Genevieve Lloyd has had a big year in the spotlight, making her television debut on the popular Farmer Wants a Wife series and then meeting Keith Urban back stage in a surprise gift from her reality television star son, Harry.
Harry bought the tickets for his mother, who still lives on the family farm just outside Kyabram, had secretly organised through his contacts to have his mother meet Urban backstage before the concert.
Harry now lives on the Gold Coast with his on-screen love from the Farmer Wants a Wife series, Tess. They have lived in Queensland since July.
“Harry bought me tickets three years ago. They were intended for me and my girlfriend, Kerry Sweeney,” Genevieve said.
“He could have got his money back, but we kept them. Kerry was invited to a wedding in Perth and couldn’t go, so Harry said he would fly down and go with me.
“He had only been down a week before that, when I met Jess’ parents.”
The concert, part of Keith Urban’s The Speed of Now world tour, was at Melbourne’s Rod Laver arena on Friday, December 16. It was the second-last performance of the New Zealand-born Australian country music artist’s 13th world tour.
It began on April 28 in Birmingham and ended on December 17 in Melbourne — Urban appearing in the UK, Germany, Netherlands, US, Canada and Australia.
The Australian leg included a December 10 concert at Deniliquin, many fans of the the 55-year-old waiting three years to see him in person.
Urban, who married Australian actress Nicole Kidman in 2006, has featured as a judge on The Voice and American Idol.
Only days before the concert Genevieve’s father, also named Keith, died and put her attendance at the concert in further doubt. His funeral was to take place on the Saturday, a day after the concert.
She said she decided to go becuase “it is what my Dad would have wanted”.
After picking up her son from the airport, Genevieve accepted an invitation to stay with Tess’ parents in Melbourne.
Genevieve was introduced to Keith Urban by her brother, when he was popular in America.
The meet and greet came about as a result of Harry and Tess’ promotional work for the Drought Angels program, which they had completed in conjunction with the owner of two beef cattle farms on the Golf Coast — where Harry works.
“Tess and Harry have been doing some volunteer work with Drought Angels, assisting them to raise money through droughts, fires and floods,” Genevieve said.
“They did an Instagram promotion for Drought Angels about raising money to provide Christmas presents.”
Harry’s boss is connected to the promoters of the tour and organised the meeting.
“I didn’t know until 3.30pm that we would be meeting Keith. I didn’t know what to make of it,” she said.
“After we had done the COVID test, were were taken upstairs and I started thinking about questions to ask him.
“When I met him I melted. I lost all control and I couldn’t talk.
“He walked up and gave me a big hug. I still think he can’t believe he has that affect on people.
“When I tried to talk to him nothing came out.
“Harry introduced me as mum. I couldn’t say my name.
“He smelt divine. He just laughed a lot, he couldn’t get over how I couldn’t say anything, but could just touch his hand.”
She said Keith had more questions about them than they had for him.
“He wanted to find out about us and what we did for a living,” she said.
“Harry spoke about Drought Angels and told him about Farmer Wants a Wife.
“I managed to ask him if we could get some photos.”
The mother and son did not go unrecognised at the concert, several people approaching them for photos
“They even wanted their photos taken with me,” she said.
Genevieve described the concert as “excellent”, saying she “was dancing away like a 16-year-old”.
“I took a minute to look around and thought out of all these thousands of people I got to meet him,” she said.
Genevieve, who works at Tongala aged care, said she had wanted Keith to send a shout out to aged-care workers and residents, but could not get the words out.
Harry is one of four Lloyd children, twins Sarah and Tom are 19, Charlie is 21 and Harry is 24.
Genevieve lost her husband, Darren, six years ago when he was just 53 years old.
She said later in the meeting she did manage to explain to Keith that her father had just died and his name was also Keith.
“When he spoke for the first time (after the first few songs), he gave a shout out to those people who were at the concert during a time of grief and hoped they could put it behind them for the night and enjoy the concert.
“He was very thankful to everyone who had held onto their tickets the past three years,” Genevieve said.