Country star Keith Urban struck gold last May when he picked up one of the rarest music awards in country music – the Triple Crown – awarded by the Academy of Country Music at their annual ceremony. To honor the legend at ACM’s super-special 60th award show, three country icons – Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, and Brothers Osborne – took to the stage, covering some of Keith’s greatest hits in front of the superstar himself. The viral performance has already amassed over 478,000 views in under a month!
The Triple Crown Award is one of the ACM’s “highest honors,” and it comes at a staggering price. Each recipient must have already picked up three top ACM Awards throughout their career: New Artist of the Year, Male/Female Artist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year, before they’re even considered for the top prize. The Triple Crown is so rare that, before Keith’s 2025 recognition, the last country legend to win the award was Carrie Underwood, all the way back in 2010!
The stakes were clearly raised sky-high for this prestigious performance. But these American country stars didn’t let Keith or his fans down for a second.
Megan Moroney takes the spotlight first, delivering a dreamy cover of Keith’s 2006 hit “Stupid Boy” on a majestic, silver-glittered guitar. Keith watches on from the audience, his wife Nicole Kidman mouthing the lyrics as Megan sings.
The camera pans to a second stage, the curtain rising to reveal Chris Stapleton, who lets his iconic voice carry Keith’s 2015 hit, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” performed with a full band. Chris’ rich tones are an incredible match for this hit, boldly singing the song as if it were his own and making Keith break into smiles with this stunning rendition. Just wait until Chris’ bluesy guitar solo takes off!
As Chris wraps up his song to a roar of applause, The Brothers Osborne amp up the energy even further, covering Keith’s 1999 hit “Where the Blacktop Ends” in a 100% uplifting moment. By the end of the song, 57-year-old Keith has picked up a guitar from his front-row audience seat, strutting up to the main stage while reeling out some guitar licks, before jamming in a rock-infested guitar solo showdown with Brothers Osborne.
While one fan in the YouTube comments confirmed, “This was not an award he won, it was an award he EARNED! Bravo, Keith!” another top commenter was blown away by the mutual respect shared between the world’s top country artists, writing, “Didn’t realise how much I wanted to hear Chris Stapleton sing a Keith Urban song. Greatness recognises greatness.”
Keith Urban’s captivating Triple Crown achievement sets a new standard in the world of country music, marking him as an enduring legend. The unforgettable tribute performance that celebrated this milestone is a testament to his influence on the genre. To explore more about Keith’s remarkable journey and the vibrant talents who honored him, delve into the links below.