Twenty-four years ago, Keith Urban released his debut solo album. This self-titled record marked the beginning of Urban's solo career and introduced him as a worldwide artist. Prior to this album, Urban had released another self-titled album in 1991, but it was only available in Australia. He had also released an album in 1997 with his band The Ranch, which was later re-released as "Keith Urban in the Ranch". Urban's debut solo album was written or co-written by him, with nine out of the twelve songs on the record being his own compositions. He also co-produced the album with Matt Rollings. This solo project came at a challenging time in Urban's life, as he was coping with addiction issues. He describes this period as difficult and states that he turned to substance abuse as a means of escape. However, after going through rehab, Urban gained a newfound clarity and used it as motivation to pursue his true passion for music as a solo artist. The album achieved considerable success, spawning four Top 20 singles including "It's a Love Thing," "Your Everything," "Where the Blacktop Ends," and "But for the Grace of God," which became Urban's first No. 1 hit. Just two months after its release, Keith Urban was certified platinum. This success also earned Urban his first CMA Awards trophy, the Horizon Award. Some of the songs from the album, such as "Your Everything," "Where the Blacktop Ends," and "But for the Grace of God," were later included in Urban's 2007 Greatest Hits album. Overall, Keith Urban's debut solo album played a pivotal role in launching his successful career as a country music superstar.
