Urban says it was written by Sarah Buxton and two men.

"She wrote it from the female perspective, obviously, as the observer, actually, of another couple, and putting it into the stupid boy sort of observational place," he explained.

The song has a woman telling a man's an idiot for the way he treated a woman.

"I heard the song and I just loved it," Urban recalled. "I mean, it's just one of those things. I loved it."

And he says he got help from Kidman in deciding how to deliver it and make it work.

"I played her the song," he told Storm, "and said, 'I really love this,' and I said, 'I wish I could find something like this.' And She said, 'Why don't you just do that song?' Stupid boy. I am!"

[rocketgirl07]

In the future, when speaking with Keith, please leave "his wife" out of the conversation....She doesn't have a thing to do with HIS MUSIC and there are some of us who are SICK AND TIRED of HER being brought up in every conversation with him.....

[meldawg03]

Darlin', he's married, NICOLE's a part of his life. Deal with it. It doesn't change his music, his talent, or his ability to perform.

[glormae-2009]

It makes me so happy to see Keith looking so healthy and happy! I want to wish Keith and Nicole much happiness always! I cannot wait to see Keith in concert in my town soon!! Thanks to the Early Show for having Keith on...what a doll he is!!

[crikey67]

Awwwwwwww it did change him and sometimes not for the better..ie Atlanta.

I am glad to see he's getting back to his old self.

I like rocketgirl107 wish these interviews could just be about Keith and his music and not who he is married too!

[kuspenelope]

I agree with Crikey and Rocket. We just want it to be about Keith and his music. He was on the show to promote his new CD. Talk about THAT! It shouldn't always have to be about HER! Let it be about him for ONCE.

[glormae-2009]

I personally love to hear Keith talk about his wife...it shows how much he cares for her and that makes Keith even more of a man in my eyes. I respect Keith and love his music. Keith considers his fans as part of his family and whatever he wants to share with us about his wife then that's fine with me.

[Janieku63]

Keith seems healthier,happier, and more in tune so to speak with his life and his great music than ever before! I love hearing what he has to say, and especially hearing him sing his songs live again, it's Awssome!

[natasha86-2009]

I think you need to get over it. It is sweet when Keith talks about Nicole, the way he kind of lights up. Also Keith and Nicole make a great couple, and the whole interview wasn't about her they only mentioned her once. I wish that they would also post the I Told You So performance since I missed it on tv.

[angelalynn2]

So I guess then they shouldn't talk about his stay in rehab or anything in his life because it has nothing to do with his music, right? And actually this record has a lot to do with Nicole considering he wrote many of the songs on it for her. And again they asked 1 or 2 questions about her and that is it. And I'm sure he would appreciate his "fans" talking about his wife that way. They just went through a lot very early in their marriage of course people are going to ask about it. Get over it, she is apart of his life and I am happy for him and iff you were really "fans" you would be too.