Keith Urban has received his share of Academy of Country Music Awards nominations, but this year he’s been nominated a half-dozen times, twice (along with Taylor Swift) for his guitar work on Tim McGraw’s “Highway Don’t Care.” Still riding high on 2013’s hit-studded Fuse, the American Idol judge expects to talk with his guitars for three live Vegas appearances: the April 6 awards, the ACM Presents: An All-Star Salute to the Troops on April 7, and the ACM Party for a Cause Festival, April 5, at the Strip’s new Linq district. He took some time to talk to Las Vegas Magazine’s Matt Kelemen.
Which guitars are you bringing to Vegas?
No idea. It’s been a revolving wardrobe, you know? Different ones come into my world and old ones get rediscovered. I think I mostly do it because I love guitars so much. They all have something different to say at different times.
Is this the first time you’ve been nominated for a performance with your Telecaster?
(Laughs) Certainly the first time I’ve been nominated so many times for just having played a solo! The song I did with Tim McGraw is just one of those crazy things (with) what seemed like such a simple little thing. He sent me a song and said, “You want to play a solo on it?” I played one, and next thing you know the song’s just exploded, with the song getting nominated for various awards. It’s fantastic! I mean, as a guitar player I don’t often get to do something like this, so I’ve been really grateful for it.
Did you have any idea there would be that many? How did you react?
No, not at all! I mean, that’s just extraordinary. Never had anything happen like that. I think we were finishing up our tour at the time—a few weeks away from wrapping it up—but it was incredible to get the news, that’s for sure. And I love coming to Vegas. We’re at ACM every year, so to get six nominations meeting us ... is fantastic.
You’ve won top male vocalist three times. What do you think of the competition this year?
It’s always strong. At the end of the day being nominated in any category, it really does mean a lot. I think when people think that that’s just a rote thing to say—that it’s an honor being nominated—I think it’s a really jaded way to be to not think that matters. You think of how many records were made and how many people are eligible for any of these categories, to end up a nominee is really the “first award.”
