For nearly two decades, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban embodied Hollywood’s rarest export: a rock-solid romance that weathered fame’s storms with hand-holding at galas and gushing interviews about soulmate bliss. The Oscar-winning actress and the Grammy-laden country crooner, married since 2006, shared two daughters and a narrative of redemption—Kidman rebounding from her high-profile split with Tom Cruise, Urban conquering his demons with her as his anchor. But in a bombshell that has tabloids buzzing and fans reeling, sources close to the couple now claim their fairy tale unraveled years ago, eroded by a “major loss of intimacy” that turned passion into routine. As Kidman filed for divorce on September 30, citing irreconcilable differences, insiders paint a picture of emotional drift, clashing schedules, and a confrontation that left the “Big Little Lies” star blindsided.

The end, if reports hold, wasn’t sudden. “The intimacy isn’t there—they’re just going through the motions of being married,” one source told the Daily Mail, echoing sentiments from multiple outlets in the days following the announcement. Urban, 57, reportedly initiated the separation, pulling away quietly over the summer while Kidman, 58, fought to salvage what she saw as her forever love. “Keith had to call her out that he isn’t happy,” the insider continued, noting the couple’s grueling lives—her jet-setting for films like the erotic thriller “Babygirl,” his endless tours—left little room for reconnection. By mid-2025, Urban had reportedly moved out, setting up in a Nashville bachelor pad, though the pair agreed on a parenting plan granting Kidman primary custody of daughters Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14: 306 days to his 59.

Kidman, ever the poised professional, has kept public silence on the split, but her recent candor about sexuality feels prescient in hindsight. In a October 8 interview, she opened up about embracing “provocative roles” as a form of liberation, insisting intimacy discussions belong “out in the open, not just behind closed doors.” Fans on X (formerly Twitter) couldn’t help but connect the dots, with one post from @BoredPanda musing, “Nicole Kidman talks about intimacy and provocative roles with no filter amid Keith Urban divorce.” The timing stings: Her “Babygirl” role—a steamy affair between a CEO and her young intern—drew Oscar buzz but allegedly strained their home life. Urban cut short a July interview when pressed on her on-screen passion, sources say, blurring lines between art and reality.

The couple’s origin story was pure serendipity laced with urgency. They met in January 2005 at a Los Angeles G’Day USA gala, Kidman fresh off her Cruise divorce, Urban nursing a career resurgence. Sparks flew months later; by May 2006, he proposed. Their June wedding in Sydney was intimate—friends like Hugh Jackman and Naomi Watts among the 40 guests—followed by a vow renewal in 2018 for their daughters’ sake. Early years brimmed with red-carpet smooches and joint appearances, like Urban’s 2018 ACM Awards hosting gig where he quipped about Kidman’s “endless legs.” She credited him with saving her post-Cruise: “Keith pulled me through,” she told PEOPLE in 2024, calling their bond “deep, deep love.”

But whispers of trouble simmered. Urban’s past battles with addiction tested them early—he entered rehab just four months post-wedding, emerging stronger with Kidman’s support. Their Nashville estate, a sprawling two-acre haven bought in 2008, became a pandemic refuge in 2020, where they hunkered down with the girls amid global lockdowns. Yet, as tours resumed and Kidman’s projects piled up—”Expats,” “The Perfect Couple”—distance crept in. “Keith never sees Nicole, either she’s filming or he’s on tour,” a Cosmopolitan source lamented. By 2024, insiders hinted at “fading intimacy,” with one telling SheKnows the “Babygirl” shoot marked a turning point: Urban reportedly struggled separating her “liberating” steamy scenes from their bedroom.

The divorce filing hit like a plot twist. Kidman, blindsided, has been “crushing” per Yahoo sources, having poured “everything” into the marriage after past heartbreaks. Urban, meanwhile, faces Nashville gossip: A Daily Mail insider claims “the rumor is he’s with a younger woman in the business,” a mystery fueling speculation. No name’s surfaced, but it echoes past Hollywood tropes—Kidman once weathered Cruise-era rumors herself. Their asset split looms large: Co-owned properties include a $3.5 million Sydney beach house, a Beverly Hills mansion, and the Nashville spread, potentially sparking disputes as Reality Tea reports.

Public reaction’s a mix of shock and sympathy. X posts from early October, like @Popstar_Parade’s video recap—”amid whispers of irreconcilable differences, fading intimacy, and rumors of Keith moving on”—garnered thousands of views, with users lamenting, “They were goals.” Irish Independent’s Tanya Sweeney pondered in an op-ed if PDA overload masked deeper issues: “Were ‘intimacy issues’ the reason?” Fans rally for reconciliation—”There’s a world where they can reconcile,” per sources—citing their history of weathering storms. Urban’s next birthday in October and holiday season could test that, insiders say.

For the daughters, stability’s paramount. The parenting pact minimizes disruption, with both parents vowing co-parenting harmony. Sunday, a budding artist eyeing fashion school, and Faith, the IVF miracle baby, have been shielded, though the family’s Nashville roots—complete with Urban’s music studio—may tug at divisions. Kidman’s Australian heritage adds layers; she’s hinted at retreating Down Under post-split.

Experts weigh in on the intimacy angle. Relationship therapist Dr. Laura Berman, speaking to IBTimes UK, notes celebrity unions often falter on “lust lag”: “They fell out of love, but more tellingly, out of lust.” Busy lives amplify it—Kidman’s global shoots versus Urban’s arena tours left “bedroom action sorely lacking,” per reports. Yet, hope flickers: Separation as a reset? “If this gets them back together, amazing,” the Daily Mail source mused.

As Nashville’s neon hums on, Kidman soldiers—promoting “Babygirl” with poise, Urban teasing new music sans specifics. Their 19 years weren’t flawless, but they were fierce: A Kiwi-Aussie power duo defying odds. In Hollywood’s churn, where splits are scripted, this one’s raw—proof even icons grapple with the quiet killers of connection. Will time heal, or seal the end? For now, the spotlight dims, leaving fans—and perhaps the exes—yearning for an encore.