Here’s Why Maggie Baugh Won’t Rejoin Keith Urban’s Tour

In the whirlwind of country music’s ever-evolving narrative, few stories have captured the public’s imagination in 2025 quite like the saga surrounding Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman, and Maggie Baugh. The 25-year-old rising country star and guitarist, who briefly set stages ablaze alongside Urban on his High and Alive World Tour, has found herself at the center of a media storm following Urban’s high-profile divorce from Nicole Kidman. Rumors of romance, cryptic social media posts, and a sudden absence from Urban’s tour have fueled speculation across Nashville and beyond. But why won’t Maggie Baugh be rejoining Keith Urban’s tour? The answer, as it turns out, is a mix of logistics, career ambition, and the unrelenting churn of the rumor mill—none of which align with the scandal-soaked narrative some fans have conjured.

The Rise of Maggie Baugh: A Star in the Making

To understand why Maggie Baugh’s absence from Urban’s tour is making headlines, we first need to know who she is. Born on March 16, 2000, in Boca Raton, Florida, Baugh is a multi-instrumentalist whose prodigious talent was evident early on. By age 11, she was performing at Carnegie Hall, a testament to her precocious musical ability. Despite coming from a non-musical family—her father is a microbiologist, and her mother runs a dog training business—Baugh found solace in music as an outlet for the emotional turbulence of adolescence. “I had to write my feelings down,” she told People in 2021. “I chose music as an outlet instead of doing something horrible… I fell in love with music and pouring my heart out into words.”

At 18, Baugh made the bold move to Nashville, the heart of country music, to chase her dreams. Her hustle paid off quickly. She built a loyal following through her raw songwriting and virtuosic guitar and fiddle playing, eventually catching the eye of industry heavyweights. By 2024, her resume boasted performances at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry, and appearances on major platforms like Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and the Today Show. But it was her collaboration with Keith Urban at the 2024 CMT Music Awards that catapulted her into a new echelon of fame. Impressed by her skills, Urban invited her to join his High and Alive World Tour as a utility player, a role that showcased her versatility on guitar and violin. “Working with Urban was like going to rock star school,” Baugh gushed in an interview with Pittsburgh Music Magazine. “He is a musical encyclopedia.”

The Spark That Lit the Fire: A Lyric Change and a Viral Moment

The High and Alive World Tour, which kicked off in early 2025, was meant to be a triumphant return for Urban, a 57-year-old country music titan known for his electrifying live performances. Maggie Baugh, as a supporting musician, brought a fresh energy to the stage, her guitar riffs and occasional fiddle solos complementing Urban’s high-octane sets. But it was a single moment during a September 25 concert in Chicago that changed everything.

While performing “The Fighter,” a 2016 hit famously written for Nicole Kidman, Urban deviated from the script. Instead of singing the original line, “When they’re tryna get to you, baby, I’ll be the fighter,” he pointed to Baugh and sang, “When they’re tryna get to you, Maggie, I’ll be your guitar player.” The crowd roared, and Baugh, clearly caught off guard, posted the clip to Instagram with the caption, “Did he just say that👀,” accompanied by wide-eyed and exploding-head emojis. The video went viral, amassing thousands of likes and shares, and fans began dissecting the playful exchange for deeper meaning.

To Urban’s longtime fans, the lyric tweak was a red flag. “The Fighter” wasn’t just any song—it was a love letter to Kidman, written during a tumultuous period in their marriage when Urban was battling personal demons. For him to alter the lyrics and direct them at a 25-year-old bandmate raised eyebrows, especially given the timing. Just days later, on September 30, 2025, Nicole Kidman filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences” and listing the date of separation as the filing date. The coincidence was too much for the internet to ignore.

The Divorce Bombshell and the Rumor Mill

The announcement of Urban and Kidman’s divorce after 19 years of marriage sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. The couple, who share two daughters, Sunday Rose (17) and Faith Margaret (14), had long been viewed as one of Hollywood’s most enduring partnerships. Yet, insiders hinted that cracks had been forming for months, with the couple living separately due to Kidman’s filming commitments and Urban’s tour schedule. A source told the Daily Mail that Kidman was “blindsided” by the split, while others whispered that Urban had “already moved on” with a younger woman in the music industry.

