'It brought back a very dark time': Nicole Kidman 'disappointed' by Keith Urban's heroin reference after decades-long addiction battle

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Nicole Kidman is apparently “disappointed” with husband Keith Urban’s latest homage to illicit drugs.

The 56-year-old country rocker, who has had a long history of battling addiction, recently raised eyebrows when he equated a song to “heroin.”

Last week, the Australian star performed an acoustic version of Ariana Grande’s hit ‘We Can't Be Friends’ at an intimate gig, per Daily Mail. The ‘Messed Up as Me’ singer shared a clip of his performance on his Instagram with the caption, “This song is audible heroin.”

While Urban paid homage to one of his favorite songs, the move allegedly left his wife displeased, as it brought back painful memories of past addiction.

Nicole Kidman ‘disappointed’ with Keith Urban’s post

Recently, a source close to Kidman shared with Woman’s Day Magazine that the ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ actress has been left distraught by Urban’s words.

The source shared, “Nicole would never ask him to take down a post but she was disappointed.”

The source explained, “It brought back a very dark time for them when they almost split, but worse than that is she doesn't want her kids to start thinking it's cool or OK or something you can easily "fix".”

The source further added that the couple - who have been together for almost two decades - “went through hell because of Keith's addictions.”

The rocker not only praised the song on Instagram but also during a recent interview with People where he brought up the illicit drug reference again.

Urban shared, “I don't know what is going on with that song, but I cannot stop playing it. It's like audible heroin. Literally, I have to have another hit,” before adding, “'I play that thing over and over and over.”

Nevertheless, his rendition got applause from Ariana, who gushed on her Instagram, “This is so beautiful.”

Keith Urban’s history of battle with addiction

Keith Urban has had a long history of battle with addictions and has checked himself into rehabs on several occasions.

In 1998, eight years before marrying Kidman, the rocker went to rehab. After marrying Kidman in 2006, he checked himself into Betty Ford Center in October 2006.

The ‘You’ll Think of Me’ singer even publicly thanked Kidman for her relentless effort to maintain his sobriety.

He thanked the ‘Moulin Rouge’ actress in his ‘Thank You’ song from his Grammy-nominated 2009 album ‘Defying Gravity’, per People.

Thanking the actress for helping him overcome addiction, Urban wrote, "There were nights where I was sure / I wouldn't see the morning sun / And there were days that seemed so dark / I couldn't wait for night to come," he sings on the ballad. "I thank you for my life / And I thank god for grace and mercy / And that you became my wife."

The couple tied the knot in 2006 after meeting for the first time in 2005. They share their two daughters together - Sunday Rose, 15, and Faith Margaret, 13.

In a 2022 interview with The Times, Urban got candid about his early addictions.

He recalled, "My dad was an alcoholic, so I grew up in an alcoholic house and it took me a long time to believe I was wired the same.”

The rocker shared, "I don't talk a lot about it because I love my audience being able to just come and have a great time. I've nothing against drugs or alcohol. Everyone does what they want to do to have a great time.”

The ‘One Too Many’ singer continued, "I just realized I'm allergic to it. Someone said, 'You have an allergy? What happens when you drink?' And I said, 'I break out in cuffs.'"