Keith Urban did his part to thank those working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday evening (May 14), hosting a private, drive-in concert for more than 200 doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians and staff from Vanderbilt Health, which is part of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“To all of you guys here tonight, for everything that you’ve done, and continue to do, to all of your families, we say thank you – this concert is for all of you,” Urban said as he took to the stage in front of nearly 125 vehicles at Stardust Drive-In Movie Theater, located in Watertown, Tenn., about 40 miles East of Nashville.
“I did this to say thanks to the healthcare workers who are putting their lives on the line for us every day,” Urban said of the private, unannounced show. “And performing in this environment, with everyone in their cars at a safe distance from one another, seems like an amazing opportunity for everybody to just let go and have fun….and I’m a musician, I HAVE TO PLAY!”
On Friday morning (May 15), Urban joined NBC’s TODAY Show to discuss the drive-in gig, which is the first of its kind in the United States. The four-time Grammy winner said that he had a blast putting on the show and even hinted that there may be more drive-in shows to come.
“It was a lot of fun. We didn’t know what to expect,” Urban admitted. “From a performance standpoint, it was a bit of proof of concept show as well, to figure out what works, what doesn’t.”
Country music superstar @KeithUrban catches up with @savannahguthrie about his special drive-in theater concert for health care workers, his new album and more! pic.twitter.com/EF2GYx4hY9
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 15, 2020
Just days prior to his concert for healthcare workers, Urban revealed details surrounding his forthcoming studio album, The Speed of Now Part 1. Arriving September 18, 2020, the album is the follow-up to 2018’s Graffiti U and is Urban’s 11th studio project.
Keith Urban has done his best to stay connected with fans while in quarantine with his wife, Nicole Kidman, and daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret. The four-time Grammy winner and reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year, has taken to social media several times to stream live performances directly to fans and also appeared during the star-studded One World: Together at Home special where he covered Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love.”
