Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s marriage — once viewed as one of Hollywood’s rare success stories — is reportedly crumbling under the weight of years of emotional distance, control issues, and a swirl of new rumors tearing through Nashville.

What began as a glamorous love story between a movie icon and a country superstar has now devolved into bitter tension, whispered betrayals, and a “complete breakdown of intimacy,” according to multiple insiders close to the couple.

Sources say the tension between the two has been “boiling for months,” and it’s now impossible to ignore. “They’ve been living like polite strangers,” one source claimed. “Keith’s out on the road, Nicole’s in L.A. or Australia filming, and when they do see each other, it’s like there’s this wall between them. They used to be so passionate — now it’s all formality.”

But perhaps most shocking are the whispers sweeping through Nashville — a rumor involving Keith Urban and a young singer-songwriter who’s reportedly been “leaning on him creatively” while he’s been working on his new album. While no concrete evidence has surfaced, the speculation alone has driven a wedge between the couple. “Nicole’s never been comfortable with how flirty Keith can be,” said another insider. “She’s fiercely protective and, honestly, a little controlling. It’s always been that way.”

Those close to Kidman say her “intense need to take care of Keith” after his struggles with addiction years ago slowly turned into something more toxic. “She started acting like his mother,” one friend explained. “She wanted to manage everything — his career, his health, his choices. Keith used to find it comforting, but over time, he started feeling suffocated.”

Insiders claim that Urban, 57, has quietly been “pulling away,” immersing himself in his music and staying longer on tour, while Kidman, 58, has thrown herself into her film commitments. “They’re barely communicating unless it’s about their daughters,” one mutual friend said. “The emotional connection they had is gone.”

The cracks reportedly widened earlier this year during the filming of Nicole’s latest project, when Keith was noticeably absent from several major red-carpet appearances. While the couple publicly chalked it up to scheduling conflicts, friends insist that it was a conscious choice. “Keith didn’t want to fake it anymore,” the source claimed. “He’s tired of pretending everything is perfect when it’s not.”

The rumors of infidelity — whether true or not — have only deepened the divide. Nicole is said to be “furious” over the gossip circulating in Nashville, not just because of the alleged betrayal, but because she feels humiliated. “She’s worked hard to project this image of elegant control,” said one Hollywood insider. “But behind the scenes, she’s devastated. She can’t believe people are saying her marriage is a sham.”

Friends say the couple’s once fiery chemistry has “completely fizzled.” “They used to be inseparable, almost obsessed with each other,” one former associate shared. “But now, Nicole’s focus is on her career, and Keith’s focus is on freedom. Their private life isn’t what it used to be — and that’s been eating away at both of them.”

Reports claim Kidman has been leaning heavily on her close circle of female friends in Los Angeles, including fellow actresses who’ve experienced high-profile divorces. “They’ve told her she needs to protect herself,” a source revealed. “She’s been talking to lawyers, just to understand her options. She’s not ready to make a move yet, but she’s preparing.”

Those around Urban, meanwhile, say he feels “trapped between guilt and resentment.” “He loves Nicole — he always will,” said a longtime Nashville insider. “But he’s tired of being managed. He wants to be free to be himself again. And in a lot of ways, he already is.”

Even the couple’s friends are said to be taking sides. In Nashville, the music community largely sympathizes with Keith, seeing him as the more laid-back partner who lost his sense of identity in Nicole’s Hollywood world. “He’s a country boy at heart,” one local said. “Nicole’s lifestyle — the red carpets, the perfection — it’s not him. He’s happiest in jeans with a guitar, not tuxedos and staged smiles.”

Meanwhile, in Hollywood, Nicole’s inner circle is painting a very different picture. “She’s been the backbone of that relationship,” one friend said. “She saved him when he was spiraling. She gave him stability, a family, and unconditional love. For Keith to turn around and pull away now — it’s breaking her heart.”

The tension reportedly came to a head during a family holiday earlier this summer. “They had a blowout fight,” said the source. “Keith stormed off, and Nicole was in tears. They put on a brave face for the kids, but everyone around them could tell it was bad.”

Still, despite the turmoil, both stars have been careful not to make any public statements. Their reps continue to insist that “they’re focused on their family,” but even fans have noticed the distance — fewer joint appearances, fewer affectionate posts, and a noticeable coolness whenever they’re photographed together.

“They’re just trying to get through this quietly,” one insider summarized. “But the writing’s on the wall. They’ve tried counseling, they’ve tried space, but it’s not working. The love they once had has been replaced by frustration, resentment, and disappointment.”

For a couple once hailed as a beacon of stability amid Hollywood chaos, it’s a devastating fall. Nicole and Keith’s love story began with so much hope — two stars overcoming personal demons and finding solace in each other. But as one friend put it, “Sometimes the thing that saves you is also the thing that ends up breaking you.”

Now, as Nashville buzzes with rumors and Hollywood whispers grow louder, it seems inevitable that the couple will have to confront what insiders call “the end of an era.” Whether they can find a way back to each other remains uncertain, but one thing is clear — the fairy tale has lost its magic.

And for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, the world will be watching every step of what’s shaping up to be one of the most dramatic celebrity divorces in years.