Keith Urban Honors Wife Nicole Kidman at the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award

Summary

In a heartfelt speech, Keith Urban reflects on his 18-year journey with Nicole Kidman, recounting their first meeting, early challenges, and deep love for each other. He shares personal struggles, including his battle with addiction, and praises Nicole's strength, passion for life, and unwavering support. Urban emphasizes how her mantra of 'Choose Love' has shaped their lives, inspiring both him and their family. Through ups and downs, Nicole's resilience and capacity to love have been a constant source of strength, making their bond stronger than ever.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker met Nick in January 2005 at an event called GID la, where they briefly interacted.
• 😀 The speaker was initially intimidated by Nick's presence, feeling like he was meeting a real-life princess.
• 😀 The speaker carried Nick's phone number in his pocket for over a week before working up the courage to call her.
• 😀 The speaker was nervous about calling Nick, doubting that someone like her could be interested in someone like him.
• 😀 Despite his fears, the speaker eventually called Nick, and they had long conversations, feeling like they'd known each other their whole lives.
• 😀 Nick, originally from Honolulu, was a vivacious, down-to-earth woman from the Sydney suburbs.
• 😀 The speaker and Nick married in June 2006, but shortly after, the speaker's addictions led him to seek treatment at the Betty Ford Center.
• 😀 Despite the challenges, Nick chose love and supported the speaker through his struggles, demonstrating unwavering dedication to their relationship.
• 😀 The speaker admires Nick's passion for life and her ability to express her feelings openly, a quality the speaker is learning from her.
• 😀 Nick embodies the phrase 'Choose Love' in all aspects of her life, even in difficult situations, demonstrating resilience and emotional intelligence.
• 😀 The speaker is deeply in love with Nick, acknowledging their 18-year journey together and looking forward to their 20th anniversary next year.

Q & A

How did Keith Urban feel when he first met Nick?

Keith Urban felt like he had snuck into a royal ball and was meeting a real-life princess. He was in awe of Nick's presence and described her as having an otherworldly aura.

What was Keith's initial reaction after obtaining Nick's phone number?

Keith was nervous and unsure about calling Nick. He carried her number in his pocket for over a week, often pulling it out and looking at it, but hesitated to make the call.

What did Keith think about his chances with Nick at the time?

Keith did not believe that someone as extraordinary as Nick would ever see anything in him. He viewed himself in a negative light, feeling that he wasn't worthy of her attention.

How did Keith describe Nick after they started talking?

Keith found that despite Nick's seemingly mystical presence, she was actually a wide-eyed, vivacious, and giddy girl from the Sydney suburbs. She was born in Honolulu but was completely Australian.

What major life challenge did Keith face early in his marriage?

Keith struggled with addiction, which severely impacted his marriage. Just four months into their marriage, he entered the Betty Ford Center for rehab for three months.

How did Nick respond to Keith's addiction and rehab situation?

Nick chose love and supported Keith through this difficult period. She ignored negative voices, including potentially her own doubts, and remained committed to their relationship.

What significant milestone did Keith and Nick reach in their relationship?

Keith and Nick celebrated 18 years together at the time of this speech, with their relationship having survived Keith's struggles and challenges.

How did Keith describe Nick's attitude towards life?

Keith described Nick as having a passion for life like no one else. She knows the importance of expressing feelings, something Keith was not raised to do but is now learning from her.

What did Keith mean when he said Nick is a 'Gemini with the duality to prove it'?

Keith was referring to Nick's complex personality. She embodies both raw emotion and resilience, seriousness and playfulness, which he attributes to her astrological sign, Gemini.

What is Nick's mantra, according to Keith?

Nick's mantra is 'Choose Love.' She consistently navigates emotionally complex situations by prioritizing love in her actions and decisions.

What does Keith admire most about Nick's capacity for love?

Keith admires Nick's unparalleled ability to love, as he believes she has a unique capacity to love like no one he's ever met. This love is central to her character and their relationship.

How does Keith feel about Nick's body of work and their future together?

Keith acknowledges that the event is about Nick's body of work, but he expresses pride and excitement for the future, marking 20 years of being in love with her in the coming year.