Nicole Kidman's decision to file for divorce from Keith Urban after nearly two decades of marriage has reverberated across Hollywood and Nashville, with reports of marital betrayal and whispers of a "younger woman" fueling public intrigue.
Court documents filed in Nashville on Sept. 30 cite "irreconcilable differences" as the cause of the split, marking the official end of the couple's 19-year union. Kidman listed the same day as the date of separation and requested primary custody of their two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, with a parenting plan that would give her 306 days annually compared to Urban's 59.
Rumors quickly surfaced that Urban may already be involved with someone new. TMZ reported that "all the signs point to the fact Keith is with another woman. Let's just say Nicole doesn't dispute that, but she's still shocked over it." A Nashville music industry insider told the Daily Mail, "The rumor is that he's with a younger woman in the business. It's all everyone is talking about."
Sources close to Kidman described the actress as devastated. "Nicole's hurt and feels betrayed. It's devastating to her. She's shocked," a source told People magazine. Another person close to the couple told the outlet, "It really hasn't been a secret... they have been living separately for a while now."
The breakup follows a summer apart, with Kidman filming "Practical Magic 2" in London while Urban toured internationally. Publicly, however, the couple continued to project unity. In July, Kidman posted a photo celebrating their 19th anniversary with the caption, "Happy Anniversary Baby @KeithUrban."
Behind the scenes, tensions were mounting. Urban reportedly struggled with Kidman's role in Babygirl, an erotic thriller that featured intimate scenes with actor Harris Dickinson. While Kidman described the project as "liberating," Urban cut short an interview when pressed about it, signaling discomfort.
The couple's marriage, long seen as a model partnership between Hollywood and country music, had weathered challenges before. Months after their 2006 wedding in Sydney, Urban entered rehab for substance abuse. Kidman staged an intervention, later described by Urban as life-saving. "I look back now and realize Nic has taught me so much and brought so much into my life," he told Oprah Winfrey in 2010.
Kidman, now 58, and Urban, 57, met in 2005 at a Los Angeles gala and married the following year. Together, they balanced high-profile careers with family life in Nashville, where they raised their daughters. Their public appearances-award shows, premieres, and red carpets-were often marked by affection and support for one another's achievements.
But as one insider told People, "Their lives were moving in different directions, and once he quietly set up his own place, it felt like the writing was on the wall."
