Keith Urban returned to the spotlight with an energetic performance at the 2025 Country Music Association Awards, marking one of his biggest public appearances since news of his divorce from Nicole Kidman surfaced nearly two months ago.
The country star opened the show alongside host Lainey Wilson, taking the stage in an all-black look that felt familiar and intentional.
Lainey first warmed up the room with a series of country favorites and mixed I need you now, Redneck womanand a moment with Ella Langley as she celebrated her Single of the Year win You look like you love me.
By the time Keith joined her Where the Blacktop endsthe crowd was ready, and he added a little twist to the performance by singing that he was “CMAs-bound,” in keeping with his recent pattern of updating lyrics live.
It’s a habit he showed on his High and alive tour in September.
During the show he changed the lyrics of The Fighter to shout out to guitarist Maggie Baugh and say, “If they try to reach you, Maggie, I’ll be your guitarist.”
Since the original song was inspired by his wedding, the adaptation fueled speculation.
But country singer Alexandra Kay quickly quashed the rumors.
She said, “I know that’s absolutely not true,” adding that the media was unfair to both of them. She also noted that Maggie likes to date someone else.
“I met her boyfriend,” Alexandra said. “She is very happy.”
Keith, who shares daughters Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret with Nicole, has kept his focus on work and performing.
Meanwhile, Nicole has opened up about navigating life after divorce, telling Harper’s Bazaar that one of the gifts of experience is that it can get through difficult moments.
“You say, ‘Oh, I’ve been here before. I really know how to handle this now,'” she said, explaining that even if something feels “painful” or “devastating,” there’s always a way forward.
Both seem determined to move forward bright and steady, and for Keith, stepping back onto the CMA stage was a reminder that the music hasn’t stopped.
