It’s been a tumultuous few months for country music star Keith Urban. His surprise divorce from Nicole Kidman was finalised two months ago and he hasn’t been seen in public with his daughters for more than a year. Now, in a shock move, it’s been announced that he’s parted ways with his manager of more than two decades, Gary Borman.
While Keith’s statement about the surprise split gave few clues as to why the Whangārei-born crooner, 58, made this move – in it, he spoke of how “grateful” he was for their “incredible and successful time together” – sources say there’s definitely more to the story.
“Gary’s retirement has raised plenty of eyebrows,” an insider tells Woman’s Day.
“He’s in his seventies, sure, but it’s still surprising that he walked away now – unless Keith actually asked him to. “The way things have been going with AI and open-source music, it’s understandable that Keith needs to upgrade his management team.”
A fond farewell
In a gushing farewell statement, Keith told Page Six, “It was extraordinary, what we were able to accomplish together, and I’ll forever be grateful for the creative and collaborative spirit we were all a part of for so long. “I’m so grateful to Gary – and my entire Borman Nashville family – for the most incredible and successful time together.”
Gary repaid the compliment, telling the same US news outlet that he and Keith “shared a journey not unlike brothers”. Keith has now signed with Crush Music, which manages Miley Cyrus and Green Day, while Gary has shuttered his management company permanently after 50 years.
The challenge of loyalty
“The hardest part for Keith is his loyalty to Gary,” says our insider.
“Keith’s desperate to move on and that wasn’t going to happen if he kept the same team that worked so closely with Nicole’s.”
A busy tour ahead
While Keith is eyeing a busy few months ahead with US tour dates lined up from March to August, it’s significant that despite his current downtime, he’s not spent any time with his daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith, 15, lately.
His divorce dictates they spend the vast majority of their time – 306 days per year – with Nicole, 58, who recently cruised to Antarctica with the girls. Meanwhile, Keith has been back in Nashville, living his solitary bachelor life, which has friends concerned.
“He’s now living a life that’s been completely purged of everyone to do with his past life,” our insider notes.
Dismissing the rumours
While rumours have swirled about much-younger potential love interests, both women linked to Keith – guitarist Maggie Baugh, 25, and country star Karley Scott Collins, 26 – have laughingly denied them. But now it appears Keith is determined to start turning things around by focusing on the one thing that has always made him happier than anything else – music.
Amid renovating his recording studio in Nashville, he’s also said to be planning a new album inspired by his break-up with Nicole.
Regaining control
“Keith’s tired of his career coming second, so he’s taking this fresh start very seriously,” says our insider.
“He’s excited by all the new faces working with him. “Friends might fear he’s going off the rails, but he’s doing everything he can to stay on them. “It’s the first sign that he’s getting over his post-divorce slump. Keith was becoming scarily isolated for a wee while there.”
