Urban Idol: country rocker signs with American talent show

By Andrew Murfett
Updated September 20 2012 - 2:52pm, first published September 17 2012 - 11:54am
<i>American Idol</i> host Ryan Seacrest (middle) with the new-look judging panel: Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson.
<i>American Idol</i> host Ryan Seacrest (middle) with the new-look judging panel: Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson.
Urban with his fellow coaches from the inaugural Australian season of <i>The Voice</i>.
Urban with his fellow coaches from the inaugural Australian season of <i>The Voice</i>.
The original <i>American Idol</i> judging panel: Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.
The original <i>American Idol</i> judging panel: Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

One of the music industry's worst-kept secrets was confirmed today - Keith Urban will join the judging panel of the US talent show juggernaut American Idol.