Keith Urban Got Testy over Nicole Kidman Question — A Year Before Their Split Made Headlines

The country crooner was smiling for the cameras, but the cracks in his marriage to the movie star were already showing.

A year before the world learned his marriage was unraveling, Keith Urban sat down for a warm, easygoing interview. But when the conversation shifted from his music to Nicole Kidman, the country star's charm slipped, and his sharp response hinted at cracks that were yet to surface.

Keith Urban's Guarded Mood Revealed Long Before the Divorce Filing

The interview took place in Urban’s sun-drenched Nashville garden, the perfect Southern setting for a reflective chat. At first, the country music star was completely at ease, chatting with The Times about his then-new album "High."

He weaved in stories about songs inspired by his past struggles with addiction and his appreciation for Taylor Swift, who had supported him early in her career.

But when the subject turned to Kidman, his tone shifted and he refused to bulge. "I just don't want to give you guys a headline about my wife," he explained.

No Longer Willing to Play the Hollywood Husband

Their marriage, often seen as one of Hollywood's most solid partnerships, had not only elevated Urban's public profile but also changed the course of his life. Just months after their 2006 wedding, Kidman organized an intervention that led him to seek treatment for substance abuse.

Years later, he would channel that gratitude into a heartfelt song, "Thank You," where he sang about her role in saving him. Part of the song's lyrics is, "I thank you for my life, and I thank God for grace and mercy and that you became my wife."

Yet when reminded of that difficult chapter during the interview, Urban became noticeably guarded. He suggested that dwelling on it would reduce the conversation to a familiar narrative.

"Before you know it, the interview would be 'My wife saved my life,' and I don't want to go there," he noted. Though he never raised his voice, the unease beneath his polite deflection was reportedly unmistakable.

The One Glimpse of Warmth – and Then a Wall

The one moment the singer appeared even slightly at ease discussing Kidman came when their first encounter in 2005 was mentioned. The exes met at the aptly named G'Day LA, a celebration of Australian culture in California.

Urban, born in New Zealand and raised in Queensland before settling in Nashville in 1992, considered whether their shared homeland had played a role in their connection. "Coming from the same place is very helpful. But I think being in different fields was also equally helpful," he acknowledged.

That seemed to be the breaking point, as Urban made it clear he wasn't willing to entertain any more questions about Nicole Kidman. When asked at the close of the interview if he was proud of Kidman, he answered simply that he was.

He then added, "We've had the best conversation about my career and my music, and I love that at the very end of this conversation you're going to give one more swing to see if I'll talk about my wife. I'm not going to talk about her."

From Open Admiration to Reluctant Silence

It was a stark contrast from earlier interviews with British outlets, where Keith Urban, though careful, still spoke openly about life with Kidman. He had accepted this unspoken trade-off where reporters would touch on his career, which was solidly successful in the US.

However, it never quite broke through in the UK, where his biggest hit, "One Too Many," only climbed to number 40 in 2020, likely helped by Pink's feature.

In exchange, the singer would offer a glimpse into his life with Kidman. In a 2020 interview with The Times, he described her as a major creative influence, "simply for the way she approaches things in such a bold way."

But by last year, the tone had shifted — he was no longer willing to share in the same way. In hindsight, that reluctance could be seen as an early sign that their nearly 20-year marriage was nearing its end.

As news of Kidman and Urban's divorce continues to spread, new reports have revealed the reasons behind it. According to official documents, the actress listed the date of separation as September 30, 2025.

The couple had been together for 19 years. Kidman allegedly cited "irreconcilable differences" and "marital difficulties" in the divorce filing. The 58-year-old actress requested to be the primary residential parent of their two daughters, aged 17 and 14.

A publication that reviewed the former couple's signed "Marital Dissolution Agreement" provided a summary of its clauses. The document includes a child support worksheet, a parenting plan, and a Parenting Seminar Order.

These documents suggest that the pair has already agreed on custody arrangements and child support. They have also reportedly committed to attending co-parenting classes. The agreement was signed by two notaries — one representing Urban, dated August 29, 2025, and the other for Kidman, dated September 6, 2025.

Although the couple waived spousal and child support, a clause indicates that the singer has already prepaid "child support obligations." The parenting plan specifies that Urban will spend 59 days with the children, while their mother will have them for 306 days.

The "Big Little Lies" actress and her husband also agreed to make all major decisions regarding their children jointly, including those related to education and health care. The document outlined specific guidelines for how the pair will co-parent respectfully.

In part, it stated, "The mother and father will behave with each other and each child so as to provide a loving, stable, consistent, and nurturing relationship with the child even though they are divorced."

It also added, "They will not speak badly of each other or the members of the family of the other parent. They will encourage each child to continue to love the other parent and be comfortable in both families."

The former couple will keep their individual assets, suggesting they have a prenuptial agreement. Kidman and Urban allegedly separated in June 2025, though the actress initially hoped to salvage the marriage while her husband did not.

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The following month, the musician appeared on "On Air With Ryan Seacrest," where he spoke about his life. When asked about his wife, his responses were brief, often limited to one or two words.

He also appeared to avoid giving more detailed answers, frequently repeating the word "Yeah." For example, when the podcast's main host, Ryan Seacrest, asked if people ever mentioned that his wife was in everything, Urban laughed. The artist then said, "Yeah, yeah. She's almost as busy as you, but not quite. Very close."

Then Seacrest continued, commenting on how challenging it must be for the couple to maintain their relationship while juggling busy schedules. He named filming, touring, and raising teenagers as major hurdles for the pair.

But while appearing restless, Urban simply replied, "Yeah, life is in session." The host went on to note that many people admire how the couple "take great pride" in making time for one another. He credited this practice with helping them stay together for 19 years, and Urban responded with, "Mhm. Yeah."

TMZ sources claim that the former couple's close friends believe Urban has already moved on with another woman. As details of their divorce emerge, both stars appear focused on maintaining stability for their family. With their separation formalized, a new chapter begins for the longtime pair.