Country singer Keith Urban, 57, performed on October 2 at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, omitting a love song inspired by his estranged wife amid Nicole Kidman divorce news. The well-known track, “The Fighter,” which he co-wrote with Carrie Underwood, was left out of his setlist shortly after their separation became public earlier that week.
Details on the Song “The Fighter” and Its Personal Connection
Originally released in 2016, “The Fighter” features lyrics that depict loyalty and support in a relationship, with lines such as:
“What if I fall? / I won’t let you fall / What if I cry? / I’ll never make you cry / And if I get scared? / I’ll hold you tighter / When they’re tryna get to you, baby, I’ll be the fighter.”
Keith Urban has previously explained that the song was inspired by his relationship with Kidman. In a 2017 interview with The Boot, he said,
“It was just a very quick, quick song to write, because I literally thought about Nic and I and our relationship in the beginning, and some of the things we had said all went into that song,”
showing how deeply personal the track was during their marriage.
Tour Changes Reflect Shift in Personal Life
Urban is currently on his High and Alive World Tour, where he had performed “The Fighter” before. On recent occasions, he altered the lyric to pay tribute to his guitarist Maggie Baugh instead of the original subject:
“When they’re tryna get to you, Maggie, I’ll be your guitar player,”
However, Baugh, 25, was notably absent from the stage during the October 2 show, marking one of the first times the song was omitted entirely since their separation was announced.
Official Confirmation of Divorce and Custody Arrangements
On September 29, Us Weekly confirmed that Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, 58, had separated after 19 years of marriage. Kidman filed for divorce the following day, citing irreconcilable differences and naming the filing date as their official separation date.
The actress requested to be the primary residential parent of their two daughters, Sunday, 17, and Faith, 14. Kidman also has two children, Bella, 32, and Connor, 30, from her previous marriage to Tom Cruise.
Parenting Plan Gives Kidman Primary Custody While Sharing Decision-Making
Nicole Kidman submitted a marital dissolution agreement signed by both parties. This agreement includes a parenting plan stipulating that their daughters will spend 306 days annually with Kidman and 59 days with Urban, including alternating weekends. Both parents agreed to jointly make all major decisions affecting Sunday and Faith, with the agreement specifying,
“in the unlikely event that the parties do not agree on a major decision for either minor child, [Kidman] shall have final decision-making authority.”
Implications of the Split for Their Public and Personal Lives
Keith Urban’s decision to exclude “The Fighter” from his concert reflects the complicated emotions surrounding their breakup, especially given the song’s significance to their past relationship. As the couple finalizes divorce proceedings with a clear custody plan, fans and observers anticipate how both artists will navigate their careers and personal lives separately.
With Urban continuing his world tour and Kidman focusing on raising their daughters as the primary parent, this separation marks a dramatic turn after nearly two decades of marriage, highlighting the challenges even high-profile couples face.
