Additional Coverage:
- Keith Urban changes Nicole Kidman-inspired lyric to name his guitarist Maggie before divorce announcement (foxnews.com)
Keith Urban Alters Iconic Lyric Days Before Nicole Kidman Divorce Filing
Country music superstar Keith Urban is making headlines after a recent live performance saw him swap a key lyric in his hit song, “The Fighter.” The change comes just days before news broke of his impending divorce from actress Nicole Kidman, ending their nearly two-decade marriage.
During a recent concert, Urban, 57, altered the words of his 2017 duet, originally performed with Carrie Underwood. The track, famously inspired by his soon-to-be ex-wife, traditionally features the line, “When they’re tryna get to you, baby, I’ll be the fighter.” However, fans noted Urban sang, “When they’re tryna get to you, Maggie, I’ll be your guitar player,” referencing 25-year-old Maggie Baugh, a musician in his touring band.
The moment was captured on video by Baugh herself, who posted it to Instagram on Saturday, September 26, with the caption, “Did he just say that,” accompanied by an eyes emoji. This viral clip surfaced just ahead of the September 30 announcement that Kidman, 57, had officially filed for divorce from Urban.
Court documents obtained indicate Kidman cited “irreconcilable differences” and ongoing “marital difficulties” as reasons for the split. She also listed September 30 as their date of separation. Furthermore, the “Big Little Lies” star requested to be named the primary residential parent for their two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, seeking a parenting plan that would grant her 306 days a year with the children, compared to Urban’s 59 days annually.
The lyric change has sparked a flurry of reactions from fans online. Some expressed strong disapproval, with one comment reading, “Nicole deserves better,” and another stating, “Wow, that song was made for Nicole.
For him to do that tells us what he’s really all about. That’s just disgusting.”
Conversely, many fans defended Urban, suggesting the change was a tribute to a talented bandmate. Comments included, “I think he really loves having you on stage with him, Maggie. Keith recognizes talent when he sees and hears it,” and “Nobody knows what happened between Keith and Nicole… Leave it alone.”
“The Fighter” has long held a special significance as a personal ode to Kidman. In 2017, Urban told Billboard that the song was “all from a conversation my wife and I had early on in our relationship,” describing it as “really like a vow” to protect her “female and tender” spirit.
Urban and Baugh have been touring together throughout the summer on the “High and Alive World Tour,” which is scheduled to continue through mid-October, with additional dates extending into 2026.