Why Keith Urban's Marriage To Nicole Kidman Helped Save Him
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's personalities help complement each other nearly perfectly. The "Being the Ricardos" actor has said that Urban's admittedly laidback attitude has helped her. "He's pretty much the flip side of neurotic," she told WSJ Magazine in 2020 while discussing their marriage. The couple often compromises their work schedules in order to make their home life more stable. "We don't have the answers, but the one thing we do know is that we will not jeopardize us," Kidman told the publication when asked about their work-life balance.
Communication is vital in making any relationship work, especially between two A-listers. Their marriage is far from one-sided, and the pair focuses on raising each other up. "We're always working through stuff, but it's very much love based, so there's an enormous amount of give and take," Kidman told Harper's Bazaar in 2021. "I want him to have the best life he can have, and he responds the same way," the actor said about Urban.
In fact, the "Eyes Wide Shut" star insists that settling down with Urban has been a Godsend. "I met him later in life and it's been the best thing that's ever happened to me," Kidman said while appearing on "CBS Mornings" in January. She spoke about how their differences off-set one another. Meanwhile, Urban has opened up about how marrying Kidman was life-changing.
The valuable lesson Nicole Kidman taught Keith Urban
Keith Urban famously had issues with substance use in the past, and has spoken about his alcohol addiction. Back in 2010, the country superstar spoke about how he felt "a huge hole" inside and tried to fill it by abusing substances, but his wife Nicole Kidman helped fill that void with love. "I look back now and realize Nic has taught me so much and brought so much into my life and opened my eyes in so many ways," he said on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," as he mentioned how Kidman helped show him to love himself.
Early on in their marriage, Urban was still drinking heavily until Kidman had an intervention for him. It was in October 2006 — the same year that the pair tied the knot — that Urban turned what he thought was going to be a 30-day rehab stay into a 3-month one, according to Today. He spent time in the Betty Ford Center and shared in a message on his website afterwards, "My wife stayed extraordinarily strong and loving, and my friends and family were there, and man, it's just been really overwhelming."
A decade later, Urban still credited the love and support from his wife as being the key to his sobriety. "I was spiritually awoken with her," he told Rolling Stone Australia in 2016. "And for the first time in my life, I could shake off the shackles of addiction."
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).