Keith Urban Honors Frontline Workers With ‘God Whispered Your Name’ at CMA Awards

Keith Urban honored the frontline workers of the COVID-19 pandemic with his heartfelt performance of “God Whispered Your Name” at the 2020 CMA Awards.

While Urban’s contemporaries were at the Music City Center in Nashville, Urban streamed in from his native Australia where he’s staying with wife Nicole Kidman and daughters Sunday and Faith. Before diving into the song, Urban gently strummed his guitar, taking a moment to honor frontline workers and their tireless efforts in combating COVID-19. “This song has taken on a few meanings this year,” he began, describing it as a song about “hope” and “finding the light.” “But above all, it’s about not having to go it alone,” he continued, dedicating it to all the healthcare, frontline workers and their families “for all the sacrifice that you made and are still making.” 

His sincere gratitude served as a poignant transition into the performance that featured just him and a guitar with the lyrics written around the perimeter. With streams of spotlights behind him, Urban’s voice was as soothing as always, delivering an impassioned performance as he sang “When God whispered your name/That’s when everything changed/Love came out of the rain/Talk about being saved.” 

Urban was nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year at the ceremony.

Keith Urban was up for three awards going into the night, including the top prize, Entertainer of the Year. Co-hosted by Darius Rucker and Reba McEntire, the 54th Annual CMA Awards aired live on ABC from Nashville’s Music City Center on November 11.