Following country star Keith Urban‘s split from actress Nicole Kidman after 19 years of marriage, rumors swirled about a possible romance between Urban and his 25-year-old guitarist, Maggie Baugh. The speculation was firmly denied by country singer Alexandra Kay, a friend of Baugh, who called the claims “absolutely not true” and confirmed Baugh is in a happy relationship with her boyfriend.
What Sparked the Dating Rumors
The rumors began after a video from September 26 showed Keith Urban altering the lyrics of his song “The Fighter” during a performance with Maggie Baugh. The song is widely considered to have been inspired by his wife, Nicole Kidman.
Urban changed the line “When they’re tryna get to you, baby I’ll be the fighter” to “When they’re tryna get to you, Maggie, I’ll be your guitar player.” Baugh posted the clip to her own Instagram account with the caption, “Did he just say that👀.”
This performance occurred just days before Nicole Kidman filed for divorce on September 30, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The timing of the lyric change and the divorce filing led to intense online speculation and significant backlash from fans directed at Baugh.
A Friend Steps In to Clarify
In an interview published on October 22, Alexandra Kay addressed the rumors directly. She expressed heartbreak over the media scrutiny and defended her friend’s character.
“Honestly, I was heartbroken for them because the media scrutiny is insane and the things that people say… They’re like, stirring up rumors about Maggie Baugh, and I’m like, ‘She’s a good friend of mine and I know that’s absolutely not true,’” Kay told Taste of Country.
Kay provided a clear reason why the rumors are unfounded, stating, “I’ve met her boyfriend, and she’s very happy, and she has nothing to do with that whole relationship.” She added that she feels “sad for everybody involved” and prays “for peace for them and for everybody to have their privacy.”
Keith Urban’s Response to the Speculation
Keith Urban has also indirectly addressed the situation. During a tour stop in Nashville in mid-October, a fan video captured him pushing back against people reading into his on-stage actions.
Before singing his hit “You’ll Think of Me,” Urban told the crowd, “I’ve been covering like this for a long time. Stop reading s**t into it.“
This is not the first time Urban has changed lyrics during a live performance. In 2017, while performing “The Fighter” with Carrie Underwood at the CMC Awards, he sang, “Carrie Underwood, I’m gonna be your fighter!”
Other Voices in the Story
Maggie Baugh’s father, Chuck Baugh, also commented on the rumors, telling the Daily Mail, “I don’t know anything about it, other than she’s a guitar player for him.” He described their relationship as “more of a musician thing than a dating thing.”
Meanwhile, the divorce has surprised friends and fans. Actress Isla Fisher, a fellow Australian, said she was “really, really, really shocked” by the news, noting that she had reached out to Kidman.
Sources close to the couple have indicated that the pair had been living apart since the beginning of the summer and that Kidman did not want the separation and had hoped to work things out.
Maggie Baugh is no longer on tour with Keith Urban, but sources close to the tour confirm her absence is due to simple “logistics” and her own touring commitments, not the rumors.
Nicole Kidman has continued to focus on her work, attending Paris Fashion Week and appearing on the cover of Vogue since the divorce was announced. In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she spoke generally about overcoming difficult times, saying, “You’re going to have to feel it… but if you move gently and slowly—and it can take an enormous amount of time—it does pass.”
Also Read: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Separate After 19 Years of Marriage
