Keith Urban is giving back this holiday season. In between releasing his first full-length live album called “HIGH AND A(LIVE)” and starring on the new singing reality competition show “The Road,” the former “American Idol” judge paid a visit to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville earlier this week to spend time with patients and their families to spread joy during a time of year that can be difficult for so many people. Urban also led an acoustic sing-along and donated guitars to the hospital’s music therapy program.
Urban’s Heartfelt Appearance
Urban answered fan questions, took photos and led a sing-along at the hospital’s Seacrest Studios. Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, president of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, said the hospital staff is “truly grateful” for his time in a statement, according to PEOPLE. “Keith is a wonderful friend to our hospital with several visits over the years.”
His generous donation of guitars will contribute to Monroe Carell’s music therapy program, where board-certified therapists use music as a way to “provide emotional support, pain and anxiety management, developmental goals, coping, and overall well-being to children and families,” according to the hospital.
Rush’s statement continued, “His thoughtful and generous gift of guitars to our Music Therapy Program will help us continue using music as added therapy to bring comfort and healing to children during their hospital stay.”
“This time of year is so important, and for all the hard work that everybody does here at the children’s hospital, it’s an honor for me to come in and do just even a small little bit for everybody,” said Urban.
“We are ranked nationally in 10 specialties, offer the highest-level NICU and emergency care, and partner with experts across Vanderbilt University Medical Center,” reads the official website. “Our pioneering research and innovation in pediatric health care bring the latest treatments to our hospital and 22 regional and affiliated clinics.”
Urban’s Newest Projects: ‘HIGH AND A(LIVE)’ & ‘The Road’
Urban’s visit follows the release of his first-ever live album, “HIGH AND A(LIVE).” It captures his two-hour, 20-song concert, giving fans the chance to experience, or relive, one of the most successful and explosive tours of his career. Recorded during the recently wrapped HIGH AND ALIVE WORLD TOUR, the album showcases massive crowd sing-alongs and even a cover of New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give.”
Some of the superstar’s biggest hits are included in the album, such as “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” “One Too Many,” “Somebody Like You” and “Wasted Time.”
“Playing live is what I live to do. Looking out from a stage and seeing people singing, forgetting about all the stress in their lives, cutting loose, and feeling ALIVE – that’s what it’s about for me,” Urban said in a statement.
The newest reality competition series “The Road” follows 12 aspiring country musicians as they compete as opening acts for Urban at music venues nationwide along with executive producers Blake Shelton and Taylor Sheridan.
