Keith Urban has thanked fans for sending him good luck messages ahead of his throat surgery.

The country musician - who is married to Nicole Kidman - will have an operation to remove a polyp on his vocal cords and says he's been very touched by the support he has received.

Speaking on a new video posted on YouTube, Keith - who won't perform again until next year - said: "I just wanted to take a second before I go on complete 'vocal lockdown' for three weeks to say thank you. Thank you, every one of you, for a great, great phenomenal year.

"Especially, I wanted to say thank you to everybody that's been sending such good-wishes for this upcoming surgery. I can't even express my gratitude for you guys. It's like family. It really is, it feels like that."

As well as messages, the father-of-two says he's been inundated with presents, which has left him "overwhelmed".

He said: "I've got cards, messages and I got the most amazing gift basket at the BMI Awards that has all of the coolest stuff in there for when I go on voice rest, with little handwritten notes and stuff that I can just hold up. I've been sent gifts and emails and cards and flowers and the coolest things. I'm overwhelmed at your gratitude, and your prayers are really, really appreciated by me and all of my family."