When you see Keith Urban onstage in 2024, you see someone who exudes confidence, belting out hit records that thousands in the crowd are singing along to.

But it wasn't always that way for the country music superstar.

We sat down with the "Messed Up as Me" singer for an episode of Taste of Country Nights: On Demand, and Urban let us know about a time early in his career that still haunts him to this day.

"Back in the day, I had a lot of work to do. Shoot, man, I went on a lot of those shows [competitions] when I was a kid," he recalls.

"There was a bunch of them in Australia, those singing TV competitive shows. I went on several of them. When I was 9, I went on a show called Pot of Gold, it was a TV show, three judges ... went out there and sang and was completely crucified."

What did Urban take away from that moment?

He says, "'Welcome to showbiz, kid!'"

Surely that humbling moment happened for a reason. Now one of the best guitar players and vocalists in the genre, Urban got his feet wet early, and criticism helped season him for what he would have to go through even after he signed his first record deal.

Can you believe he was once told he didn't fit in in Nashville? His 19 No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot Country chart say otherwise.

Keith Urban's 15 Best Collaborations, Ranked

Keith Urban is a Swiss army knife when it comes to collaborations. The country star's smooth vocals elevate a song while his impeccable guitar skills add a burst of energy to any melody.

This Aussie has never shied away from collaboration, even if it means stepping outside of country music. He's worked with artists like Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, while also joining forces with stars in pop, like Taylor Swift, Pitbull and Pink.

Here are Keith Urban's 15 best collaborations, ranked.

PICTURES: See Inside Keith Urban + Nicole Kidman's Luxurious Tennessee Farmhouse

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman were living it up in their 5,086-square-foot, 4-bedroom farmhouse in Franklin, Tenn., a rural community 30 minutes outside of Nashville. The house is beautifully well-appointed. The master bedroom features a very large walk-in closet, and the gated, 35-acre property also includes a gym, recreation rooms, an office and a three-car garage, as well as a utility barn. The couple sold their rural farmhouse in 2018 for $2.7 million.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

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Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak

Evan Paul is the host of Taste of Country Nights, a syndicated radio show heard on more than 130 country radio stations nationwide, every night from 7PM to midnight. The radio show reaches over 21 million listeners per week. He plays the best new country music and interviews today's top stars, like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, + more!

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