Hallmark Gives Keith Urban Fans a Reason to "Shine" with New Sound Cards

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As country superstar Keith Urban kicks off his first outdoor summer tour this week, fans will be able to hear his music in a new line of sound cards now playing in the aisles of select Hallmark Gold Crown^® stores.

The collection includes 12 cards and ranges from celebrating birthdays and friendship, to lending support, love, encouragement and more. Priced at $4.99, each card in the line features a 15-second sound clip from some of Urban's top songs such as "Long, Hot Summer" and "Sweet Thing" — two of his 14 No. 1 singles.

"For me, a card, like music, has the ability to make an emotional connection," said Keith Urban. "I love knowing that these cards, and my music, will mark such meaningful moments in so many people's lives!"

"Keith's songs are often about enjoying the here and now," said Angela Ensminger, editorial director at Hallmark. "We loved using those messages of taking time to stop, reflect and feel good about how far you've come. Using his lyrics as inspiration, we aimed to write cards that would solicit the same emotions as their soundtracks."

Like Urban's musical collection, Hallmark writers incorporated a range of styles and sounds into the cards that reflect a variety of life's moments from celebrating birthdays to supporting loved ones during difficult times. The cards feature warm colors on textured backgrounds highlighted with simple images.

Hallmark Keith Urban sound cards are available at Hallmark Gold Crown^® stores. Visit hallmark.com/stores to find the nearest Hallmark Gold Crown store.

About Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Hallmark makes the world a more caring place by helping people express what's in their hearts and spend time together — a privilege few other companies in the world enjoy. Hallmark greeting cards and other products are found in more than 39,000 retail outlets in the U.S., including the network of flagship Hallmark Gold Crown^® stores. The brand also reaches people online at Hallmark.com and on television through Hallmark Hall of Fame original movies and cable's top-rated Hallmark Channel. Worldwide, Hallmark offers products in more than 30 languages available in 100 countries. This privately held company is based in Kansas City, Mo., and is led by the third generation of the founding Hall family. Visit http://corporate.hallmark.com for more details.

About Keith Urban
2013 is poised to be another spectacular year for Urban, who has already celebrated the success of a sold-out Australian Arena tour and received his first Golden Globe Award nomination for his song "For You," his initial foray writing specifically for a motion picture. A performance with the Rolling Stones and at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Concerts, combined with Urban's 4th annual "All 4 The Hall Benefit Concert" performing alongside "Rebels and Renegades" Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Kris Kristofferson, Vince Gill, Tim McGraw and Eric Church, amongst others, has further solidified the respect that Urban has received as a musician and player.

In the Spring, Keith released his first single in nearly two years, "Little Bit of Everything," and wrapped Season 12 of FOX's American Idol, on which he served as a judge.

In July, Urban will launch the first outdoor Summer tour of his career, "Light The Fuse Tour 2013," with Little Big Town and special guest Dustin Lynch. The tour will move into Arenas in October and will continue through December 2013. Urban's eighth studio album, Fuse, is set for release on September 10^th.

In 2001, the Country Music Association honored Keith Urban with its Horizon Award, designating him a talented artist with a bright future. He is the first Horizon Award winner in history to go on to win the CMA's Male Vocalist of the Year, a title he's captured three times, and the coveted Entertainer of the Year. More than 15 million albums later, Keith is a four-time GRAMMY^® Award winner who has also won a People's Choice and American Music Award. He's won five Academy of Country Music Awards, had 14 No. 1's, including 28 Top 5 hits, and has had five consecutive platinum or multi-platinum albums. In 2012 he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Urban's reputation as a songwriter, musician, vocalist and virtuoso guitarist is no more evident than when he is onstage. His electrifying concerts have played to sold-out venues from Australia to Germany, England to Canada and the United States. In fact, 2009's Escape Together World Tour, as well as 2007's Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy World Tour, were both one of the top grossing tours for their respective years. As one journalist put it, "Urban is one of the best reasons in the world to attend a live concert."

Learn more about Keith at http://www.keithurban.net.

http://newsroom.hallmark.com

SOURCE Hallmark Cards, Inc.