Keith Urban has a good idea why country music is so popular today. The New Zealand native says its meteoric rise in popularity, making stars a household name, is because of how much has shifted post-pandemic.

“Country’s always had strong storytelling at its heart,” Urban tells Inked. “But it’s also about having a drink, a dance, and a damn good time. Audiences are craving that right now. Isolation made people want something that felt real; something with depth. Country was there, waiting.”

It’s the newly-appreciated ability to gather together, but that isn’t all it is, at least according to Urban. The father of two says it’s also because of the false narrative that runs rampant on the internet, with seemingly no end in sight.

“In an era of fake news, authentic storytelling becomes even more essential,” Urban reflects. “Country is resonating with a much larger audience because it has a lot to say, and honestly, other genres may have less to say lately. It’s no surprise people are more than ready for it.”

Urban will kick off the second half of his HIGH in Vegas Las Vegas residency on February 14. He will also embark on his High and Alive World Tour in May. If he had his way, the 57-year-old would spend most of his time on the road.

“It burns constantly,” Urban says of wanting to perform in front of a live audience. “It’s the center of my whole being — playing for people who just want to have a good time and sing along. When you’re on stage, revving up a sing-along chorus and the whole arena belts it back — a phenomenal feedback loop that still gives me chills.”

There is little, if anything, that Urban enjoys more than playing in front of a live audience.

“It’s the center of my whole being — playing for people who just want to have a good time and sing along,” Urban explains. “When you’re on stage, revving up a sing-along chorus and the whole arena belts it back — a phenomenal feedback loop that still gives me chills.”

Urban will resume his HIGH in Vegas residency on February 14. For the married singer, there isn’t a better place he would rather be than on stage on Valentine’s Day, a fitting day for him to return to his Las Vegas shows.

“Every show is a valentine for my audience,” Urban says. “My mission is to take fans on a wild ride, leaving behind the everyday outside world for two hours to have the absolute time of their lives.”

Urban’s fans might come from all different walks of life, with wildly different beliefs, economic backgrounds and more. But at least for a few hours, Urban feels at one with his audience, and hopes they feel the same.

“We’re all this mix of responsibility, gravitas, and wild edge,” he says. “That’s what makes us human.”

Find all of Urban’s music and upcoming shows at KeithUrban.com.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of CMA