Country music star Keith Urban celebrated his 58th birthday on October 26, receiving a heartfelt gift that resonated with him on multiple levels. After wrapping up his “High and Alive Tour” and amid personal turmoil following Nicole Kidman’s divorce filing, the present brought him to tears as it carried a message of hope and healing.
A video shared by Chase Matthew on Instagram, who opened for Urban during the tour, captured an emotional behind-the-scenes moment at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Matthew surprised Urban with a custom guitar, specially designed by cultural artist Sam Mangakahia, to express his gratitude for their time together on tour. In his post, Matthew reflected, “Happy birthday @keithurban. Touring with you was so much fun.”
The guitar features intricate artwork from Mangakahia, who creates “living art” that tells personal stories. This particular piece, titled “The Rise of the Phoenix,” marks Mangakahia’s 30th project. He explained that the design reflects aspects of Urban’s life, including his family and musical journey, along with themes of resilience and inspiration.
While Urban’s tour has concluded, he continues to create impactful work. During an October 2 concert in Hershey, Pennsylvania, he performed his song “Heart Like a Hometown,” while a slideshow showcased images of Kidman and their two daughters, highlighting a poignant blend of personal and professional life despite news of their divorce.
Kidman filed for divorce on September 30, citing “irreconcilable differences.” In her petition, she asked to be designated as the primary resident parent of their children and proposed a parenting plan suggesting 306 days for her and 59 for Urban each year.
