“It’s an honor just to be nominated.”
That could be Keith Urban’s mantra after going 0 for 7 in major award nominations in 2016. While Keith crushed it on the charts and is in the midst of a monster headlining tour, it did not translate into any hardware at the Big Three—Grammys, ACMs, CMAs—unless you count his Mae Boren Axton Award for longstanding dedication and service to the ACMs.
Just how fruitful has Keith’s 2016 been on the charts? I’m glad you asked.
- March 5: No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay single, “Break on Me”
- May 28 & June 4: No. 1 Billboard Top Country Album, Ripcord
- July 9 & 16: No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay single, “Wasted Time”
- October 8 & 15: No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Song, “Forever Country” (1 of 30 artists featured)
- Currently: No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Song, “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Never before has Keith, who turned 49 in October, had so much chart success in a single calendar year. In his 20-plus-year career, Keith has accomplished the feat of a Billboard No. 1 album and two or more Billboard No. 1 singles in the same year on three occasions.
- 2004: album – Be Here; singles – “You’ll Think of Me” and “Days Go By”
- 2009: album – Defying Gravity; singles – “Start a Band” (with Brad Paisley), “Sweet Thing” and “Only You Can Love Me This Way”
- 2013: album – Fuse; singles – “Little Bit of Everything” and “We Were Us”
The good news? A lot of the aforementioned success that Keith has had on the charts in 2016 will most likely translate into nominations when the 2017 awards season gets underway, so maybe there is some new hardware in his future.
Now, take a look at the seven nominations in 2016 in which Keith was bested by his competition.
2016 Grammy Awards
Best Country Solo Performance
“Traveller,” Chris Stapleton — WINNER
“John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16,” Keith Urban
“Burning House,” Cam
“Little Toy Guns,” Carrie Underwood
“Chances Are,” Lee Ann Womack
2016 ACM Awards
Song of the Year
“Nobody to Blame,” Chris Stapleton — WINNER
“Raise ’Em Up,” Keith Urban feat. Eric Church
“Burning House,” Cam
“Girl Crush,” Little Big Town
“She Don’t Love You,” Eric Paslay
Vocal Event of the Year
“Smokin’ and Drinkin’,” Miranda Lambert feat. Little Big Town — WINNER
“Raise ’Em Up,” Keith Urban feat. Eric Church
“Hangover Tonight,” Gary Allan feat. Chris Stapleton
“Home Alone Tonight,” Luke Bryan feat. Karen Fairchild
“Wild Child,” Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter
2016 CMA Awards
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks — WINNER
Keith Urban
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Album of the Year
Mr. Misunderstood, Eric Church — WINNER
Ripcord, Keith Urban
Hero, Maren Morris
Storyteller, Carrie Underwood
Black, Dierks Bentley
Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris Stapleton — WINNER
Keith Urban
Eric Church
Tim McGraw
Dierks Bentley
Musical Event of the Year
“Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King — WINNER
“The Fighter,” Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood
“Home Alone Tonight,” Luke Bryan feat. Karen Fairchild
“Think of You,” Chris Young with Cassadee Pope
“You Are My Sunshine,” Morgane Stapleton with Chris Stapleton
photo by Michael Becker/FOX
