Keith Urban, the New Zealand-born, Australian-raised country music superstar, is no stranger to the whirlwind of life on the road. With his High and Alive World Tour electrifying audiences across the globe in 2025, packed schedules, long flights, and sold-out arenas are all in a day’s work. Yet, amidst the chaos, Urban revealed in a candid moment that there’s one ritual he clings to like a lifeline. “I can’t stop doing that,” he laughed during a recent interview on Country Countdown USA, calling it the simple daily practice that resets him every single day. So, what’s the habit that keeps this four-time Grammy winner grounded? Spoiler alert: It’s not what you might expect from a rockstar known for his high-energy performances and guitar-shredding charisma. This article dives deep into Urban’s revelation, his tour life, his personal journey, and why this ritual is the secret sauce behind his enduring success.

The Man Behind the Music: Keith Urban’s Journey

To understand why this ritual matters, let’s first paint a picture of Keith Urban, the man who’s been a country music titan for over three decades. Born on October 26, 1967, in Whangarei, New Zealand, and raised in Queensland, Australia, Urban grew up steeped in country music, thanks to his father’s record collection featuring legends like Merle Haggard and Glen Campbell. By age six, he was strumming a guitar, and by his teens, he was performing in local pubs. In 1992, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, chasing his dream of making it big in the heart of country music.

Urban’s road wasn’t always smooth. His early years in Nashville were marked by struggles, including battles with cocaine and alcohol addiction, which he openly discussed in a 2022 interview with The Times. “I was using heavily as a coping mechanism,” he admitted, reflecting on the pressures of breaking into the industry. After a stint in rehab in 1998, he found stability with his 2006 marriage to actress Nicole Kidman, though he returned to the Betty Ford Center later that year. His 2009 song “Thank You” from the album Defying Gravity is a heartfelt ode to Kidman’s support during his recovery, with lyrics like, “I thank you for my life / And I thank God for grace and mercy / And that you became my wife.”

Now, at 57, Urban is a global icon with 13 CMA Awards, 15 ACM Awards, and nine consecutive gold or platinum albums, amassing over 10 billion streams. His latest album, High, released in September 2024, showcases his signature blend of country, rock, and pop, with tracks like “Go Home W U” featuring Lainey Wilson. His High and Alive World Tour, kicking off in May 2025, spans the US, Canada, and Australia, with stops in cities like Chicago, Nashville, and Vancouver. Yet, despite the fame and relentless schedule, Urban remains grounded, thanks to a daily ritual he refuses to skip.

The Ritual Revealed: Driving Himself to Gigs

So, what’s the habit Urban can’t quit? In a September 2025 episode of Country Countdown USA, Urban spilled the beans: he insists on driving himself to every gig, no matter the distance, time zone, or chaos of tour life. “I drive,” he said with a chuckle when host Lon Helton asked how he unwinds. “I drove to the gig the other night, and someone asked, ‘How come you drive yourself?’ I said, ‘I always drive myself.’ Somebody driving me is like somebody playing my guitar. I’d rather be doing it.”

This revelation might surprise fans picturing a rockstar lifestyle of chauffeurs and tour buses. But for Urban, getting behind the wheel is more than logistics—it’s a sacred ritual that centers him. “It’s my time to think, to clear my head,” he explained. “No matter how crazy the day is, those moments alone in the car reset me.” Whether he’s navigating the streets of Brisbane or cruising to Chicago’s United Center, this practice is non-negotiable, a daily anchor in a life of constant motion.

Urban elaborated that driving allows him to process the day, plan his setlist, and connect with the music in his head. “I put on a playlist, sometimes my own songs, sometimes others, and just feel the flow,” he said. This solitary time helps him prepare mentally for the high-energy performances that have earned him raves as “one of the best performers of any genre,” per concertgoers at his Riverbend Music Center show in Cincinnati.

Why Driving? The Psychology of Urban’s Ritual

Urban’s insistence on driving himself offers a window into his psyche. Psychologists often emphasize the importance of rituals for high-performing individuals, especially those in high-pressure careers like music. Dr. Sarah Thompson, a clinical psychologist specializing in performance anxiety, notes, “Rituals create a sense of control and predictability in unpredictable environments. For someone like Keith Urban, whose life involves constant travel and public scrutiny, a ritual like driving can be a grounding force, a moment of autonomy in a world of demands.”

For Urban, the act of driving is meditative. “It’s just me, the road, and the music,” he said in a 2024 interview with Parade. “I’m not thinking about the next show or the next interview. I’m just in the moment.” This aligns with his broader philosophy of staying present, a lesson hard-learned through his struggles with addiction and the demands of fame. The solitude of driving also contrasts with his extroverted stage persona, allowing him to recharge before facing thousands of fans.

