Even country legends get brought to their knees when the moment hits just right.
Keith Urban may have a wall full of awards and decades of hit records, but none of that stopped him from getting visibly emotional when Chase Matthew handed him a birthday gift he’ll never forget. And it wasn’t just any gift. It was a piece of art, a piece of soul, and a full-circle moment all rolled into one breathtaking guitar.
Backstage at their final stop on the High and Alive Tour in Nashville, Chase Matthew surprised his tourmate with a custom Gibson guitar that featured a one-of-a-kind design by Māori cultural artist Sam Mangakahia. The gift was a way of saying thank you not only for the chance to share the road but also for the wisdom and heart Keith had passed down throughout their journey.
In a video that has already lit up the internet, Chase starts by thanking Keith for the opportunity of a lifetime.
“Dude, we’ve learned so much from watching you. You and your team have taken us places we never thought we’d ever be,” he said, referencing their shows in Australia and across the globe.
Then the lights dimmed, and a video message from artist Sam Mangakahia played. Sam explained how he tells stories through design, and that this guitar, which was his thirtieth creation, was titled “The Rise of the Phoenix.” It was inspired by Keith’s own phoenix tattoo and his story of resilience, rebirth, and coming out stronger on the other side.
Urban has talked before about the phoenix being a symbol of survival and strength. He once said, “The symbolism of the phoenix being something that succumbs to the challenges and burns in the fire, but then is resurrected from the ashes and rises up even stronger… I can relate very strongly to that.”
Hearing those words reflected back to him through a design woven with his family, his music, and his legacy was when the waterworks started. Keith sat silently as the message played and wiped tears from his eyes while absorbing the meaning etched into every inch of that guitar.
“It covers a lot of different things. It touches on your family, your music, and where you grew up. It’s all kind of wrapped up in this,” Sam said in the video.
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When Chase finally opened the case, the look on Keith’s face said it all.
“Oh my gosh. It’s breathtaking. It truly is. I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said with eyes wide as he took in the details.
Then came the hug. Two artists from two generations shared a bond that was not built on ego or industry hype but on respect, shared miles, and the spirit of country music.
Keith used the moment to return the love. He praised Chase and his crew for showing up with the right kind of energy every single night.
“We’re not rocket scientists. We’re just trying to bring some joy, some hope and some light to people. I saw you do it in Boston and Brisbane and wherever else. You guys came out with a purpose. That’s what everybody responded to,” Keith told him.
In a time when the headlines have been swirling around Keith’s personal life, including his split from Nicole Kidman, this moment hit deeper. It was pure. It was music. And it was a reminder that even the biggest stars in the world are still human at heart.
From now on, every time Keith Urban picks up that guitar, he will carry a little piece of this tour, this friendship, and the fire that keeps rising.
