Actress Nicole Kidman has officially filed for divorce from musician Keith Urban after nearly two decades of marriage, marking an unexpected end to their high-profile relationship that united two entertainment icons.
According to legal documents filed in a Nashville court by the 58-year-old Academy Award winner, the couple has encountered “marital difficulties and irreconcilable differences.”
Kidman and Urban share two teenage daughters, 17-year-old Sunday Rose and 14-year-old Faith Margaret.
The divorce filings include a comprehensive parenting plan that has been mutually agreed upon by the couple and awaits judicial approval.
The parenting plan emphasizes the importance of fostering a positive and supportive co-parenting environment for the children despite the divorce, urging both parents to refrain from speaking negatively about each other and encouraging the children to maintain strong relationships with both sides of their family.
The proposed arrangement designates Kidman as the primary residential parent for the daughters, with her having custody for 306 days per year, while Urban would have the children for the remaining 59 days. The documents indicate that the girls will continue to reside in Nashville.
The legal documents also reveal that both Kidman and Urban earn substantial incomes, each exceeding $100,000 per month, and neither party is seeking financial support for child care or spousal maintenance.
The division of assets outlined in the marriage dissolution plan indicates an equitable split of joint assets, with each spouse retaining ownership of assets registered in their respective names, including intellectual property rights and royalties related to their creative works.
The detailed agreement suggests that the divorce proceedings had been underway for an extended period, with Urban signing the parenting plan on Aug. 29 and Kidman signing on Sept. 6.
Under Tennessee law, the divorce process is expected to take a minimum of 90 days before becoming final. Representatives for Kidman and Urban have not responded to requests for comments.
Both natives of Australia, Kidman and Urban crossed paths in 2005 at an event in Los Angeles celebrating Australian talents, eventually tying the knot in Sydney the following year.
While this was Urban’s first marriage, Kidman had previously been married to Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001 and shares two older children with him.
Reality Behind the Facade
Despite outward appearances of a strong relationship, Kidman and Urban had openly discussed their challenges, debunking any claims of being a flawless couple.
Reports of their separation, initially leaked by TMZ, preceded the formal divorce filing by a day.
During an interview last year at the premiere of the Netflix series The Perfect Couple, Kidman highlighted the unrealistic nature of striving for perfection in a relationship, asserting that she and Urban did not consider themselves as such.
Urban had previously acknowledged Kidman’s unwavering support during his struggles with substance abuse early in their marriage, recognizing her enduring commitment to their relationship.
While Kidman’s illustrious career includes acclaimed roles in films such as Days of Thunder, Eyes Wide Shut, Moulin Rouge, and The Hours, for which she received an Academy Award, she has also found success in television, notably in Nine Perfect Strangers and Big Little Lies.
On the other hand, Urban has solidified his status as a prominent figure in country music, achieving success with hits like Somebody Like You and Blue Ain’t Your Color, in addition to winning multiple Grammy Awards and Academy of Country Music Awards.
Urban recently concluded the Canadian leg of his High and Alive World Tour, encompass