Keith Urban’s Fan Steals The Show When He’s Invited To Play Guitar Duet On Stage

Mar 07, 2023

Many musicians practice every day, dreaming of a time when they might be able to perform for a crowd of thousands. For one of Keith Urban's fans, that dream became a reality in New Hampshire in 2016. It was Urban himself who made the big moment possible. Best of all, it gave that fan, Rob Joyce, the motivation to really pursue a career in the world of music.

Born in Whangarei, New Zealand, to Bob and Marienne, Urban is one of the most prolific country music artists in the world. At the young age of 2 years old, Urban and his family moved to Queensland, Australia, where he expressed an early interest in music a few years later. 

His parents supported his early interest in the art form, and they even let him try the ukulele and play the guitar at 6 years old. Notably, his father, who owned a convenience store at the time, put up a poster to scour the neighborhood for a guitar teacher to help his son. 

Urban went on to enter local singing competitions. Ultimately, Urban made it into the music business in Australia. In 1990, he released his self-titled album and became a backup act to Australian music icon Slim Dusty, which led him to Nashville.

Now, he is a successful musician and is happily married to actress Nicole Kidman. Beloved for his music, Urban has also proved to be a kind and generous person who seems to always have a positive attitude, which has made him incredibly popular with his fans. So when a fan asked if he could join Urban on stage back in 2016, Urban didn’t hesitate to pull him up.

While Urban is mostly known for being a huge star, he also has a huge heart. So, when he heard about the children at Urbenville Public School in Australia, he knew he wanted to get involved.

The young children at the school regularly organized choirs to sing for a local elderly care home either in person or by making videos of themselves singing. Under the tutelage of Principal Chris Sifko, the children enjoyed giving back to the community.

“Some of them probably don’t have the most angelic voices,” Sifko told ABC Australia, “but for me, it was the sentiment that really humbled me.”

Sifko said the school planned to hold a mini-concert called “Little Stars Under The Big Stars” at the end of 2021, with one celebrity in mind as a special guest – Urban.

Urban received the message, and his response sent the school – and all his littlest big fans in it – into a wholesome frenzy.

In December 2021, the students were corralled into a classroom and sat before a screen, unsure of what was going on. As a Zoom call started, Urban’s face popped up. The students were ecstatic, and Urban apologized for not being able to be there in person due to scheduling conflicts. 

However, Urban did not leave the children empty-handed: he gifted the school five guitars for the students to play while there, as well as 16 more guitars so that each individual student could take one home. He also had one more surprise up his sleeve.

“I'd love to properly meet you all so that's the best way to do it," he said. "I can't come to your concert, so maybe you can come to mine." 

And in December 2022, the children were able to meet their idol backstage at a Brisbane concert.

This wasn’t the only time Urban delighted his fans by proving how much he appreciated their talents. He has brought a handful of fans up on stage over the course of his career, but one fan encounter still holds strong to this day.

Back in 2016, Joyce was living in Boston, Massachusetts. He loved playing the guitar, and he dreamed of being a professional musician. Country music was one of his favorite genres. He was a huge fan of Urban, the country star from down under who is famously married to Kidman. Meanwhile, Joyce’s girlfriend, Lex, was a big fan of Carrie Underwood. In fact, they went to their first Urban concert back in 2008 because Underwood was the opener. From that moment on, Joyce was hooked.

In July 2016, the couple went to another Urban show together. It was Joyce’s birthday, and they were feeling bold. They wrote messages on their tickets and hoped they'd get noticed. 

Joyce asked to play Urban's guitar while Lex trumpeted the fact that it was his birthday. They were pleasantly surprised when Urban pulled Joyce up on the stage.

Whenever a star gives a fan a chance on the big stage, there's tension in the air. Sometimes it just doesn't work out. Luckily for the crowd at Urban's concert, Joyce was ready for his moment! Urban handed him the guitar and seemed surprised by how proficient he was on the instrument. Together, they duetted the song “Good Thing” from Urban’s 2013 album “Fuse.”

Joyce even nailed the tricky guitar solo on the song! When he handed the guitar back and made his way from the stage, he knew that he'd really done himself proud. What's more, he realized he could absolutely handle the bright lights and big pressure of an arena show. 

Speaking with American Songwriter, Joyce said it “felt surreal.” He continued:

“This has been a dream of mine and I always thought if that were to ever happen I would play ‘Good Thing’ because that’s my favorite song. It’s like a knee-jerk reaction for me, whenever I pick up any guitar ever I start playing that riff.”

Afterward, Joyce made the big decision and moved to the city of country music. Today, Joyce and Lex live in Nashville. Though it took some time to get used to their new home, they've made some real progress. Joyce never forgot how he got there, though. Back in 2020, he posted a photo on Instagram of himself alongside Urban from the night they performed together. He wrote in the caption:

“4 years ago last night. Learned so much from this man, still can’t believe this actually happened. Thank you @keithurban #keithurban #nashville #dreamscometrue #thankful.”

He also thanked Urban during his interview with American Songwriter following the performance. “To Keith, the biggest thank you in the whole world,” Joyce said. “You’re the reason I picked up a guitar in the first place, so thank you for trusting me to come onstage and for giving me that opportunity.”

Joyce is grateful to Keith Urban for giving him a shot. Who knows — someday, Joyce may be able to repay the favor.

Are you a fan of Keith Urban? What’s your favorite inspiring moment from a live concert? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family, friends and any music lovers you know!