When Keith Urban took the stage at the 2023 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony, he wasted no time sticking an “In Dolly We Trust” sticker on the podium that his wife Nicole Kidman and their 12-year-old daughter Faith got at Loveless Cafe, before he proceeded with his acceptance speech. Urban specifically requested that Dolly Parton induct him into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame class of 2023, going so far as to write her a handwritten letter explaining the impact she’s had on him as an artist. “There was only one person on my list and it was Dolly,” Urban tells American Songwriter backstage before the ceremony.
[RELATED: Keith Urban, Kix Brooks Among Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2023]
Videos by American Songwriter
Growing up in Australia, Urban would frequently listen to Parton’s music, citing “Applejack” as one of his favorites. “She was a big influence on me growing up and really has continued to be because she’s peerless,” Urban praised. “There’s nobody ahead of her, and she’s still doing it. You got to have those northern stars and I told her in the letter, ‘You’ve just always been a Northern Star to me and you still are, thank you for that. Thank you for not just signing off and drifting off into the fields.’ She stayed hungry and passionate and curious and all the things that inspire me.”
Parton and Urban joined forces on a cover of Johnny Mathis’ “The Twelfth of Never” for Parton’s 2005 album, Those Were the Days. “Now who don’t love Keith Urban?” Parton raved at the induction ceremony. “I’ve never seen a person with everything – Keith is so good-looking, he’s so nice and he’s so kind and an unbelievable musician, same for a performer.”
Kix Brooks, David Lee Murphy, Casey Beathard, and Rafe Van Hoy were also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, with Eric Church, Kenny Chesney, and John Conlee among the other artists who paid tribute to the new inductees.
Photo Credit: Bev Moser, Moments By Moser Photography / Courtesy of Alliance Management and Artist Media Relations
More Features
-
Eric Clapton, performs live on stage at the Feyenoord Stadium 'De Kuip' Rotterdam, Netherlands, 19th June 1992. (Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns) -
American actor and singer Kris Kristofferson posed in England at a press call to promote his latest film 'Blume In Love' circa 1973. (Photo by Larry Ellis Collection/Getty Images) -
Celine Dion performs the song "Tell Him" from the motion picture "Titanic" during the 40th Grammy Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York 25 February. Dion was nominated along with Barbra Streisand in the Best Pop Collaboration with vocals categor.(ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO Timothy A. CLARY (Photo by Timothy A. CLARY and VALERIE MACON / AFP via Getty Images) -
(MANDATORY CREDIT Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images) Cheap Trick group shot at a hotel, Tokyo, April 1978. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images) -
The Beatles rehearse at the ABC Theatre, Blackpool for the group's bill-topping appearance on ABC TV's Blackpool Night Out, 1 August 1965. Left to right: George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr. (Photo by Daily Mirror/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images) -
Rock and roll band "America" featuring David Dickey (bass), Willie Leacox (drums), Gerry Beckley (guitar), Michael Woods (lead guitar), Dewey Bunnell (guitar), Jim Calire (keyboards), and Tom Walsh (percussion) perform on "Midnight Special" TV show in October 1980 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ron Eisenberg/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
