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After much speculation, The Voice coach Keith Urban has confirmed he will not return to Nine’s megahit for a second season next year.

In a statement released by Nine this afternoon, the four-time Grammy winner said he’d been “so fortunate” to have been part of the inaugural season of the monster ratings hit.

“As much as I'd love to do it again, it's clear that the recording and promoting of a new album, a tour and other commitments will keep me from being a part of the second season,” he said in a statement released by the Nine Network this afternoon.

The country crooner’s appearance on the high profile judging panel alongside Seal, Joel Madden and Delta Goodrem signaled the beginning of a new relationship with his Australian compatriots, with many finally recognizing the charm and all-round-good-guy qualities that make the country crooner such as star in the US.

Urban, 44, who was raised in Caboolture, Queensland but now resides in Nashville with wife Nicole Kidman and their two daughters, passed on his thanks to the other coaches involved in the show, plus the contestants from series one.

"To everyone who sang on the show, I thank you; you've inspired not just me, but countless others,” he said. “To everyone behind the scenes and to my on-camera family - Darren [Hayes], Delta, Joel and Seal, thank you for making it so much fun.”

Urban, who will kick off a world tour on his home soil in January 2013, is believed to be considering a multimillion-dollar offer from American Idol in the US.