LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Keith Urban was genuinely surprised when he discovered that his wife Nicole Kidman's AMC Theatres ad had become a massive hit among fans.
On the episode of Criss Angel’s 'Talking Junkies' podcast on Friday, November 24, the country star spoke about his wife's 2021 ad for the company and explained why she initially decided to be a part of it.
"She did it because she loves movies, we love movies. And it was hard times for the theaters," Urban said, referring to ticket sales dropping off amid the pandemic. "So AMC asked her if she'd do an AMC commercial, and it was a no-brainer for her to be a part of that."
Urban didn't expect the outcome 'in a million years'
"Never in a million years was she expecting that to become such a cultural phenomenon," added the 56-year-old, according to People Magazine.
Over the past few years, Kidman's viral ad has gained adoration from fans and was previously referred to as "iconic and revered" by AMC CEO Adam Aron during a 2022 earnings call.
Nicole Kidman's AMC Theatres ad
The ad features the 'Eyes Wide Shit' star as she enters an AMC theater after a rainstorm, declaring, "We come to this place for magic."
"We come to AMC Theatres to laugh, to cry, to care, because we need that, all of us," she continues in the ad. "That indescribable feeling we get when the lights begin to dim, and we go somewhere we've never been before — not just entertained but somehow reborn, together."
What did Kidman say about the advertisement's popularity?
Regarding the ad's viral success, Kidman mentioned in a 2022 interview with GQ that she "can't explain why it worked or why it went viral."
She stated, "But what I can say is that the response is directly linked to the number of people returning to theaters to experience movies. And that is exciting."
Urban shared during his appearance on 'Talking Junkies' that Kidman played a pivotal role in his return to performing at the beginning of the pandemic. She specifically came up with the idea of hosting shows at a Nashville drive-in in 2020.
"We're sitting there one morning, and I was like, 'I can't wait to play, where can we play?' And she goes, 'What about a drive-in?'" Urban recounted.
He added, "I'm like, 'What do you mean,' and she goes, 'We could set the stage up at the base of the screen, and then everybody's in their cars, and you can just play a show.' I'm like, 'This is amazing.'"
Urban on what it's like to be married to Kidman
Urban was also questioned in the podcast about what it's like to be married to a famous woman. He elaborated, saying, "The truth is I'm married to an extremely down-to-earth, chill, laid-back, regular girl who happens to be famous."
Kidman and Urban, who tied the knot in 2006, are the parents of two daughters, Sunday Rose (13) and Faith Margaret (12). Kidman also has two children from her prior marriage to Tom Cruise, Isabella Jane (30) and Connor (28).
