Keith Urban’s health crisis
The country star’s music-teaching friend reveals how drugs almost ruined his career
Coughing up blood and barely able to make a sound – let alone sing – Keith Urban knew his health was in trouble. His friend and musical colleague, ukulele teacher Marylou Stout Dempler, also noticed how bad the country singer’s condition had become, telling Woman’s Day, “At one time, he had sung so much his voice was bleeding. His throat was completely in pieces. It was bad.” Thankfully, Keith sought treatment from Dr Steven Zeitels, who has helped stars like British pop star Sam Smith and The Who singer Roger Daltrey restore their vocals in the past. He also succeeded in getting Keith, 50, better, and as a result the singer’s career continued to skyrocket. Of course, the country crooner became even more famous when he married Hollywood star Nicole Kidman in 2006 and later became a mainstream TV star on American Idol.
DRUGS & WOMEN
But when Keith first met Marylou in 2003, things were very different. One reason his voice was so rough was his constant drug use, which she believes was a by-product of his natural shyness and struggle with fame. She says, “He’s always struggled to be this huge star – he can’t change. “Drugs and women were his way of coping, to come down from all the hype. He was sleeping with four sets of earplugs just to keep out the noise. He’s definitely the type of person who struggles to get to sleep.”
Marylou, who lives in Louisville, Kentucky, says Keith initially tracked her down after she’d recorded a version of his 2002 album Golden Road playing the ukulele for every song, which led to a spike in sales of his original record.
But all these years later, she believes his mega-fame has been something of a curse, saying, “It’s living and breathing your work, you’ve got to make everyone happy.
‘NICOLE GIVES HIM STABILITY’
“He’s such a kind, generous, loving sweetheart. But no one knows the agony he feels when he has to meet all his fans, it’s like he’s being led to the crucifixion. He doesn’t look like he’s enjoying himself.”
Sadly, Marylou, 57, had to stop using Keith’s music in the classes she teaches at a religious college in October 2006, when he checked himself into the Betty Ford Center in California to seek treatment for
These days, Marylou is happy The Fighter singer managed to get sober and turn things around and now has a happy wholesome family life with Nicole, 51, and their daughters Faith Margaret, seven, and Sunday Rose, nine, in Nashville.
“Nicole gives him stability and true love. The songs he writes are all about meeting the love of your life,” she says.
And although she acknowledges the temptation to turn back to his past will always be there, “He knows he’s got to stay on the straight and narrow. Everyone is watching him.”
However, despite Keith constantly gushing about the life he’s built with Nicole, Marylou says she’s not sure he will ever be truly happy within himself.
“It’s the bad boy meets the princess,” she explains. “Has he achieved happiness? He’s still evolving. It’s going to take longer than most, with his background. It’ll take a while to get his life ironed out properly after everything he’s been through.”
One thing is certain to Marylou, though: “Nicole is the one who has saved his life.”