Last week’s final divorce hearing in Nashville hit Keith Urban hard, and friends say he’s “panicking” over what he believes is the “biggest mistake” of his life.
The Kiwi-born country singer split from wife Nicole Kidman, both 58, in September after 19 years of marriage, and sources say “seeing it all there in black and white” still doesn’t seem real to Keith.
“The fact Nicole didn’t even turn up to the divorce decree and purposefully planned things so that she was on a flight back from Australia at the time was like a stomach punch to Keith,” tells one insider.
“It was confirmation she can’t even stand to be in the same room as him.”
Court papers reveal the couple had already decided to split their $488 million property portfolio, including their Nashville ranch and New South Wales farm, but friends claim it was having his time with Sunday, 17, and Faith, 15, broken down into a handful of days a year that has changed everything.
The divorce hits hard
“The papers made it hit home and he’s not sure if he can keep going,” a close pal confides.
“There’s a growing part of him that’s in full panic mode, wanting to undo it all and get his family back.”
Friends reveal each devastating step in the divorce has been “like torture” for Keith, who’s now seriously considering a dramatic plan of action – a public appeal to Nicole to give him a second chance.
The friend adds that the papers have triggered him.
Hit hard, and considering his move
“It truly hit him like a truck and now he wants to do something about it. He knows he can’t go begging to Nicole as that’s a huge turn-off, but he’s considering everything from an open letter to a TV sit-down interview, where he’ll open up about his mistakes and how much he misses his family.”
Keith spent Christmas alone, while Nicole was with Sunday in Sydney. He also missed his youngest’s 15th birthday on 28 December and friends say his bond with the girls feels fragile.
Our source adds, “He’s admitted he lost the plot for a while – tour life, distance, stupid pride… Now he’s desperate to tell Nicole he knows that he blew it.”
Desperate to be heard
“He has already received massive offers for his first post-divorce interview and usually said no, but he’s in bad shape and frustrated that no one is listening. “He’s sick of communicating through lawyers and he wants Nicole to hear his side straight from him. He’s hoping if she sees how sorry he is, it might open the door to talking and even reconciling on better terms – stronger than they were before.”
While Nicole is thriving and was glowing with post-split confidence when she was back in Australia recently, pals reckon Keith hasn’t given up hope.
“He’s realising he had a role to play in the erosion of their marriage,” admits one friend.
“He misses her. He misses her companionship, her undying support and being the guy she always wants to come home to. “The girls are his world too and he barely got through Christmas without them. He’d do anything, including going public, to try to fix this.”
Sunday Rose’s name change
After a sad and lonely Christmas without his girls, insiders say Keith’s relationship with his daughters, especially Sunday, is suffering.
A friend spills, “Since the divorce, Sunday has struggled to connect with her dad. She’s angry at him and part of her wants to punish him for breaking up their perfect world. As for rumours she’ll drop his name like Shiloh did to Brad Pitt, she’s already done it. She’s not yet filed the legal paperwork, but her mum gave her the best showbiz name. Dropping her famous parents’ last names is her attempt to try to make it on her own and not anything Keith should take personally, but he will.”
‘Behaviour’ divorce clause revealed!
Nashville property
Rural Aussie home
Nicole and Keith’s divorce settlement has revealed their eye-watering salaries – each earns a reportedly monthly income in excess of $172,000 – and also their incredible net worth, with Nicole amassing a $752 million fortune, compared to Keith’s $228 million.
According to the filing, the former couple agreed to waive all alimony and spousal support, deciding to pay zero dollars in child support for their daughters. Per their agreement, Nicole will see the girls for 306 days of the year, with Keith given 59 days or “every other weekend” with his kids.
The couple will “encourage each child to continue to love the other parent and be comfortable in both families”.
They will also divide all their investments and their sizeable property portfolio.
