Taylor Swift, Keith Urban React to Golden Globes Nominations
Country superstars Taylor Swift and Keith Urban are among the elite shortlist of musicians honored with Best Original Song nominations, going head-to-head with the likes of pop phenomenon Adele for the 2013 Golden Globe trophy.
Swift is in the running for 'Safe and Sound,' her contribution to the first 'The Hunger Games' installment, while Urban hopes to nab the trophy with 'For You,' his Top 10 country single that appeared on the official 'Acts of Valor' soundtrack.
“What an amazing and unexpected present!” Swift says of her nomination (quote via the Los Angeles Times). The seasoned songwriter turned 23 last week as well.
Adding to her elation, Swift gushed, “This is a huge honor, and I’m really excited and so flattered. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to the Hollywood Foreign Press Assocation!"
'Safe and Sound,' which features haunting harmonies from the Civil Wars, was co-written by duo members Joy Williams and John Paul White, as well as the track's producer, T-Bone Burnett. The tune was released in January as the lead single from 'The Hunger Games' soundtrack, and has sold more than one million digital downloads.
News of Urban's nomination in the prestigious category comes just days after the Aussie superstar was nominated for a Critic's Choice Movie Award for 'For You' in a similar category. Though the singer is no doubt ecstatic about the recognition, it was Nicole Kidman's multiple appearance on the 2013 Golden Globes nomination list that he's most proud of.
“I called her immediately and told her how proud I was of her,” Urban says of his A-List wife's nominations for both 'The Paperboy' and 'Hemingway and Gellhorn.' “We’re both looking forward to the show. I love going anywhere with her."
When asked about writing the emotional tune 'For You,' Urban admits that the task was anything but easy.
“Being commissioned to write a song for the film ‘Act of Valor’ was daunting,” says the esteemed songwriter. “I had no clue how to write a song for this. It was last fall, just before I was going to have vocal surgery, and I thought, ‘I can’t … I just am not going to have time to do this!’ My wife said, ‘Just try it!’ She’s so great, because she knows when I’m operating out of a place of fear — it’s one of the many things I love about her."
Urban and Swift will compete for the top honors on Jan. 13 as the winner is announced live during NBC telecast. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are slated to host the 2013 Golden Globes.