Keith Urban Pays Sweet Tribute to Nicole Kidman at AFI Awards – Inside Their Love Story

On April 27, 2024, Nicole Kidman was honored with the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award at a star-studded gala held at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. The esteemed award honors an individual whose career in film or television has significantly enriched American culture.

The award, which is also considered one of the highest honors for a career in film, recognized Kidman’s significant contributions to the art of cinema. Her exceptional talent and dedication to her craft have earned her accolades from peers and critics alike.

The event was attended by other incredible actors such as Ava DuVernay, Morgan Freeman, Meryl Streep, Cynthia Erivo, Joey King, and Jane Seymour, who celebrated Kidman’s award-winning career as well as her lasting impression on the moving arts.

Speeches and tributes honoring Kidman came from the mouths of her fellow movie stars such as Reese Witherspoon and Zoe Saldana. Streep, who is the 32nd recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award, praised Kidman’s exceptional talent and impressive body of work.

Afterward, Kidman accepted her prestigious award to a standing ovation. The actress expressed gratitude for the opportunities that enhanced her craft and gave her a sense of belonging, albeit temporary.

She thanked those who welcomed her into their movie families and appreciated the realization of her childhood dream. Kidman noted that it is the roles she played as a child in drama school that gave her the courage to pick risky characters, which some didn’t believe she would play.

Kidman added, “It is a privilege to make films. And glorious to have made films and television with these storytellers who allowed me to run wild and be free and play all of these unconventional women.”

As the first Australian to receive the AFI Life Achievement Award, the actress also said she was honored to be on the same list as other great names and at the same time be able to represent her country.

She gushed, “When you look at this list of honorees, I am astounded. And to be the first Australian, I’m very very proud of that.”

The event ended with attendees receiving a special commemorative book celebrating Kidman’s career. Guests were also introduced to a new online tribute site at AFI.com/NicoleKidman, chronicling her life and achievements.

Still, a touching part of the event that made it so sweet and memorable was when Kidman’s husband, Keith Urban reflected on the early days of his nearly 18-year fairytale romance with his wife.

Urban recalled that they first met in January 2005 at an event called G’Day Los Angeles, where they were both being honored. He admitted feeling star-struck by the presence of the “Big Little Lies” star, despite his attempts to appear composed. The two chatted very briefly at the event.

Urban divulged, “I was trying to play it cool, but inside I’d felt like I snuck into the wrong ball simply because Nic had such a truly otherworldly aura about her, and I felt like I was meeting a bit of a real-life princess. I know a lot of you can relate to that.”

As much as he was smitten and shy, Urban managed to get Kidman’s number, which he nervously carried in his pocket for over a week before calling her. He often pulled out the tiny piece of paper to look at it but felt unworthy of her attention.

“As prone as I might have been at the time to all sorts of delusional thinking, even I couldn’t stretch that to think that this extraordinary woman would ever see anything in a guy like me. And that’s not me being humble, that’s literally how I saw myself and her,” Urban explained.

Urban recounted how he eventually mustered the courage to call Kidman, leading to conversations that felt as if they had known each other forever.

He described her as a lively and joyful girl from the Sydney suburbs, despite her Honolulu birthplace, emphasizing her quintessential Australian spirit.

This initial connection revealed a deeper, more relatable side of Kidman, contrasting with his initial perception of her as an unattainable figure.

Keith Urban’s sweet speech about the start of his relationship with Kidman touched many fans. One fan remarked, “Every husband should talk this way about his wife.”

Another fan, who saw how Kidman reacted to the speech in a video shared online, noted, “She had tears in her eyes…. So precious.”

Another fan commented, “I love how they look at each other! Real love!” A different fan highlighted Urban’s role in Kidman’s life, “He rescued her after Tom Cruise tried to destroy her. Keith is her champion.”

One more fan added, “These two were meant for each other ❤️❤️.” Finally, another fan said, “They rescued each other 🥰.”

Aside from Urban’s nostalgic trip down memory lane, which fans loved, the event was special to Kidman because her daughters with her husband, Sunday Rose, 15, and Faith Margaret, 13, joined them.

The two girls graced the red carpet alongside their parents as they took photos on the press line. Kidman mentioned her happiness in having her daughters accompany her to the event, noting that they were now old enough to understand and appreciate the significance of the occasion.

“My mom is not here, but she’s watching the live stream. And so to be able to do this with my family around me gives it such balance… it’s very grounding,” Kidman expressed.

Kidman and Urban have built a family where they support each other through good and hard times. When Urban was battling alcoholism, the actress staged an intervention just before her husband’s 40th birthday in 2006.

The two, who tied the knot in June 2006, had only been married for four months by then. Additionally, Urban had not been able to recognize his alcoholism for a long time.

He expounded, “I didn’t drink like my dad, so I compared everything to him. So it just took a long time for me. But I was able to finally make the right choice in my life, that I wish my dad would have made.”

So, before Nicole Kidman’s intervention, Urban balanced a tightrope between being a disciplined workaholic, never performing or recording while impaired, and a person struggling with alcoholism and drug addiction.

During periods of intense work, his career thrived, with opportunities pouring in. However, when his addiction took over, his music would be sidelined for days until he managed to regain control. “I was a real binge drinker,” admitted Urban.

Before getting out of the pits, things got worse for Urban when he moved in with a roommate who freebased cocaine in Nashville. This move blurred the line between his professional and personal struggles.

In Australia, he had only been around pot smokers, but in Nashville, he was suddenly exposed to someone freebasing cocaine, a completely different and quickly entrancing world.

It took Kidman’s intervention and a very personal moment that Urban did not divulge, for him to eventually check into Betty Ford Clinic.

Since then, Urban has been committed to his recovery program for over 15 years, a decision he’s grateful for as it saved him from losing everything.

Kidman and Urban have overcome significant personal challenges to build a strong and happy family. With their gorgeous daughters, they continue to support each other through all of life’s ups and downs.

Their careers are flourishing, and their bond remains a testament to their resilience and dedication, both to each other and their craft.