Maggie Baugh’s name quickly became the lightning rod for speculation. Social media platforms, particularly Instagram and TikTok, erupted with accusations that she was “the other woman.” Comment sections on her posts filled with vitriol from Kidman’s fans, labeling her a “homewrecker” and vowing to boycott her music. The resurfaced clip of Urban’s lyric change, coupled with a separate April 2025 performance in Las Vegas where he sang “I was born to love you” while pointing at Baugh, only fanned the flames.

Baugh’s father, Chuck Baugh, attempted to quell the rumors. In a Facebook post responding to a TikTok video claiming Maggie was responsible for the divorce, he wrote, “NO. Just No.” When pressed by the Daily Mail, he added, “I don’t know anything about it, other than she’s a guitar player for him. It’s more of a musician thing than a dating thing.” His vague response, however, did little to calm the storm.

The Real Reason: Logistics, Not Drama

Despite the fevered speculation, the truth behind Maggie Baugh’s absence from Keith Urban’s tour is far less salacious. According to multiple sources CLOSE to Urban’s camp, including a report from TMZ, there are “no plans” for Baugh to rejoin the High and Alive World Tour—but not for the reasons fans might think. The decision boils down to logistics and scheduling, not scandal.

Baugh was never a permanent member of Urban’s touring band. Instead, she was a fill-in, stepping in for Natalie Stovall, Urban’s primary utility player, during select shows, such as the Chicago performance where the viral lyric moment occurred. Stovall, a seasoned musician and leader of the band Runaway June, is Urban’s go-to for guitar and fiddle duties. When Stovall returned to the lineup, Baugh’s temporary role concluded. A source told TMZ, “Maggie is NOT a member of the tour band… she was merely asked to appear when Natalie Stovall was unable to perform in Chicago.” Urban also has other musicians he calls upon when needed, further reducing the likelihood of Baugh’s return.

Moreover, Baugh’s own career is taking off, and her schedule reflects her ambition. On October 17, 2025, the same night Urban performed his homecoming show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Baugh was headlining her own concert in Carmel, Indiana. Two nights earlier, she performed at the Grand Ole Opry, a milestone for any country artist. Her solo tour includes additional dates in October and November, such as a show in West Palm Beach, Florida, on October 24. Balancing her commitments as a solo artist with Urban’s tour would be a logistical nightmare, and Baugh appears to be prioritizing her own trajectory.

The Devil Win: Capitalizing on the Spotlight?

While logistics explain her absence, Baugh hasn’t entirely shied away from the attention. After nearly two weeks of social media silence following the divorce news, she returned on October 6 with a cryptic Instagram post: a black square with the words “Announcement coming soon.” Fans speculated wildly—some thought she might confirm a romance with Urban, others predicted she was leaving his band for good. On October 10, Baugh revealed the announcement: a new single titled “The Devil Win,” a moody track about resisting temptation and fighting inner demons. Lyrics like “I don’t know how to heal my soul / Or how to fight this feeling” sparked debate about whether the song was a subtle nod to the Urban rumors.

Industry insiders were quick to point out the savvy timing. “She didn’t start the rumor, but she’s not stopping it either,” a source told ShuterScoop. “Curiosity sells records.” Another insider noted, “Country fans are loyal to Keith and Nicole. If they think Maggie’s cashing in on heartbreak, she’s finished.” Yet, Baugh maintained that the song was about mental health and self-reflection, not romance. Her strategy—letting fans “connect the dots” without confirming or denying the rumors—has undeniably boosted her visibility. Her TikTok following, nearing 400,000, and her growing presence on streaming platforms suggest she’s leveraging the controversy to build her brand.

Urban’s Response: A Shift in Setlist and Silence

Keith Urban, for his part, has remained tight-lipped about the rumors. Following the divorce announcement, he made subtle but telling changes to his performances. At his first show after the filing, on October 2 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Baugh was absent, and Urban notably dropped “The Fighter” from his setlist—a song he once described as a tribute to protecting Kidman during their marriage. He also appeared without his wedding ring and tweaked the lyrics of his breakup anthem “You’ll Think of Me” to include the pointed phrase “your bulls–t reasons,” a move that fans interpreted as a jab at Kidman.

