Additional Coverage:
- Keith Urban moved to tears by personal birthday gift with family tribute following Nicole Kidman divorce (foxnews.com)
Keith Urban Gets Emotional Over Heartfelt Birthday Gift Amidst Tour Wrap and Divorce News
Nashville, TN – Country superstar Keith Urban, who turned 58 on October 26th, received a truly moving early birthday present that struck a deep chord with the artist, literally and figuratively. The thoughtful gift came at the close of his “High and Alive Tour” and just weeks after news broke of Nicole Kidman’s divorce filing, offering a message of hope and healing.
A video shared on fellow singer Chase Matthew’s Instagram account captured the poignant backstage moment at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Matthew, who opened for Urban on the recent tour, surprised the headliner with the custom gift as a token of appreciation. “We’ve had such a blast on tour with you @keithurban, Happy Birthday Brother,” Matthew’s caption read.
The gift in question was a meticulously customized guitar, featuring intricate artwork by cultural artist Sam Mangakahia. Mangakahia is known for transforming personal stories into “living art” on musical instruments, having created pieces for stars like Post Malone and Jelly Roll. However, he explained that Urban’s piece, titled “The Rise of the Phoenix” and his 30th creation, carried a profoundly personal message.
“It touches on your family, things that are important to you, your music, polarity in design, culture, where you grew up,” Mangakahia explained in the video. He further elaborated that the guitar was designed to honor Urban’s life, artistry, and resilience – specifically his “ability to inspire others and [his] fearlessness in attacking [his] dreams.”
As Mangakahia detailed the meaning behind the artwork, cameras captured Urban becoming visibly emotional, wiping away tears before finally opening the case to reveal the stunning instrument.
The tender moment comes as Urban navigates a challenging personal period. On September 30th, Nicole Kidman filed for divorce from Urban, citing “irreconcilable differences” and “marital difficulties” in court documents. Kidman has requested to be named the primary residential parent of their two minor children, proposing a parenting plan that allocates 306 days per year with her and 59 days each year with Urban.
Despite the personal difficulties, Urban made several special nods to his family during his recent performances. Notably, during an October 2nd concert in Hershey, Pennsylvania, while performing his 2024 track, “Heart Like a Hometown,” a slideshow of photos was displayed, which, despite the divorce news, included a picture of Kidman and their two children.