(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Keith Urban has been forced to cancel many upcoming performances in preparation for an operation on his throat.

The 44-year-old country music star, who is married to Nicole Kidman, has developed a polyp on his vocal chords. His publicist confirmed in a press release Thursday that Keith will get the growth surgically removed in late November.

Although the outpatient procedure has been described as minor, Keith requires complete vocal rest following the operation. After that has ended, the musician will have to refrain from performing for an indeterminate amount of time.

Keith will still honour a few pre-existing commitments before his surgery, performing at shows where he is required to sing only one song.

Most of the singer's other performances for the rest of the year have been cancelled. Keith's January 18 2012 concert All for the Hall, a charity show benefitting the Country Music Hall of Fame which he is headlining, will be postponed until he fully recovers.

Keith will attempt to reschedule performances in 2012. (C) Cover Media