Long before news broke that Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are separating after 19 years of marriage, there were subtle hints that things were not quite right.
Observers now point to a tense radio interview back in July as an early sign of strain between the Grammy-winning country star and the Oscar-winning actress.
A Radio Interview That Went Awry
On July 1, Urban called into the Mix102.3 Adelaide radio show Hayley & Max in the Morning to talk about his upcoming series of performances.
At first, the conversation was lighthearted, with Urban expressing how much he enjoyed performing in Adelaide.
But the mood shifted quickly when the hosts introduced a segment called Wall of Truth, which aimed to ask him some more personal questions.
The Question That Sparked Controversy
Host Max Burford asked Urban how he felt about seeing his wife in intimate scenes with other actors, specifically referencing Zac Efron’s role opposite Kidman in the 2024 Netflix film A Family Affair.
Burford asked, “What does Keith Urban think when he sees his beautiful wife with beautiful younger men like Zac Efron, having these beautiful love scenes?”
Urban did not respond. According to the hosts, the singer abruptly disconnected from the Zoom call, leaving the interview tense and unfinished.
A program producer suggested that Urban’s team may have ended the call to avoid the question.
Behind the Scenes Reality
Hayley Pearson, the other host, admitted that the line of questioning might have been too personal.
“He doesn’t like the personal stuff… he doesn’t like talking about his wife… it’s private,” she said.
However, an insider later told People magazine that Urban himself had nothing to do with the technical disconnection.
“Keith did not hang up, period. He doesn’t host his Zoom interviews. This is a complete nothingburger,” the source said.
Public Appearances and Time Apart
The last time Urban and Kidman were seen publicly together was in June at a FIFA World Cup match in Nashville, Tennessee.
Since then, Urban has been touring extensively on his High and Alive World Tour, with upcoming performances including a show in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Kidman, meanwhile, has remained in Nashville with their two daughters, Sunday, 16, and Faith, 14. TMZ reported that Urban has purchased his own residence in the city, officially moving out of the family home.
Nicole Kidman’s Work Commitments Abroad
Over the summer, Kidman and the children spent time in England while she filmed the sequel to her 1998 movie Practical Magic.
She rented a luxurious Hampstead mansion, previously owned by pop star Boy George, reportedly paying £65,000 ($87,000) per month.
While the move was work-related, it drew attention in Kidman’s native Australia, raising questions about the couple’s time apart.
Growing Apart Amid Personal Loss
An insider revealed to Woman’s Day that the couple’s separation has been developing for some time.
“[Kidman and Urban] do make an effort to speak every day when they’re apart, but it is shocking how much time they’ve spent apart since Nicole’s mother died last September,” the source said.
“It’s like they both went their separate ways.”