Keith Urban Enjoys ‘Normal Life’ in Music City

Keith Urban may have sold more than 12 million albums and scored 23 Top 5 singles, but when he is away from the spotlight at his home in Tennessee, the superstar and his wife, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, relish time away from fame -- and especially from the paparazzi.

"I always get thrown because we live such a normal life in Nashville," he tells Milwaukee station FM 106.1, of encountering the pesky cameras when away from home. "We spend most of the year in Nashville, but we never get bothered here, so usually when you see photos of us, it's in New York or LA, but it's usually a fleeting visit."

The couple, along with their two daughters, enjoy being able to do everyday things like shop and hang out at their favorite local Starbucks when they are off the road, but those moments are few and far between these days. The New Zealand-born singer is getting ready to kick off the United States leg of his Get Closer World tour in a few weeks -- and he says the tour's name is indicative of the relationship he plans on having with his fans.

"I'm going into the crowd on several occasions," he tells Entertainment Weekly. "This tour is not just called Get Closer, it's literally gonna be that, too," he promises. But interacting with his fans comes with a price.

"I've come home a few times with scratches on my chest and on my back, and my wife's gone, 'What is that?' And I'm like, 'Well, I'll show you,' and we've filmed the audience," he explains. "She's like, 'Oh my god!' [laughs] It can be a bit treacherous out there sometimes, but it's always different, always unpredictable, and I love it."

The Aussie's career has been moving full-speed ahead ever since his first Top 20 single, 'It's a Love Thing,' hit the airwaves in 1999. With several chart-topping hits under his belt, including 'Somebody Like You,' 'Days Go By' and 'Sweet Thing,' the guitar aficionado says he plans on including some older fan favorites in his current set list.

"There are certain songs that are sacred. People want to hear them just as they are in their head, they don't want you messing around with them," acknowledges the recent Music City Walk of Fame member. "And then there are some other songs, if they've been around a long time in our set list, that I think we can take some creative liberties with. I'm looking at performing a couple of these songs as if they were remixed," he says.

Keith will kick off his Get Closer tour on June 16 in Mobile, Ala. The 'Without You' singer can also be found at CMA Music Fest, where he will perform on Friday, June 10. Keep track of his tour schedule here.