Country music star Keith Urban has publicly addressed the swirling speculation that a recent change to his song lyrics was a cryptic message about his divorce from actress Nicole Kidman. The couple, who were married for nearly two decades, announced their separation earlier this year, sending shockwaves through their fanbase. The rumors gained significant traction after a video surfaced online showing Urban altering a lyric during a live performance, but the singer is now urging fans not to read into his artistic choices.
The incident occurred during a performance of his song “The Fighter,” a track famously written about the early days of his relationship with Kidman. Urban changed the line “When they’re tryna get to you, baby, I’ll be the fighter” to “When they’re tryna get to you, Maggie I’ll be your guitar player,” a shout-out to his guitarist, Maggie Baugh. The change was immediately noted by fans, many of whom interpreted it as a deliberate and pointed departure from the song’s original, romantic meaning tied to his wife.
However, during the final stop of his High and Alive World Tour in Nashville, Urban directly confronted the gossip from the stage. Before performing his song “You’ll Think Of Me,” he clarified that altering lyrics is a long-standing habit, not a new development inspired by his personal life. He stated plainly, “I’ve been covering it like this for a long time,” before singing the modified lyrics. This assertion is backed by reports from outlets like PEOPLE magazine, which noted he changed lyrics for a performance with Carrie Underwood back in 2017.
Urban’s decision to address the rumor head-on highlights the intense scrutiny that follows a high-profile separation. “The Fighter” holds a special place in the narrative of his relationship with Kidman; he previously shared that the song was born from a conversation about holding tighter during tough times. This context made the lyric switch particularly resonant for fans looking for clues about the split. By explaining his creative process, Urban is attempting to separate his art from his personal turmoil, reminding the public that a live performance is a dynamic and often spontaneous act.
