Keith Urban is to undergo throat surgery to remove a polyp on his vocal cords.

The country musician - who is married to Nicole Kidman - will have to pull out of all performances from now until 2012, including an 'All for the Hall' benefit concert, due to take place in Nashville in January, which will now be rescheduled.

A representative for the singer said: "The surgery, an out-patient procedure, while minor, will require complete voice rest followed by an undetermined period of recuperation."

While he is cancelling all concerts, Keith will continue to honour one-song appearances between now and the time he has the operation.

Keith is not the only vocalist to have been struck by throat problems recently.

Last month, Adele was forced to cancel every remaining concert date for the rest of the year after suffering a haemorrhaged vocal cord, needing surgery and time to rest in order to repair it.

R&B star R. Kelly had to undergo emergency surgery to drain an abscess on his tonsils in July, while John Mayer developed a granuloma near his vocal cords in September, which needed an operation and has delayed the release of his new album.