The rumoured reasons behind Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s reported split

When news broke that Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban were reportedly putting the brakes on their 19-year marriage, there was no explanation as to why the seemingly happy couple had decided to part ways.

But were there signs all along things weren’t quite right beneath the surface?

On Tuesday, LA-based entertainment website TMZ reported “multiple sources” revealing the couple have been living apart all northern summer, with just their two children Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14, holding the relationship together.

The Hollywood duo were pictured together in May this year at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards.

They were also photographed in what was possibly their last public sighting as a pair at the FIFA Club World Cup in Nashville in June.

They appeared to be in good spirits, smiling together while watching the match.

The movie star and the country singer have managed to keep their rumoured marriage troubles under wraps but it hasn’t gone unnoticed that they’ve created more distance between one another in recent months.

Conflicting schedules

A source told Daily Mail US their busy schedules have kept them from spending time together.

“Keith never sees Nicole, either she is filming or he is on tour,” the source claimed.

“There was a lot of love between the two and they might not divorce, but there is a world that they both live where neither of them are in it.”

Kidman has spent a considerable amount of time in England filming the Practical Magic sequel and, according to The Sun, shelled out $87,288 a month to stay at Boy George’s luxurious mansion — without her husband.

Meanwhile, Urban has been travelling across the US and Canada with his High Alive tour.

House-hunting solo

According to the TMZ report, Urban has “has acquired his own residence in Nashville and has moved out of their family home”, which is also in Nashville.

Kidman has also been house-hunting solo, and was seen in Portugal without her husband.

In July, local media reported the Babygirl star had applied for a residence permit to the country’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum. They claimed the reason for the visit was related to the purchase of a home in the luxury CostaTerra Golf & Ocean Club.

When news broke about Kidman submitting her paperwork to the country’s immigration agency, reports revealed her husband’s name was not on the application.

The New York Post reported the country music star was not mentioned because he was unable to break away from touring at the time.

Tense interviews

In July, E! News reported Urban seemingly hung up on Adelaide radio show Mix 102.3 Hayley & Max in the Morning after host Max Burford asked questions about his wife and her Family Affair co-star, Zac Efron.

“What does Keith Urban think when he sees his beautiful wife with beautiful younger men like Zac Efron having these beautiful love scenes on TV and radio?” Burford questioned, before the line went silent.

“He’s disconnected from Zoom,” a radio staff person said when Burford and co-host Hayley Peterson questioned what had just happened.

“I think his team hung up on us because they didn’t want us to ask that question.”

Carrying the parenting load

TMZ also reported their two children have been in Kidman’s care and the actress is “holding the family together through this difficult time since Keith has been gone”.

Kidman is a very hands-on mum and always takes time to support their daughters’ career ambitions.

“I am raising girls in their teens — you realise the importance of empowering other women,” Kidman previously told PEOPLE.

Her new campaign for a Japanese skincare and beauty brand also featured their youngest daughter, Faith Margaret.

Kidman and Urban’s eldest daughter, Sunday Rose, recently launched her modelling career.

Earlier this year, the rising star landed her first major campaign fronting a new luxury advert for Italian fashion brand Miu Miu.

In March, Kidman shared a photo on her Instagram stories of Sunday Rose walking the runway during Paris Fashion Week.

“Love you baby! @sundayrose,” Kidman sweetly wrote over the photo.

Grieving alone

Kidman’s beloved mother’s death at the age of 84 was announced on September 8 last year, with the actress quickly dashing back to Australia to be with her family at the time.

Urban was by Kidman’s side during the difficult time and attended the funeral with his wife in St Francis Xavier church in Lavender Bay in Sydney’s north.

But their conflicting schedules meant Kidman has largely dealt with the loss of her mother alone since then.

A source told Australian magazine Woman’s Day: “It’s shocking how much time they’ve spent apart since Nicole’s mother died last September.”

Cheating rumours

Urban and Kidman famously met at the G’Day LA Gala in 2005.

A year later, the Australian actress tied the knot with Urban at the Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in the grounds of St Patrick’s Estate, Manly, in Sydney.

But their marriage was tested early on.

Just four months after getting married, Urban — at Kidman’s urging — checked himself into the Betty Ford Centre in Palm Springs for drug and alcohol addiction

“I deeply regret the hurt this has caused Nicole and the ones who love and support me,” Keith said at the time.

“With the strength and unwavering support I am blessed to have from my wife, family and friends, I am determined and resolved to a positive outcome.”

During Urban was in rehab, model Amanda Wyatt made wild claims via a British tabloid that the singer had allegedly cheated on Kidman multiple times with her leading up to their wedding.

Neither Urban not Kidman commented, and the claims were never substantiated.