Urban’s cancellation of a Greenville, South Carolina, show on October 16 due to laryngitis added another layer of complexity. Advised by his longtime laryngologist to rest his voice, Urban expressed heartbreak over the decision, emphasizing his gratitude for his fans. “I’m so SO sorry to have to cancel the show… I’ve never taken any of that, or any of YOU for granted,” he wrote. The cancellation, coupled with Baugh’s absence, only intensified speculation, though sources reiterated that her non-participation was unrelated to the rumors.

The Other Side of the Story: Baugh’s Personal Life

Amid the affair allegations, another narrative emerged that further complicates the story. According to Fox News, Baugh appears to be in a romantic relationship with Cameron Coley, a lighting designer. Coley reportedly shared a post earlier in 2025 celebrating a one-year anniversary with Baugh, captioning it, “1 year my love. A lifetime more.” Photos of the couple cuddling and traveling together suggest a stable relationship, undermining claims of a romance with Urban. Baugh’s 2017 comments to Piper’s Picks also resurface as relevant: “There’s always been a rule you can’t date the band members because what happens if we break up?” This stance, combined with her relationship with Coley, casts doubt on the affair narrative.

The Bigger Picture: Nashville’s Rumor Mill and Gender Dynamics

The Maggie Baugh saga highlights a broader issue in the country music industry: the disproportionate scrutiny faced by young women in the spotlight. Baugh, a talented artist in her own right, has been reduced to a tabloid footnote in Urban and Kidman’s divorce narrative. The lack of evidence supporting a romantic link hasn’t stopped fans from vilifying her, while Urban has largely escaped similar vitriol. This dynamic echoes past controversies, where female artists like Kelsea Ballerini or Maren Morris faced outsized criticism for personal decisions compared to their male counterparts.

Moreover, the rumor mill thrives on Nashville’s insular nature. As one insider told Country Thang Daily, “In Nashville, sometimes the silence before the song is just as powerful as the music itself.” Baugh’s decision to stay silent initially, followed by her strategic reentry with “The Devil Win,” reflects an understanding of this ecosystem. She’s navigating a fine line—using the attention to boost her career while avoiding alienating Urban and Kidman’s loyal fanbase.

What’s Next for Maggie Baugh?

As the High and Alive World Tour winds down, with its final show in Nashville later in November 2025, Maggie Baugh’s absence is unlikely to quell speculation entirely. Her solo career, however, is gaining momentum. With performances lined up at prestigious venues and a growing discography that includes introspective tracks like “Dear Me” and “Burn Out,” Baugh is carving out a space as more than just a supporting act. Her collaboration with vocal group Home Free on “From Here to the Moon and Back” showcases her vocal prowess, while her TikTok series Finish the Lick has cemented her as a relatable, engaging figure for younger fans.

Whether Baugh will ever address the Urban rumors directly remains unclear. For now, she’s letting her music do the talking, and the industry is watching closely. As one source put it, “Maggie Baugh got famous the way nobody wants to: as the rumored love interest of a country star in the midst of a high-profile divorce. But there’s no evidence she and Urban are anything more than colleagues.”

Conclusion: A Tale of Timing and Talent

Maggie Baugh’s absence from Keith Urban’s tour isn’t the juicy scandal some hoped for. It’s a story of scheduling conflicts, a young artist prioritizing her solo career, and a media frenzy fueled by a single lyric change. While the rumors have undoubtedly boosted her visibility, they’ve also placed her under a microscope, forcing her to navigate a delicate balance between capitalizing on the moment and maintaining her integrity. For Urban, the focus remains on his music and his fans, even as he processes a personal loss. And for fans, the saga serves as a reminder that in Nashville, the line between truth and speculation is often as blurry as a late-night honky-tonk haze.

As Maggie Baugh steps into the spotlight on her own terms, one thing is certain: her guitar will keep playing, and her star will keep rising—whether or not she ever shares a stage with Keith Urban again.