Keith Urban was sensitive about living in the shadow of his wife’s fame, a journalist claimed as he recalled the moment the singer “snapped” at his question about Nicole Kidman.

A journalist has speculated Keith Urban grew tired of being overshadowed by his Hollywood star wife, as he recalled an interview where the singer “snapped” following questions about Nicole Kidman.

Veteran writer for The Times Ed Potton weighed in to the shock news Urban and Kidman had split after 19 years together, later confirmed when the actress filed for divorce.

Potton recalled interviewing Urban last year, when the 57-year-old was quick to cut off questions about Kidman.

“When we spoke, it was very clear that the poor guy was totally sick of being asked about his much more famous wife,” Potton said in a video shared on TikTok.

He said Urban was charming in the interview and clearly happy talking about his music, but as soon as Kidman was brought up he “raised a shield”.

Keith Urban is presented with the Roll of Renown Award and a Golden Guitar at the Golden Guitar Awards in January 2025. Picture: Rohan Kelly. Picture: Rohan Kelly
Potton said the country artist “snapped” when trying to ask about the intervention Kidman staged that saved him from alcohol addiction early in their marriage.

“When I brought up that intervention, he looked me in the eye and he snapped,” the journalist said, adding that Urban replied: “I just don’t want to give you guys a headline about my wife”.

“He never lost his cool but there was a deep sensitivity underneath that brush off. He knew the drill: He talks about his career, I talk about his global star wife. You know, that was the deal. It was transactional.

“And the brutal truth was he was right to be sensitive. Without Nicole, I wouldn’t have been there. The reason we were interviewing him was because he was married to her and his marriage undeniably boosted his success and his sobriety. He knew he owed a part of his story to her.”

The reporter said the last straw was when he made one more attempt to coax Urban into speaking about Kidman, asking if he was proud of her.

But Urban responded “very”, with a “level of frustration I won’t forget”, Potton said.

“’We’ve had the best conversation’ he said, ‘and at the very end, you’re going to give it one more swing to see if I’ll talk about my wife. I’m not going to talk about her.’”

Potton argued Urban’s “snippyness” wasn’t directed at the media, but at the internal frustration of having to his life and career “constantly framed by his wife”, adding “you could see how it would take its toll”.

He also suggested the signs there was unhappiness from Urban’s side in the relationship were there a year ago.