In a move that has sent ripples through Hollywood, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman officially filed for divorce from her Grammy-winning husband, Keith Urban, on Tuesday. The filing, which marks the end of their nearly two-decade marriage, was submitted in the circuit court of Davidson County, Tennessee, where the prominent entertainment figures reside.
Ms. Kidman, 58, cited ‘irreconcilable differences’ as the reason for dissolving the union. Speculation about their split had been circulating since Monday, when a celebrity gossip website first reported the news. The couple shares two daughters.
Their love story began in January 2005, during the G’Day L.A. gala, an annual event hosted by the American Australian Association in Los Angeles, where both were being honored.
Mr. Urban fondly recounted their initial meeting during a speech last year, as Ms. Kidman accepted a lifetime achievement award from the American Film Institute. He humorously recalled his attempt to ‘play it cool,’ confessing that ‘inside I felt like I’d snuck into the royal ball.’ He described Ms. Kidman as possessing an ‘otherworldly aura,’ making him feel ‘a bit like I was meeting a real-life princess.’
Despite his initial awe, Mr. Urban admitted during a 2017 appearance on ‘The Graham Norton Show’ that he was initially ‘scared!’ to call her after their first encounter.
After a few months of dating, their relationship blossomed, and in May 2006, Ms. Kidman confirmed their engagement to a popular magazine, sharing that ‘He’s very good to me.’ Their wedding followed a month later in Australia.
However, just four months into their marriage, Mr. Urban made the difficult decision to check himself into rehab for three months. He publicly expressed profound regret at the time, stating, ‘I deeply regret the hurt this has caused Nicole and the ones that love and support me.’
This spring, in a candid interview on a well-known podcast, Mr. Urban, now sober, reflected on that pivotal period, acknowledging that Ms. Kidman’s intervention marked a crucial turning point in his life.
Their enduring marriage was widely considered a rarity in the entertainment industry, often showcased as an exemplary relationship among the rich and famous.
Prior to her marriage to Mr. Urban, Ms. Kidman was married to actor Tom Cruise, with whom she shares two children. Their divorce was finalized in 2001 after more than a decade together.
Last year, during a red-carpet interview to promote her Netflix series ‘The Perfect Couple,’ Ms. Kidman offered a pragmatic perspective on relationships, stating, ‘I don’t think anyone is the perfect anything. You’re heading for trouble if you consider yourself the perfect couple.’
Ms. Kidman’s career is celebrated for numerous acclaimed performances across both film and television. Her notable movie roles include her Academy Award-winning portrayal in ‘The Hours’ (2003), as well as ‘Babygirl’ and ‘Moulin Rouge.’ In recent years, she has graced streaming platforms in popular limited series such as ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Nine Perfect Strangers,’ ‘The Undoing,’ and ‘The Perfect Couple.’ She recently delighted fans by announcing on social media that she has finished filming ‘Practical Magic 2,’ the eagerly awaited sequel to the beloved 1998 classic.
Mr. Urban, a globally renowned country music star, was honored in May with the ‘Triple Crown Award,’ a recognition for artists who have won multiple American Country Music Awards. In his acceptance speech, he sweetly acknowledged his wife, saying, ‘My wife, Nicole Mary, is here tonight. I love you, baby girl.’