INQUISITR.COM / Entertainment

Keith Urban Hurts Back Before Indy 500 Race With Mario Andretti

By Prin Dumas
Published on: 01:18 PST, May 28, 2016

Keith Urban hurt his back and won’t be attending the 100th running of the Indy 500.

On Friday, President and CEO of Big Machine Records, Scott Borchetta confirmed to Fox 59 that the Grammy-award winning artist would not be attending the Indy 500 red carpet or riding with Mario Andretti at the 100th running of the Indy 500. Urban was scheduled to ride in a two-seater with Andretti in front of the pacer car this weekend.

Borchetta did not reveal the source or extent of Urban’s injury.

USA Today reported back in 2008 that Keith Urban suffered a slip disc. It is unknown if this weekend’s injury is new or related to an existing condition. Fans on social media have already reached out to Urban in an effort to wish him a speedy recovery.

https://www.facebook.com/Fox59News/posts/10154284908844575

On Twitter, fans have wished Urban well.

Urban’s injury could not come at a more inconvenient time as he readies to launch his Ripcord World Tour on June 2 in Kansas City, MO. Keith Urban has spent recent weeks promoting his new album throughout the country and Canada. Urban also played at a free show in Nashville for fans to preview the album’s songs and a private rehearsal show at the Bridgestone Arena.

According to The Boot, Urban’s promotional shows received incredible attendance from fans in Nashville. Rolling Stone referred to Urban’s rehearsal show as “a technological leap.”

Openers for Urban’s tour are Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris.

Brett Eldredge shared his excitement while rehearsing to open for Keith Urban’s tour on Twitter, posting a candid photo of him and his team.

Maren Morris has also gone to social media in anticipation of meeting fans on Urban’s Ripcord world tour while she promotes her album.

Ripcord is Keith Urban’s ninth studio album and was released on May 6, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard country charts in its first week.

It has already given Keith Urban three singles, including the recent hit, “Wasted Time.” Previous hits include “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” and “Break On Me,” which also hit No. 1 for Urban.

Urban’s new album also features a future hit, “The Fighter,” a duet with fellow country artist, Carrie Underwood. Other collaborations explore new artistic approaches, including Nile Rodgers and Pitbull. Balanced with his signature country sound, Ripcord features a blend of genres, and Urban reflects on debuting at No. 1 on the country charts.

“I went into the making of Ripcord with a real creative liberation. My dad was a drummer, and I feel like that rhythmic DNA in me drove so much of the energy and spirit in the recording sessions. It’s an incredible feeling to see it hit No. 1.”

In naming the album Ripcord, Urban tells Billboard that he was drawn to the word’s energy and metaphorical meaning.

“The energy that I felt when I heard the name ‘Ripcord’ just really seemed to fit. I also liked the metaphor of the ripcord being that thing that you reach for to save your life when you are hurdling to earth at a great speed. It just seemed to really fit the record for me.”

There are many influences, new and old, on Urban’s Ripcord album, and perhaps, the most notable is the singer’s late father. Explaining why he was sharing a ride with Andretti in the first place, Urban acknowledged his dad’s love of cars.

“I inherited my love of cars from my dad. We used to take family driving trips purely for the love of driving.”

Urban has shared his late father’s influence on his music and new album, acknowledging his dad as a drummer.

Although Keith Urban was set to accompany Mario Andretti at the Indy 500, the artist was not scheduled to perform on stage, which may give him enough time to recuperate before next week’s Ripcord tour kickoff and CMA Music Festival events later in June. Urban is also set to perform on June 12 in Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.

[Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP Images]

Share this article: Keith Urban Hurts Back Before Indy 500 Race With Mario Andretti
american idol carrie underwood Country Music Keith Urban
More from Inquisitr