Keith Urban may be from Down Under, but he sure knows how to throw a down-home party: a backyard barbecue.

After performing for a crowd of some 50,000 at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, the dad-to-be scaled things down, playing a private gig for 50 lucky fans.

At the party, Urban met each of the fifty guests, signed autographs and posed for pictures, then played an intimate, 45-minute concert.

The meet-and-greet was part of a promotional contest held by Verizon Wireless, whose customers were entered automatically by using Song ID (the music discovery tool that recognizes the title, artist, and album name of songs being played on the radio) to identify Urban’s hits “Everybody” and “I Told You So.”

The five contest winners were then permitted to invite nine of their closest friends to join them for the Nashville event on June 7.

As temperatures soared in the 90s in Nashville last weekend, Urban was glad the venue had air conditioning. “This is my kind of backyard right here,” he said.

For contest winner Lori Bryant, 44, Urban was also her kind of host. “He came in and gave me a big hug and said, ‘Thanks for being here,’ and went up to each individual person and shook their hand or gave them a hug and asked their name,” she told PEOPLE.

Best of all, she added, “He doesn’t have his arm around you like he’s barely touching you - he gives you a big hug, and he’s just very genuine. He acts like he’s your long, lost friend.”

Fans are showering dad-to-be Keith Urban with gifts - not that he knows what all of them are.

“We got a tie-dyed jumpsuit thing that we really like,” he said backstage at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, where he was a surprise performer Friday night at LP Field.

When reporters told him it was likely a “onesie,” Urban, who’s expecting his first child this summer with wife Nicole Kidman, looked puzzled and asked, “A what?”

Urban was the last act of the night, taking the stage after Faith Hill and after an introduction from hosts Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler, who promised the crowd: “He’s very goodlooking, ladies.”

Urban took the stage in a black T-shirt and jeans, opening with “Days Go By” and immediately going into his next song, “Better Life,” before thanking the crowd.

“I want to say a huge thank you to everybody that has coughed up the

most outrageous amount of money per gallon to get gas to come to this festival this year,” he said. “We’re gonna give you a show worth seven bucks a gallon, so you’re making three bucks right there.”

At one point he took off his guitar, autographed it and handed it to a lucky fan while walking through the screaming audience.

“My kinda crowd right there,” he said.

On the hot night in Nashville (temperatures were in the 90s), Nicole Kidman remained out of sight, but not out of Urban’s mind.

Backstage, the singer told reporters, “I love having her with me when I tour, but at the same time, it’s work. You don’t want to ask too much of your family.” And as for bringing baby on the road, he said: “We’ll just have to see what works for us.”

• Reporting by SHELLEY AKERS and KAY WEST

PHOTO SPECIAL
Kisses %26 Kicks at the CMA Music Fest

A very pregnant Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban hit the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hand-in-hand Sunday night - and immediately began working the orange carpet.

First they signed autographs together, then split up briefly to chat with fans. At one point Urban, 40 - who was up for entertainer of the year at the Las Vegas awards show - looked over at Kidman, smiled proudly, and said, “That’s my wife.”

Kidman kept a hand on the bottom of her belly as she headed toward the venue. Has the baby been kicking? “Oh yeah,” she told PEOPLE. “Not right now, but it has been.”

Later, as reporters and photographers frantically shouted out questions for the mom-to-me, the Oscar winner revealed, “We’re very excited. We’re very pregnant and good.”

For the first time, fans had the chance to vote for entertainer of the year - so who had Kidman’s support? “I didn’t get a chance to vote for %26#91;Keith%26#93;,” she admitted, laughing. “I’ll do it from my cell phone. Is it too late?” (Alas, the award went to Kenny Chesney.)

Once inside, the happy couple - who have been married almost two years - settled into their front-row seats, alongside Brooks %26 Dunn and Carrie Underwood. And the Nashville-based twosome kept up their southern hospitality, graciously posing with fans during the show’s commercial breaks.

MORE ON THE AWARDS
Exclusive! Backstage Photos at the ACM Awards
Vegas Goes Country! Photo Special
Caught in the Act: ACM Awards Edition!

Before hitting rehearsals for the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas this weekend, Keith Urban told a local radio station Saturday that he can’t wait to become a father.

“I’m very excited about it,” Urban told KCYE in Sin City. Although the singer is not sure of wife Nicole Kidman’s exact due date, they do know the baby’s gender. “But I’m not saying,” he added. “I’m glad we found out though, because it brought it home, you know what I’m saying.”

Urban, who is nominated for entertainer of the year at Sunday’s award show, has descended on Vegas - along with many of country music’s biggest stars - to prepare. “I’m not worried about anything,” Urban said about pre-show jitters. “I feel so grateful for this year.”

During the afternoon rehearsal Urban, wearing a plaid shirt and baseball cap, appeared to be in a great mood, bobbing his head to the music. After the first run-through of the song “Tu Compania,” Urban said, “That’s fun!”

As part of the performance, several lucky fans surrounded the singer, creating a country mosh pit of sorts. “Do you’ll know all your parts?” Urban joked with the excited fans.

“We love you!” yelled one female fan.

And by all appearances, Urban loves them too, turning out a foot-stomping performance and flashing a huge smile when he finished his 40-minute rehearsal.

The country star was also joined by new artist nominee Sarah Buxton during his rehearsal performance. (And, in turn, Urban made a surprise appearance on stage with Buxton Saturday evening at New Artists’ Party for a Cause where the duo performed two songs.)

As Urban prepares for fatherhood, he’s not alone among his country music pals. Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts is also set to be a dad for the first time. His wife, Tiffany Fallon, is due “any minute,” he said.

At the Home Depot Celebrity Golf Tournament, Rooney told PEOPLE, “I might be putting on the fourth hole and get that call and I’m off on a plane. She’s ready to get this baby out.”

As for Urban, Rascal Flatts lead singer Gary LeVox says he expects him to be a hands-on father. “Keith is such a passionate person,” LeVox said. “He’ll be a great dad for sure.”

The Academy of Country Music Awards airs Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Also airing Sunday is the PEOPLE Country Special on CMT. Check out a preview here: