Keith Urban Reflects on Marital Struggles and His near Disconnect from Nicole Kidman

During an emotional speech last year, Keith Urban opened up about a dark chapter early in his marriage to Nicole Kidman, revealing how his struggles with substance abuse threatened to destroy their relationship.

The country artist shared that within just four months of tying the knot in 2006, his addiction issues culminated in a three-month rehab stint. “My addictions… that I’d done nothing about, tore our marriage apart,” he admitted. “Four months in, I was in rehab for three months. I had no idea what would become of us.”

Despite the turmoil, Urban praised Kidman for her unwavering support, acknowledging her perseverance through his darkest times. “She pushed through every negative voice, even some of her own, and chose love,” he stated, as Kidman tearfully watched from the audience. “We are still here 18 years later.” The couple’s daughters, Sunday Rose (17) and Faith Margaret (14), were present at the event, which Urban described as a learning experience for the girls, emphasizing how fortunate they are to learn from Kidman’s example.

Urban highlighted Kidman’s passionate outlook on life, saying, “I’ve never met anyone with such a passion for being alive, who understands the importance of expressing feelings.” He also called their daughters “very lucky” to be learning from her, sharing that he feels the same about them.

Last month, Kidman celebrated their 19th anniversary with a heartfelt Instagram tribute, which Urban chose not to acknowledge publicly, merely commenting with a heart emoji. The singer-songwriter has yet to speak publicly since news broke of their separation after nearly two decades together.