After 19 Years of Marriage, Nicole Kidman Files for Divorce from Keith Urban — Then Makes Her First Public Appearance
Just days after ending her 19-year marriage to country star Keith Urban, actress Nicole Kidman stepped back into the public eye — this time to celebrate a close friend and creative collaborator.
According to court documents filed in Davidson County, Tennessee, on September 30, Kidman officially filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The filing came one day after multiple outlets reported that she and Urban had been separated since early summer.
Inside the Divorce
Records obtained by The Tennessean show that both parties had already agreed on all major terms before Kidman’s filing. The marital dissolution agreement was signed by Urban on August 29 and by Kidman on September 6, signaling a quiet, mutual decision to move forward separately.
The former couple shares two daughters — Sunday Rose (17) and Faith Margaret (14) — and, per the court documents, Kidman was granted primary custody. The agreement outlines that the girls will live primarily with their mother for 306 days of the year, spending 59 days annually with Urban.
Both parents will share major decisions related to their daughters’ education, health, and well-being, though Kidman will have final authority in the event of a disagreement. The filings also confirm that neither party will pay alimony.
Keith Urban Performs Without His Wedding Band
Urban made his first public appearance since the split on October 2, during a concert performance. Though he didn’t mention the divorce, fans noted that the singer was no longer wearing his wedding ring and chose not to perform “The Fighter” — the 2017 duet inspired by his marriage to Kidman.
Nicole Kidman Honors Taylor Sheridan in Emotional Speech
Kidman’s first major public appearance came on October 4, just four days after her filing. The Oscar winner attended amfAR Dallas, a charity gala supporting HIV/AIDS research, where she presented the Award of Inspiration to her Lioness and Yellowstone collaborator Taylor Sheridan.
In her speech, Kidman praised Sheridan for his ability to create stories that connect people through empathy and shared humanity:
“I think what Taylor recognizes, as we all do, is that we are more alike than we are different — and that we’re better when we look out for each other,” Kidman said, according to PEOPLE.
“What better way to support and elevate our common humanity than to help fund bold and innovative research.”
Kidman, who stars in Sheridan’s Lioness and will return for its third season, appeared composed and gracious throughout the evening.
A Poised Return Amid Heartbreak
Earlier in the week, Kidman was photographed hiking near Nashville with her sister, Antonia, marking her first sighting since the divorce news broke.
Despite the deeply personal nature of her split, the actress seemed focused on maintaining her poise — using her first public appearance not to address her own heartbreak, but to spotlight a cause and a colleague she deeply respects.
As for Urban, he remains on tour and, according to close sources, is “throwing himself into music and family time.”
After nearly two decades together, the pair’s quiet separation and dignified handling of their divorce have left fans both surprised and admiring of the grace with which they’ve chosen to move forward.
