Keith Urban has opened up about one thing that marriage to Nicole Kidman apart before they separated.
After almost two decades of marriage, the couple, who share two daughters, Sunday Rose (17) and Faith Margaret (14), have reportedly ended their relationship.
The news of their separation has left many in shock, with sources close to the couple pointing to growing tension over the past few months.
Although they made efforts to maintain their bond, including the 58-year-old actress' public displays of affection on social media, the couple has been living apart since June, according to The Guardian.
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Keith Urban Opens Up About Marriage Struggles
Before the separation was announced, the 'Blue Ain't Your Color' singer had made a vulnerable confession about the struggles in his marriage to Kidman.
In a heartfelt speech at the AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute in June 2024, Urban revealed that his battle with addiction nearly tore their marriage apart just months after their wedding.
“We got married in 2006, and barely four months into our marriage, the addictions that I had done really nothing about blew our marriage to smithereens,” he said. “Four months into a marriage, and I'm in rehab for three months with no idea what was going to happen to us."
Urban went on to praise his wife for standing by him during those challenging times: “Nic pushed through every negative voice. I'm sure even some of her own, and she chose love."
"And here we are tonight, 18 years later. Her capacity to love is like no one I've ever met,” he added, visibly emotional.
Strain Over Nicole’s On-Screen Roles
While the 57-year-old's past struggles with addiction were a significant source of tension early in their relationship, recent challenges seem to have stemmed from a different issue.
Sources close to the couple indicate that the final straw was related to Urban’s discomfort with some of Big Little Lies actress' more intimate roles in recent films, particularly her love scenes with younger actors like Zac Efron in A Family Affair.
This tension became apparent in June when Urban reacted strongly during a radio interview.
The host, Max Burford, casually asked: “What does Keith Urban think when he sees his beautiful wife with beautiful younger men like Zac Efron, having these beautiful love scenes on TV?”
The country star's response was immediate and pointed - he ended the interview abruptly.
The hosts were shocked by his reaction, with Burford commenting: “I thought we were vibing with Keith,” while co-host Hayley Pearson added, “He hates us. I knew that was going to happen.”
Growing Distance and Public Discontent
While the radio interview was a public moment of tension, sources close to the couple say that Urban’s concerns went beyond media scrutiny.
“The intimacy isn’t there; they are just going through the motions,” a source explained, per The Mirror. "Keith had to call her out that he isn’t happy. She was blindsided by this."
“There was a lot of love between the two, and they might not divorce. They’ve been together for decades, so there is a world where they can reconcile. But as things stand now, they are not a couple,” an insider added.