Keith Urban recently opened up about the backstory of his iconic 2002 song, Somebody Like You, and the surprising reaction it got from his ex-girlfriend. In an appearance on Q with Tom Power, the country star revealed that he was in a difficult place emotionally while writing the song. He admitted to composing a “dummy” version of the song and playing it for his then-girlfriend, unsure of how it would be received.
To his surprise, her reaction was not what he expected. She called him a “f—–g hypocrite” after hearing the song, telling him, “You don’t want to love anyone; you’re just an a–hole.” Urban later reflected that she wasn’t wrong, explaining that the song’s lyrics reflected the man he wished he could be, not who he actually was at the time.
In the interview, he also discussed how, over the years, he has written many upbeat, happy songs during times when he wasn’t in a positive mindset. He admitted that, even though he wasn’t feeling optimistic or joyous, he would write songs to help himself feel better.
Fast forward to his relationship with Nicole Kidman, whom he married in 2006. The couple, who shares two children, continue to have a strong bond. Kidman shared that Urban still surprises her with spontaneous date nights, including one recent dinner in New York where he took her to a Japanese restaurant. She loves not knowing where he’s going to take her, saying, “Surprise me, baby!”
Their ongoing connection and Urban’s songwriting process both reflect how much his life has evolved since his earlier struggles.