Keith Urban Takes Over a Hawk Weekend

Listening to the HAWK this weekend, you may notice more Keith Urban music than usual.  That's because the 'American Idol' favorite will be co-hosting Country Countdown USA, Sunday night 7-10pm on 98.1 The Hawk.

Keith Urban has already released two singles from his next album, but he told Country Countdown USA's Lon Helton that the new project is still unfinished: "I've got 24 songs that I've been working on for the last year and a half, so now I have to finish them out, or get them to a completion stage enough for me to make a decision on which ones feel like they constitute that album."

Anything we wouldn't expect? "Maybe a couple collaborations that I'm right in the midst of solidifying that would be very unexpected but I hope would feel so right when they're finished, and I'm real excited about that."

'American Idol' has just begun live shows from Hollywood, but Keith said he still wants to live in Nashville, where his kids are going to school. "Mostly we're here, and sometimes I fly out day of show. Do the show and come back again. I wish it wasn't a 4-hour flight. That gets me in at 4 in the morning."

This June 25th will mark Keith Urban's 10th wedding anniversary. However, he has a concert that day. Keith explained, "There are blackout dates on my calendar, and we don't work those days. The only exception to that is if Nic feels like she wants to come, and make a night of it. We played on our anniversary last year, but she came with us, we had dinner, and made a beautiful night of it."

The conversation often turns to cars, and Keith mentioned that his latest vehicle was actually a gift from Garth Brooks. "I got asked to play on a song he was doing. So I did it, and some time went by, and my assistant told me, 'Garth has a present he wants to give you for playing on his record, but he wants to drop it off at the house.'

Keith also has great stories this week about Brett Eldredge, Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne, and Thomas Rhett.

Listen for Keith all weekend and on Country Countdown USA, Sunday night 7-10pm on 98.1 The Hawk. Download the FREE Hawk App Radio Pup to your smartphone or tablet.  It's available in the Apple iTunes store, Google Play or click HERE.