The official music video for Keith Urban and Lainey Wilson’s song “GO HOME W U” has been released.
Tapping into the swagger of the late-night weekend anthem, the video finds the Australian-born singer/songwriter putting his talent to use for folks enjoying a carefree night out in a dive bar. With neon lights flashing around him, he strums his guitar and lends his soulful vocals to create a fuzzy, feel-good sound that aims to motivate listeners to let loose and forget their struggles for the weekend.
Urban then draws attention to Wilson who appears from the vintage TV set inside the bar, using footage captured during their live debut of the track on the stage of Nashville’s Nissan Stadium at this year’s CMA Music Festival. They come together amid the groovy blend of steady beats and epic guitar riffs and continue to relay the story of a couple looking to extend the fun beyond the bar scene.
Suddenly, Urban is zapped into the vintage TV to join Wilson in finishing out the song that has those inside the bar singing, dancing, and raising their glasses, fulfilling his goal of creating a tune that “could be sung by any drunk person in any bar anywhere in the world.”
“GO HOME W U” marks the fourth song to be released from Keith Urban’s forthcoming album, HIGH, set for release on September 20. When he penned the track in 2020 with BRELAND, Sam Sumser and Sean Small, it wasn’t intended to be a duet, but with the right voice, he knew it could turn into something great. Urban was already interested in working with Wilson at the time, just based on her pure talent as a singer/songwriter and her authenticity, and knew she was the right one for the job.
“Authenticity and artistry, those things, they don’t always come in the same package, but she’s just the real deal. I mean, it’s no surprise to me that she’s caught fire as fast as she has and despite what she thinks, she’s totally ready…I feel like we’re cut from very similar cloths and I really wanted to find something to do with her. I thought our voices would go well together, and it turned out to be this song,” Urban told Country Now and other outlets before adding, “She was it and just took the song to a whole other level.”
The track was recorded last July, just a few months before Urban had the honor of presenting Wilson with the 2023 CMA Entertainer of the Year award. He recalled being “elated” when reading her name because he knew that it wouldn’t be long before the world would get to hear their new collaboration. The “Messed Up As Me” singer also opened up about the heartfelt moment they shared backstage of that award show that made their bond grow even stronger.
“After the Entertainer of the Year honor, I went backstage and she kind of had the deer in the headlight vibe about her. I said, ‘How do you feel?’ She goes, ‘It’s so much so quickly and I want to stay around.’ And then I’m like, oh my God. I felt this exact same way in 2005 when I won this. It felt way too soon. I felt like they’d given me the gold watch, (said) thanks very much. There’s the door. And I was just getting started. So I couldn’t enjoy it and it just felt too much too soon.”
Drawing from his own industry experience, he connected with Wilson on a personal level and shared some advice.
“I said to her, but if you’re worthy of it, you’re worthy of it. And just own it. Embrace it, and then get back to work. Get back in the trenches and if you don’t think you’re worthy of it, be worthy of it. Get back in the trenches and show everybody why you deserve this thing,” Urban continued. “She’s authentic, original, legit, and she’s going to be around a long time and she’s a great songwriter, which is particularly good.”
“GO HOME W U” follows the release of Urban’s current single, “Messed Up As Me,” as well as “Straight Line” and “Wildside.”
This October, the country singer will launch KEITH URBAN’S HIGH in Vegas,” a run of ten exclusive shows taking place at Fountainebleau in Las Vegas. Fans can catch Urban performing on the new stage on October 4, 5, 9, 11, and 12, as well as on February 14, 15, 19, 21 and 22 in 2025.
