Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Reportedly Fought Over Custody of Teenage Daughters Before Settlement

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s split wasn’t finalized without tension behind the scenes.

Ahead of reaching a divorce settlement, the longtime couple clashed over custody of their teenage daughters, Sunday, 17, and Faith, 15, according to a new report.

In an article published Thursday, January 8, insiders told the Daily Mail that child custody quickly emerged as the biggest point of contention in the split.

“The one thing that became a sticking point was custody of Sunday and Faith,” an insider said. “Keith was initially asking for equal time with their daughters.”

The prospect of a 50/50 split reportedly sent Kidman into a “spiral.”

“It was an especially stressful time for Nic,” the first insider continued. “After almost 20 years of marriage, she certainly knows how stubborn Keith can be. She was anxious and distressed that he wasn’t going to budge.”

According to a second insider, Kidman’s reaction was rooted in her past — specifically, her divorce from Tom Cruise. She allegedly pushed for more time with Sunday and Faith “because she wasn’t given that benefit when she divorced Tom Cruise.”

Kidman and Cruise divorced in 2001, and agreed to joint custody of their adopted children Isabella, now 32, and Connor, 30.

The second insider also pointed to logistical concerns, claiming Urban’s touring schedule made shared custody less practical.

“[Kidman] enjoys being a homebody when she isn’t on set. And if need be, her kids can be on set with her on a more consistent basis – that is a much better atmosphere than backstage at a concert,” said the second source. “Nic won out.”

Ultimately, Urban reportedly gave in.

“It took a lot of wearing down but Keith finally agreed to her terms,” the first insider explained. “Their daughters are both in their teens and need their mother more than their father at these ages. Keith knew he’d never win the battle in court and finally backed down. That’s when the divorce was settled.”

According to court filings cited by the Daily Mail, Urban will spend 59 days per year with his daughters, including every other weekend from Saturday morning to Sunday evening. Kidman, meanwhile, will have custody for the remaining 306 days.

Kidman, who is set to appear in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video series Scarpetta, will remain in the family’s Nashville home — a seven-bedroom property the former couple purchased in 2008 for $3.5 million.

Urban has since moved into a nearby property, where he’s reportedly been living since last summer.

As National Enquirer readers know, sources claim Urban’s feelings about the split may be shifting, leaving Kidman’s inner circle on edge.

“Now that Keith’s started saying how much he regrets this break-up, Nicole’s friends are terrified she’s going to get sucked back in,” a source told the Enquirer. “They’re begging her not to let nostalgia cloud her judgement. She spent so many years tying herself into knots trying to make Keith happy and now she’s finally free to put herself first.”