Keith Urban Duets: Crossing Musical Boundaries Beyond Country

Though he has an impressive solo career, some of Keith Urban's most loved tracks are his genre-defying collaborations. By pairing up with some of the music industry's best, this versatile talent has effortlessly blended his country sound with pop, rock, and even electronic dance music. Let's take a closer look at some of the best cross-genre Keith Urban duets and how they've broadened his influence on the music world.

Growing up in Australia, Urban took an early interest in music. He received a ukulele when he was 4 years old and began playing guitar at the tender age of 6. Influenced by his country music-loving parents, he started winning local talent competitions by age 8 and playing guitar in pubs and clubs as a teenager. In 1990, Urban signed with EMI Records and released his self-titled debut album, which received a best country album nomination at the 1991 Australian Record Industry Association Awards.

But Urban had big ideas. In 1992, he moved to Nashville and began working as a songwriter and guitarist, forming The Ranch in 1997. The group's album enjoyed critical acclaim and modest sales, but a medical condition halted Urban's singing career, leading to the band's demise. He focused on his guitar, playing as a session musician on albums by the Dixie Chicks and Garth Brooks.

In 1999, with his voice strong again, Urban resumed his solo career. He released his first album in the United States, Golden Road, in 2002. Be Here (2004) and Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing (2006) followed, each featuring No. 1 hits and earning praise for their crowd-pleasing country sound. However, in 2009, Urban decided to shake things up with the release of Defying Gravity, an album which boldly incorporated more pop and rock sounds. It marked a turning point for the artist, who began winning new fans across genres with every subsequent release.

Urban's willingness to take risks, smooth vocals, and exceptional guitar skills have made him one of the world's most decorated artists. He's won four GRAMMY awards, 13 Country Music Association awards, 15 Academy of Country Music awards, and six ARIA awards. He also received one of country music's highest honors when he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2012.

More recently, Urban has teamed up with some of the brightest pop and hip-hop stars. His cross-genre partnerships have expanded his fan base and pushed the boundaries of country music.

Urban has found a kinship with Post Malone, who has also blurred genre lines with a move from hip-hop to country music. They came together to perform a bluesy cover of "Baby What You Want Me to Do" for the 2019 Elvis All-Star Tribute TV special. Urban praised Post's "eclectic" approach to music, telling E! "he's the real deal." In 2024, the singer included Post's song "I Had Some Help" in his Barefoot Country Music Festival set.

In 2020, Urban paired up with pop artist P!nk for "One Too Many," a song that explores the impact of alcohol on a relationship. While it reached No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 10 on the Country Airplay chart, the single enjoyed greater success around the world, reaching No. 1 on the Australian Country Hot 50 and Canadian Country charts. Urban said, "I've always loved P!nk's voice. But her artistry and her multifaceted ability to create, and her God-given talent, truly makes her one of the greatest voices of our time."

Collaborating with pop stars seems to come naturally for Urban, who recorded "Coming Home" with Julia Michaels in 2018, "That's When (Taylor's Version)" with Taylor Swift in 2021, and "Shape Of Me" with Rita Ora in 2024. Urban also dipped his toe back into the hip-hop world in 2024 with "Let It Roll," a collaboration with Snoop Dogg for The Garfield Movie.

Urban has even made a foray into EDM thanks to his friendship with Chic frontman Nile Rodgers. They met in 2015 at a pre-GRAMMYs party and bonded over their passion for guitars. They began working on EDM-country tracks, including "Sun Don't Let Me Down," which Urban included on his 2016 album Ripcord. The song, which also features a rap verse from Pitbull, saw Urban blurring genre lines like never before. It also saw him singing in a new style, thanks to Nile's encouragement.

"I really pushed him to sing at the top of his range," Nile told The Guardian. "Keith was nervous about it; he wanted to do another take. But I told him I loved the way it sounds."

The artists reunited for "Out The Cage," the opening track of Urban's 2020 album THE SPEED OF NOW Part 1. Urban wrote the song with up-and-coming crossover country act Breland, but he realized that enlisting Nile to produce and play guitar was the missing piece of the puzzle.

Urban also dabbles in the worlds of rock and alternative music. He's good friends with John Mayer, who gave him his old Dumble Overdrive Reverb amp. This amplifier, which the musician said is "the best amp I've ever played," gives Urban's music a fuller sound than most country acts. The pair recorded a memorable 2010 episode of CMT Crossroads, and in 2013, Urban joined Mayer for a cover of The Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down" at the Crossroads Guitar Festival.

In 2012, Urban joined Joel Madden of Good Charlotte for a cover of U2's "One" during their time as coaches on the first season of The Voice Australia. That same year, the Madden Brothers (Joel and Benji) supported Urban on his Australian tour.

Through his cross-genre collaborations, Urban has proven his versatility and broadened the boundaries of country music. Several young artists, including Chase Wright and Kasey Tyndall, have cited him as a major influence. Observing artists such as Urban taking risks inspires up-and-coming performers to experiment with other genres confidently and contribute to the ongoing evolution of popular music. We encourage you to explore Keith Urban's duets outside of country to understand his influence and musical legacy better.