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Recently, Keith Urban’s life has mirrored the kind of country ballad that catapulted him to fame. The saga began with his unexpected separation from Nicole Kidman after nearly two decades of marriage, during which they raised two children. The announcement itself was startling, but rumors swirling about Urban possibly dating someone new added to the drama. Yet, the real plot twist came when Urban accepted an invitation to perform at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, a choice that has left many fans feeling betrayed.
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The performance took place during a holiday dinner for Pratt Industries, a major company led by Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, on November 15, 2025. The lavish event attracted around 600 guests, including notable figures like actor George Hamilton, who impressively maintains his charm at age 86.
To be fair, Urban has never expressed any outright support for the president or the MAGA movement, unlike fellow country artists Jason Aldean and John Rich. On the other hand, he’s also not one of the musicians who can’t stand Trump and have banned him from using their music at his rallies and other public appearances. Even if Urban isn’t on board with the administration’s policies, it’s clear he has no problem performing for a divisive politician if the price is right — yet he may have paid a bigger price, as fans voiced their disappointment with Urban’s appearance in Palm Beach.
Urban’s choice of music and venue lost him fans
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While Urban has never explicitly endorsed Trump or aligned himself with the MAGA movement, unlike some of his country music peers such as Jason Aldean and John Rich, he also hasn’t joined the ranks of artists who have barred Trump from using their music. Despite possibly having reservations about the administration’s policies, Urban’s appearance at Mar-a-Lago suggests he’s open to performing for controversial figures, if the offer is enticing enough. However, this decision might have cost him more than he anticipated, as fans expressed their disapproval of his Palm Beach performance.
It’s worth noting that when Urban played at the same bash at Mar-a-Lago in 2024, there was far less outcry. But in addition to occurring so close to the divorce announcement, Urban’s choice of music was also questionable. Fans felt his rendition of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” an ode to queer freedom of expression, was tone-deaf for a crowd of conservative listeners. They even took the time to post comments on different Instagram feeds featuring Urban, such as a clip from CBS’s “The Road” shared by fellow country star Blake Shelton. A follower wrote, “It’s bad enough that an artist I’ve loved and respected for the last 20+ years played [at Mar-a-Lago], but to cover a Chappell Roan song? It’s a slap in the face to your LGBTQ+ fans like me. Mistakenly, I thought you believed in human rights.”
Urban’s surprise appearance at the 2025 CMA Awards as part of the star-studded opener with Lainey Wilson should have been a welcome comeback; It was his first stage performance since the announcement of his split from Kidman. Coming just four days after the Trump concert, however, it just felt like an attempt to distract from the controversy.