Urban’s ritual isn’t just about mental clarity—it’s practical, too. He often tweaks his setlists on the road, tailoring them to each audience. “We made a couple of song tweaks for Australia, songs that were released here that weren’t in the US,” he told Country Countdown USA. “I usually think of them as I’m driving to the gig.” This hands-on approach extends to his performances, where he’s known for spontaneous interactions, like chatting with fans or taking selfies, as seen during his August 2025 show at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

The High and Alive World Tour: A Testament to His Passion

Urban’s ritual takes on added significance during his High and Alive World Tour, which began May 22, 2025, in Orange Beach, Alabama, and runs through October, hitting cities like Nashville, Chicago, and Vancouver. Supporting his 2024 album High, the tour features new tracks alongside hits like “Days Go By” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” Special guests Chase Matthew, Alana Springsteen, and Karley Scott Collins join him, adding fresh energy to the shows.

The tour is a marathon, with 21 confirmed dates across three countries, including a three-night stint in Brisbane, a full-circle moment for Urban, who grew up nearby. “I have a lot of history there,” he shared, noting how watching bands in Brisbane shaped his craft. Fans rave about his live performances, with one review from The Rockpit calling his Melbourne show “a superb three-hour journey” that left the audience electrified. Urban’s connection with fans is legendary—whether he’s joking about 1,200 birthday celebrations or meeting a Nashville fan who flew to Australia, he makes every show personal.

Driving himself to these gigs ensures Urban arrives in the right headspace. “Playing live is what I live to do,” he said in a press release. “Seeing people singing, forgetting their stress, feeling alive—that’s what it’s about for me.” His ritual of driving allows him to channel that energy, ensuring he delivers the “loads of guitar” and spontaneous moments fans expect.

A Life of Balance: Family, Music, and Sobriety

Urban’s ritual also ties into his commitment to balance. Married to Nicole Kidman since 2006, he’s a devoted father to daughters Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14. Family is a cornerstone of his life, as he told American Songwriter in 2023: “Being with my family is very important to me, and touring is very important, too, because it’s who I am.” Driving offers a rare moment of solitude amidst his roles as husband, father, and performer.

His sobriety journey further underscores the ritual’s importance. Urban’s openness about his past—detailed in People in 2022—reveals how he learned “a different way to be in the world” without substances. Driving, with its focus and rhythm, may serve as a meditative substitute, keeping him centered. “I’ve got a dutiful, responsible side and a wild, reckless side,” he told the Daily Telegraph in 2024, describing the duality captured in High. His ritual bridges these sides, grounding the “animalistic” energy he brings to the stage.

Fan Reactions: A Ritual That Resonates

Fans have embraced Urban’s driving ritual as a glimpse into his authenticity. On X, posts like “Keith Urban driving himself to gigs? That’s so him—humble and real” and “Love that Keith’s ritual is so simple yet so him” have gone viral. At his shows, fans notice his energy, with one attendee at a June 2025 Cincinnati concert writing on Bandsintown, “Keith was perfect in everything he did—his guitar playing, his singing, his heart.” The ritual seems to fuel his ability to connect, making each performance feel intimate despite packed arenas.

Social media also buzzes with admiration for his work ethic. “Keith driving himself shows how much he loves his craft,” tweeted a fan. Others speculate on his playlist choices, imagining him blasting Springsteen or Haggard en route. The ritual humanizes Urban, reinforcing his reputation as a “good guy with sublime musical talent,” as The Rockpit noted.

The Broader Impact: Inspiring Others

Urban’s ritual has sparked conversations about self-care in high-pressure careers. His openness about needing a daily reset resonates with fans facing their own chaotic lives. “I think there’s so many people who don’t feel understood,” Urban said in a 2023 Medium interview. “When you hear a song—or find a ritual—that says, ‘I get you,’ that’s an amazing feeling.” Driving is his version of that, a practice others can emulate in their own way, whether it’s a quiet walk or a morning coffee routine.

His philanthropy, like supporting MusiCares and mentoring young artists, ties into this ethos. At his Brisbane shows, he praised opener Chase Matthew for his “take-no-prisoners attitude,” showing his commitment to nurturing talent. His ritual of driving reflects this hands-on approach, a reminder that even superstars need simple habits to stay grounded.

What’s Next for Urban

As the High and Alive World Tour continues, Urban’s ritual will carry him through dates like September 25 in Chicago and October 17 in Nashville. He’s also set for a Las Vegas residency, Keith Urban’s HIGH, at Fontainebleau starting February 2025. Fans can expect more surprises, given his knack for spontaneous setlist tweaks and fan interactions.

Urban’s ritual may evolve, but for now, it’s his “secret lifeline.” As he told Parade, “I can’t stop doing that—it’s part of who I am.” Whether he’s navigating a backroad or a city street, Urban’s behind-the-wheel moments keep him connected to his roots, his music, and himself.

Why It Matters: A Lesson in Authenticity

Keith Urban’s driving ritual is more than a quirky habit—it’s a window into the soul of an artist who’s navigated fame, addiction, and family life with grace. It’s a reminder that even in the chaos of stardom, small acts of control and reflection can make a big difference. For fans, it’s a call to find their own rituals, to carve out moments of peace in a hectic world.

Sullivan’s Crossing may be stealing headlines, but Urban’s story proves that real-life dramas—like finding balance on the road—can be just as compelling. So, next time you see Urban shredding a guitar solo or charming a crowd, know that a quiet drive got him there. The Country star’s secret? It’s not just the music—it’s the road he takes to get to it.