Keith Urban once opened up about the struggles that nearly ended his marriage to Nicole Kidman, just a year before the couple’s separation hit headlines.
Speaking at the AFI Life Achievement Award Gala in April 2024, the country singer gave an emotional speech in which he admitted he almost “blew” up their relationship.
Urban, 57, recalled how his battle with addiction reached its peak just months after he and Kidman tied the knot in June 2006.
“My addictions … that I’d done really nothing about, blew our marriage to smithereens,” he said at the time. “Four months into a marriage, I’m in rehab for three months. I had no idea what was going to happen to us.”
He went on to praise Kidman, 58, for her unwavering support, calling her decision to stand by him an act of “love in action.”
“Nic pushed through every negative voice, I’m sure even some of her own, and she chose love,” he told the audience as Kidman grew emotional. “And here we are tonight, 18 years later.”
Their daughters, Sunday Rose, now 17, and Faith Margaret, 14, were also in attendance. Urban described the girls as “very lucky to be learning” from their mother, saying he felt the same.
“I’ve actually never met anyone who has such a passion for being alive,” he added. “She knows the importance of expressing feelings.”
News broke this week that Urban and Kidman are ending their marriage after nearly two decades together, with Kidman officially filing for divorce. The pair were last seen publicly in June, when they attended a FIFA Club World Cup game.
That same month, Kidman marked their 19th wedding anniversary with a heartfelt Instagram post. Urban did not share a tribute of his own, though he left a heart emoji in the comments.
Kidman was previously married to Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001. The former couple share two adopted children: Isabella, 32, and Connor, 30.