From the outside looking in, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s divorce in Tennessee seemed almost suspiciously calm. No explosive courtroom scenes, no headline-grabbing accusations, no messy public unraveling. But according to insiders, the quiet resolution masked a deeply emotional tug-of-war—one that was shaped not just by the couple’s nearly 20-year marriage, but by a chapter of Kidman’s life that dates all the way back to her divorce from Tom Cruise.
Sources say the January 6 settlement was anything but simple behind closed doors in Tennessee, with one issue causing the most friction: custody of their two teenage daughters, Sunday and Faith. Urban reportedly pushed for equal parenting time, a request that immediately rattled Kidman. Not because she wanted to shut him out, but because history has a way of reopening old wounds. “She was crazy to marry him,” one person commented, not revealing which ex-husband they were referring to.
Those close to the negotiations say Nicole Kidman’s reaction was deeply tied to her experience divorcing Tom Cruise in 2001. At the time, she agreed to joint custody of their adopted children, Isabella and Connor. Ultimately, both children chose to live primarily with Cruise, a decision that led to years of estrangement and lingering heartbreak for Kidman. Insiders say that loss stayed with her and heavily influenced how fiercely she fought this time around.
Nicole Kidman And Keith Urban’s Divorce and Custody Drama Shaped By Tom Cruise
Nicole also wanted the kids more because she wasn’t given that benefit when she divorced Tom Cruise,” a second revealed, per Daily Mail.
According to one source, Kidman wanted more time with Sunday and Faith because she wasn’t given that chance before. The fear wasn’t abstract; it was personal. This wasn’t about winning or control, it was about not reliving the pain of watching her children drift away. Add in the fact that Urban’s touring schedule is far less predictable than Kidman’s acting work, and the scales tipped even further. She’s known to keep a home-centered routine when not on set, and her kids can accompany her during filming far more easily than they could trail a concert tour.
In the end, Kidman prevailed. Court documents show Urban will spend 59 days a year with his daughters, while Kidman will have them for the remaining 306. She also remains in the family’s Nashville home, a seven-bedroom estate the couple purchased in 2008 to raise their girls, while Urban moved into a nearby residence last summer. Friends say the reality of that arrangement has hit him hard, especially after spending the holidays apart while Kidman took the girls to Australia.
The Tennessee Divorce Continues To Play Out
Urban’s absence from Faith’s 15th birthday reportedly cut deep, with friends describing it as a jolt of emotional reality. Nashville, once their shared safe haven, has become an awkward middle ground where they now live parallel lives, separate errands, separate routines, and no shared appearances since mid-2025.
While Kidman has visibly rallied around her daughters, stepping out with them publicly and leaning into motherhood, Urban appears to be coping through work. Tour dates, award shows, and performances have become his structure as he adjusts to a life that looks nothing like the one he imagined. Friends say he’s not rushing into anything romantic, despite rumors, and is instead focusing on music and finding his footing again.
Still, it’s impossible to ignore how much Tom Cruise’s past loomed over this very present-day divorce. Without ever stepping into the room, his history with Kidman shaped the outcome in a profound way. And as the dust settles in Tennessee, one thing is clear: this wasn’t just the end of a marriage, it was a mother determined not to lose her children twice.
Lola Wheeler 
Sofia Bassett 
Kenna Raye 
