Keith Urban says Miley Cyrus sounds like 'an ashtray': 'And I mean that as a compliment'

The Australian country star is giving Cyrus her flowers.

Keith Urban is giving Miley Cyrus and her smoky singing voice their flowers.

On the latest episode of the Australian podcast Fitzy and Wippa With Kate Ritchie, the country singer-songwriter praised the pop star by comparing her distinctive voice to… a tobacco receptacle?

"I've always loved Miley. I love her voice, man," Urban said when asked about his fellow musician. "She sounds like an ashtray. And I mean that as a compliment. I literally mean that as a compliment."

Related: Jimmy Fallon calls Keith Urban 'good sport' about Nicole Kidman's past crush, recalls prank they pulled on her

Urban's praise came after he launched into a brief cover of Cyrus' hit single "Flowers," from her eighth studio album, Endless Summer Vacation.

Well, if Cyrus is an ashtray, the hosts asked, then what is Tom Waits? "I mean, he's just the nicotine," Urban quipped. "He's all the yellow stuff in the cigarettes.”

Urban is a well-documented fan of the pop girlies, having previously praised the likes of Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande. And who could forget the time he unwittingly hard-launched Phoebe Bridgers and Bo Burnham's relationship during the Philadelphia leg of Swift's Eras Tour? The country crooner, attending alongside wife Nicole Kidman, inadvertently captured the two engaging in PDA while filming himself enjoying the show.

"Phoebe, I'm so sorry," Urban said of the viral moment while speaking with Entertainment Tonight at CMA Fest last year. "It felt very awkward. I felt bad. I was just digging on the concert! You never know what's gonna happen."

Urban is gearing up for the release of his 11th studio album, High, out Sept. 20. He released the album's lead single, "Straight Line," earlier this year. The four-time Grammy winner also recently announced his High and Alive Tour, set to commence in August 2025 and span arenas across Australia. He'll be joined by special guest Chase Matthew.

Related: Keith Urban will be The Voice's newest mega mentor

Before then, though, he's set to bring High to Las Vegas with a 10-date limited engagement inside BleauLive Theater in the Fontainebleau between October and February.

Listen to Urban praise Cyrus' ashtray voice above.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.