He didn't run into Simon Cowell, but Keith Urban remembers having a hard time at some talent contests when he was just getting started.

"I did a few of these things when I was younger, and I know what it's like to just be crucified," he tells The Tennessean.

And those memories will make Keith a kind, gentle, supportive kinda judge on the Australian version of The Voice, which is shooting now.

"The good thing about The Voice is they focus on looking for the strengths in people," Keith tells the newspaper.

“My want is to help someone realize that, ‘You nailed these things and any artist has areas they need help with and I may have these faults myself and that’s why, maybe I’m pointing them out in you,’” he says. “I look at this as an opportunity to give back and help somebody.”

Keith is working on the show with Seal, Good Charlotte's Joel Madden and Aussie singer Delta Goodrem.