Actors Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban sharing a tender moment at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Frisco, Texas, this past May.
In a stunning development that has sent ripples across Hollywood, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman officially filed for divorce from her Grammy-winning husband, Keith Urban, on Tuesday. The couple, who were together for nearly two decades, are now legally separating, as confirmed by recent court records.
The official divorce filing occurred in the circuit court of Davidson County, Tennessee, located in Nashville—the city where the prominent entertainment duo made their home. Kidman, at 58 years old, cited the classic ‘irreconcilable differences’ as the reason for dissolving her marriage.
Whispers of a potential separation began surfacing on Monday, initially reported by a prominent celebrity news outlet. This news comes as a surprise to many, especially considering the couple shares two beloved daughters.
Kidman and Urban, 57, first crossed paths in January 2005. The memorable occasion was G’Day L.A., an annual Los Angeles gala hosted by the American Australian Association, where both stars were being celebrated for their achievements.
Urban once playfully recounted their initial meeting, describing it as ‘a bit like a pickup line from “Crocodile Dundee.”‘ He shared this anecdote last year during a heartfelt speech at the American Film Institute, where Kidman was receiving a lifetime achievement award.
He vividly recalled trying to maintain his composure, admitting, ‘inside I felt like I’d snuck into the royal ball.’ He described Kidman as possessing an ‘otherworldly aura,’ making him feel ‘a bit like I was meeting a real-life princess.’
Interestingly, after their memorable first encounter, Urban confessed to being almost too intimidated to reach out. ‘I was scared!’ he openly admitted during a joint appearance on ‘The Graham Norton Show’ in 2017.
Their romance blossomed quickly, with dating commencing just months after their initial meeting. By May 2006, Kidman publicly confirmed their engagement to a popular magazine, affectionately stating, ‘He’s very good to me.’ Their wedding followed swiftly, held in Australia just one month later.
Tragically, just four months post-nuptials, Urban announced he had voluntarily entered a rehabilitation facility, where he remained for three months. Expressing deep remorse, he stated, ‘I deeply regret the hurt this has caused Nicole and the ones that love and support me.’
This past spring, in a candid interview on a well-known podcast, Urban, now living a sober life, looked back at that challenging period. He revealed that Kidman had orchestrated an intervention for him, marking a pivotal turning point in his life.
Their enduring marriage was widely celebrated as a rare success story in the fickle world of Hollywood, frequently cited as an exemplary partnership among celebrities. As recently as June, Kidman shared a touching black-and-white photograph on social media, depicting her resting her head on Urban’s shoulder in a warm embrace.
Accompanying the image, Kidman simply captioned it, ‘Happy Anniversary Baby,’ followed by a heart emoji.
Just days prior to that social media post, the couple had been seen together, publicly attending a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at GEODIS Park in Nashville.
In a curious incident in July, during a radio interview in Adelaide, Australia, Urban was questioned about Kidman’s on-screen romantic scenes with attractive younger actors, specifically mentioning Zac Efron in the 2024 Netflix comedy ‘A Family Affair.’ Urban’s response was abrupt: he famously ended the interview mid-conversation.
Before her marriage to Urban, Kidman was famously married to actor Tom Cruise. They shared two children and divorced in 2001, concluding a marriage that spanned over a decade.
During a red-carpet interview last year, while promoting her Netflix series ‘The Perfect Couple,’ Kidman offered a poignant perspective to reporters: ‘I don’t think anyone is the perfect anything. You’re heading for trouble if you consider yourself the perfect couple.’
Kidman’s illustrious career boasts numerous critically acclaimed performances in film, including her Academy Award-winning role in ‘The Hours’ (2003), as well as memorable parts in ‘Babygirl’ and ‘Moulin Rouge.’ In recent years, she has become a prominent presence on streaming television, headlining popular limited series such as ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Nine Perfect Strangers,’ ‘The Undoing,’ and ‘The Perfect Couple.’ Fans were recently thrilled by her social media announcement that filming had concluded for ‘Practical Magic 2,’ the much-anticipated sequel to the beloved 1998 fantasy film.
Urban, a globally renowned country music star, has also made a name for himself as a television personality, serving as a judge on ‘American Idol’ and a coach on ‘The Voice’ in Australia. In May, he received the prestigious ‘Triple Crown Award,’ recognizing his numerous wins at the American Country Music Awards. During his acceptance speech, he affectionately acknowledged Kidman, stating, ‘My wife, Nicole Mary, is here tonight. I love you, baby girl.’