‘American Idol’ judge Keith Urban attends father’s funeral in Australia

“American Idol” Season 15 judge Keith Urban recently left the United States to attend his father Robert Urban’s funeral in Australia, particularly in Caloundra. As the family requested, the funeral was kept low-key despite the country music superstar’s presence.

Robert died after battling with cancer. His death came after Keith visited an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame in his honor.

In 2002, Keith wrote a song titled “Song for Dad” as a tribute to his father. The song was featured on his third studio album titled “Golden Road.”

During the funeral of Keith’s father, only around 10 photographers and cameramen gathered outside the Gregson and Weight chapel in Caloundra. The service was closed to the media, according to Sunshine Coast Daily.

Dressed in all black with his mother Marienne Urban on his arm, Keith emerged when mourners at the funeral service started leaving. He reportedly brought his late father’s large motorcycle into the chapel and briefly started its engine while several other motorcycles and numerous classic American cars stood outside.

Before going to an olive green Lincoln Continental in front of the chapel, Keith was seen hugging and shaking hands with family and friends. He also acknowledged the media that gathered a few metres away.

Meanwhile, Keith is set to go back to the US for “American Idol” Season 15, in which he returns as one of the judges along with Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. The final season of the Fox music reality competition series is set to premiere on Jan. 6, 2016.

In February 2016, Keith is also set to receive the Artist Humanitarian Award from Country Radio Seminar, which is one of the key music industry events in Nashville. Lady Antebellum, the previous recipient of the award, will present the award at the Omni hotel to the “American Idol” judge for his charitable endeavours in Nashville, according to Taste of Country.

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