Applications Are Now Open For The Inaugural Keith Urban Rising Star Scholarship

Keith Urban

Keith Urban and the Tamworth Country Music Festival have joined forces to launch the first-ever Keith Urban Rising Star Scholarship, and applications are now open.

First announced last August, the Keith Urban Rising Star Scholarship offers a significant new pathway for emerging Australian country stars. The scholarship was designed to provide a rising Australian country artist with an opportunity to experience a career-defining trip to Nashville.

The winning applicant will receive unprecedented access to the American country music industry, with performance opportunities, plus chances to write, record, meet influential members of the music industry, and recording time at Urban’s Nashville studio, The Sound.

Urban and the Tamworth Country Music Festival created the scholarship to support artists who are gaining local attention and are ready to take their music international. The scholarship isn’t focused on early discovery but instead tailored to artists gathering momentum and would benefit from targeted support in the US.

Of course, this isn’t the first example of Keith Urban’s commitment to nurturing up-and-coming talent. He’s championed artists such as Taylor Swift, Morgan Evans, Kelsea Ballerini, and Maren Morris, and provides mentorship and education initiatives for artists.

The successful recipient of the scholarship will receive “comprehensive support,” including all expenses paid for flights, accommodation and associated costs. The Tamworth Country Music Festival team will manage the application process, and Urban will select the winning recipient.

Applications are now open. More information and the online application platform are available via the Tamworth Country Music Festival website.

“Sometimes all a musician needs is an opportunity to be heard or someone to help nurture their talent,” Urban said. “Having the opportunity to do that not only inspires me, but I’m also hoping that in some way this scholarship will serve to inspire others.”

In a statement, Peter Ross, the Executive Manager of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, added that the scholarship “reflects the shared values” of the festival and Urban and described Urban as the “living embodiment” of the Tamworth Country Music Festival pathway to success.

“The opening of this scholarship coincides with the 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival, which is in full swing this week,” Ross said. “This scholarship truly reflects the shared values both the Festival and Keith Urban promote - offering meaningful platforms for artists to progress at every stage of their careers.”

“Keith is the living embodiment of the Tamworth Festival pathway to success, and together we want to help give other artists the opportunity to take Australian country music to the world. It’s wonderful that Keith continues to recognise and support the industry that helped shape his career, and we are thrilled to be partnering with him.”