Keith Urban Reveals the Inspiration Behind 'John' Song

Keith Urban steps out for a meeting on Thursday afternoon (July 30) in Studio City, Calif.

The 47-year-old singer released a behind-the-scenes video that day showing the making of his song “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16,” which happens to be his fastest-selling single in a decade.

“It was constantly frustrating to me, because there was another way to go, and I didn’t know what it was,” Keith says in the clip. “Then I noticed there was a bass at the studio and I grabbed the bass guitar and I thought maybe that’s what it is – the bass guitar and drum machine going together.”

“So it wasn’t a totally new thing for me to play [bass] and sing. This one is just more funky,” Keith told Rolling Stone Country. “And for me, playing bass while singing actually helps the groove of the vocal.”