Keith Urban Tributes Songwriter Ross Copperman With ACM Honors 2021 Set

Hours after making his return to the stage after an 18-month performance hiatus, Keith Urban took to the 14th annual ACM Honors 2021 to cement that comeback with a highlight from his discography in honor of songwriter Ross Copperman.

In front of a star-studded crowd at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Wednesday night (August 25), Urban delivered an acoustic rendition of his 2015 track, "John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16" as a one-man-band to tribute Copperman. Without anyone to back him up, the country vet offered an energetic performance of the track, which he co-wrote with Copperman, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.

"First of all, it's incredible to be back at the Ryman. I love being here. It's nice to see some human beings, but above all, I'm very, very happy to present the Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award to a guy I've known for a very long time. For anyone that's worked with him will know that he is Mr. Positivity," Urban said during his introduction for Copperman. When the songwriter appeared on-stage, he spent his time showing love to the Academy of Country Music. "I've had the honor of working with Lifting Lives for the last decade. I've done this camp for 10 years in a row now and it's my favorite day of the year and I'm so grateful that I get to be part of these campers' lives and be a part of such an incredible organization," he said. "I would not be on this stage if it weren't for Lisa Lee and her incredible contributions to country music, to lifting me up every day that i was around her."

Urban was one of the many performers during the evening. Among the other performers on the roster included Lady A, Chris Janson, Lauren Alaina, Lee Ann Womack, RaeLynn, Alan Jackson and more.

It's been an active week for Urban, who took to social media to publically mourn the loss of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts via Instagram. "I'm shocked and truly saddened at just now hearing the news that we lost the 'gentleman soul of rock and roll,' the queen bee of the hive that is The Rolling Stones, the original, Charlie Watts," the country titan wrote in his post. "The heart beat of one of the greatest bands of all time, a truly one of a kind musician who's influence in unquantifiable AND will continue to be for as long as there are musicians who are working to shed all that is not needed, to get to THE ESSENCE."