Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman Visit ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’
Keith Urban appeared charmingly shy when he walked out onto the stage of the 'Oprah Winfrey Show' for the November 29 episode. But he opened up to the talk show queen about very personal events of the past four years -- during which he married actress Nicole Kidman, won his battle with substance abuse and welcomed his first child. Keith, who was joined by his lovely wife on the 'Oprah' set, talked about how intervention worked, how daughter Sunday Rose touches his heart, and how his new album 'Get Closer' is a love letter to Nicole. Here are some highlights from the show:
Keith on the root cause of his alcohol and cocaine addictions: "Ultimately, for me, it was love. [That's the thing that I was missing in my life -- love for myself.] I look back now and realize that ... Nic has brought so much into my life. Early in our relationship, we were sitting on a park bench and I said to her -- and I don't know where this came from -- I said, 'How is your heart?' And she said, 'It is open.' Oh my gosh. It instantly made me ask myself, 'Is mine? Is my heart open? Or is it 80 percent open, but I've got a little exit strategy? If I do, then why is that?'"
On why the latest rehab worked: "That was my third time [in rehab] in eight years. I did everything differently this time. I just went off the rails. I knew I needed help and I needed a new direction in my life, and I cannot do this anymore."
On what he would have done if Nicole had left him to deal with his addictions on his own: "I'm just so glad she didn't. She made the decision to turn around and initiate this intervention. The love in that room was just right, and I said, 'Let's put the cuff on and go.' It was Nicole and a small group of people I'm close to in Nashville. You can't do this for somebody. I couldn't do this just for her ...To see love in action to that degree in that way, I had never experienced love in that way. [I canceled a scheduled concert] and left that night. The rest is very personal."
On meeting Nicole for the first time, backstage at a 'G'Day LA' event: "I swear to you, she glided across the room ... like floated. I don't know how she did it. It's like she's standing there, and she didn't walk. It was out of this world ... I plucked up the courage to go and [say hello], very nervously, and trying to be all cool. [I] introduced myself and she was very pleasant and everything, and there was that moment of waiting for the next thing to be said -- of which I didn't know if I was bothering her or what was going on -- so I just sort of said, 'Well, nice to meet you' and I just walked away! ... [Later] I went back over and apologized, and we started talking and just really clicked."
On their daughter, Sunday Rose, and how she has changed his life: "The selflessness that comes with [the love for a child and] that beautiful realization brought me more out of myself and aware of other people, be it my wife or our daughter. I talk to Nic about that, my heart just hurts [with love]."
On his new album, 'Get Closer': "It is the most enjoyable album I ever made. Everything just lined up. I was faced with a decision about four years ago when my life had gotten completely unmanageable. I had to make a decision which way to take. I thought, 'I really want to be courageous and adventuresome. Let's take the road less traveled this time.'"
Nicole on moving to Nashville for Keith: "Suddenly, I was able to be taken to Tennessee, which was perfect for me because I can go out, I can hike ... I can just go down to Green Hills and Whole Foods ... It's a very, very easy existence for us. Some people like the much higher sort of more glamorous lifestyle. For us, we just prefer a much quieter, private [life]."
Nicole on the love letter Keith wrote to her in his new album's liner notes: "He has got a way with words. The thing that really touches me is that he says, 'Let me put it into action.'
Watch Our Day in the Life With Keith Urban Video