Keith Urban Looked Past His Rough Childhood To Become The Father He Wanted To His Two Daughters

Nov 01, 2022 by apost team

Parenting style varies from one household to another. In some cases, fathers are either much more relaxed and lenient than mothers, while some are more authoritative and disciplinarian. Matriarchs, on the other hand, are more often described as nurturing, supportive and empathetic, in most cultures. 

In the case of Grammy Award-winning musician Keith Urban, he does everything for his two daughters, spoiling them tremendously and making them feel loved ever since they were born. 

Growing up, Urban had a rough childhood, especially with a father who had never made him feel like he was loved. Ultimately, the musician grew past that and strived to become the father that he wanted to have when he was a child. 

Thankfully, he has a partner in life to share his children with. Urban is married to Oscar Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman. 

The couple met at G'Day LA, which is an event to honor Australians living in Los Angeles. Their relationship began a few years after Kidman finalized her divorce from her ex-husband, Tom Cruise. Kidman and Urban were married in Sydney, Australia, where they currently reside. They also have homes in Los Angeles, New York City and Nashville, Tennessee. 

Since then, the couple has been raising their two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, who were born in 2008 and 2010, respectively. 

Surely, one’s childhood and adolescence are crucial in forming one’s own consciousness and principles in life. For Urban, it was his experiences during these times that made him the great father he is now. Read on to learn more about what shaped the singer’s parenting style today. 

Born in Whangarei, New Zealand to Bob and Marienne, Keith Lionel 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 after. 

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 was taught the specifics of the instrument, and he went on to enter local singing competitions and even partook in the local theater company. 

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 and eventually, performing at the Grand Ole Opry. 

Interestingly, his passion for singing country music is a reflection of the tastes of his parents who had helped him pursue his passion for music at a young age. This fueled Urban’s desire to push even further, so he formed the Australian-American trio The Ranch, but they eventually disbanded after releasing one album. 

Later on, he began his solo music career and released his first self-titled American album in 1999, which was certified platinum and birthed Urban's first No. 1 song on the Billboard Country charts. 

While his parents, especially his father, played an instrumental part in his success in music, things weren't exactly as they seemed way back home. In an interview, Urban revealed a rather unknown chapter of his relationship with his father that caused him to spiral downwards.

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Speaking to Rolling Stone, the “Don’t Let Me Down” singer opened up about how it felt like growing up in an indifferent household, without intimacy.

“My recollection is that he was a physical disciplinarian. Ten years ago, I would have said, ‘He never did anything I didn’t deserve.’ Now I realize it’s not about deserving it,” he shared. 

“I don’t recall him ever telling me he loved me as a kid. I’d do a gig I thought was fantastic and the only thing he’d say is, ‘When you speak onstage, you’ve got to slow down.’ He never commented on anything else. And the way he disciplined me, he seemed to have forgotten about it as he got older. I don’t think he was in denial, he genuinely had no recollection. ‘Hitting you? I never did that!'” Urban furthered. 

Apparently, the reason why Urban decided to take on country music was so that he could sing of his family's woes that led to his struggle with substance abuse. With the help of his wife, Kidman, who intervened early on, he was able to overcome his own personal struggles. 

Now, Urban is the proud father of two lovely daughters. In the ABC Special, “Country Music’s Biggest Stars: In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts,” Urban gushed about fatherhood and his kids:

“It's an incredible feeling. And having girls — I love having girls. You know, I come from a family with no sisters, one brother. So, it's been quite the learning curve in a really good way.”

Urban has spoken dearly of his two kids, Sunday and Faith, and he's happily inspired by the fatherhood glow. "Even at two-and-a-half, you can see it. So, it's going to be interesting to see how they keep blossoming," Urban said, referring to the two in an ABC interview. 

What do you think of Keith Urban’s childhood? Did you know about how his experiences with his dad affected his approach to parenting? Let us know and be sure to pass this on to your family, friends and other loved ones.