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Keith Urban makes return from vocal surgery

In this July 13, 2011 file photo, country singer Keith Urban attends a special screening of "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" in New York. Urban will perform at the Grand Ole Opry on Feb. 3. It is his first public performance since undergoing vocal surgery. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Keith Urban is back.

The country star returned to the stage during The Grand Ole Opry on Friday night, hitting a few high notes in his first public appearance since vocal surgery late last year.

Urban let loose with a "Yeehaw!" after a standing-room only crowd at Ryman Auditorium leapt to its feet when he took the stage.

He played three songs and an unexpected encore. He was joined by a string quartet on "Long Hot Summer," then turned down the volume and sang "Making Memories of Us" microphone-free with the audience. His full band then joined him on stage for "You Gonna Fly" and "I Wanna Love Somebody Like You."

Urban didn't address the surgery while speaking with the crowd.

The 44-year-old Australian had a polyp removed from a vocal cord last November. His last public performance was at a taping for the "CMA Country Christmas" television special in mid-November. The surgery forced Urban to postpone the tail end of his 2011 tour and his "All For The Hall" benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame. That star-studded event is now being held April 10.