Keith Urban Is ‘at a Real Crossroads’ Amid Divorce, Career Changes: ‘There’s Been So Much Turmoil’

Things continue to be up in the air for Keith Urban. The country star hasn’t just gone through a shocking divorce from ex-wife Nicole Kidman. The 58-year-old also recently parted ways with his team after longtime manager Gary Borman announced in February that he was retiring and shut down his company. “Keith is at a real crossroads in his life right now, even he would privately admit that,” a source tells Star. “There’s been so much turmoil and dramatic change that’s happened in such a small window.” Work has been a welcome distraction, continues the source. “But it’s also been challenging because it’s a lot of commitment and Keith’s a consummate professional who throws himself into those concerts at 110 percent.” To say the “Messed Up As Me” singer is stretching himself thin would be an understatement, adds the source. “It’s been an exhausting roller coaster, both physically and emotionally.”

That’s precisely what has people concerned. “A lot of people in Keith’s life are worried about how he’s coping with all the intensity and stress,” reveals the source. “He’s an emotional, vulnerable soul and as a recovering addict, there’s always that underlying fear of his demons coming back, especially when he’s under such acute pressure like he is now.” Keith, who has been to rehab twice — including one stint months after his wedding to Nicole — for issues with alcohol and cocaine, “swears up and down that there’s nothing for anyone to be fearful over, that his dedication to staying sober is stronger now than it’s ever been,” the source tells Star. “But that’s not stopped the folks who care about him from feeling concerned and keeping a watchful eye.”

Family Fallout

The divorce has been particularly hard on The Road host, who only gets daughters Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith, 15, for 59 days out of the year, per the custody arrangement he reached with Nicole, 58. (He has not been seen with his girls for months.) “Keith misses his kids terribly,” reveals Star’s source. “It has been an extremely challenging adjustment.” Would the single father of two prefer a new arrangement that guarantees him more time with the girls? “Almost certainly,” says the source. “But what’s done is done. The paperwork was signed and sealed many months ago, so he has no option now except to suck it up, move on with his life and hope that he’ll get to see the kids as often as possible when they’re willing to spend more time with him.”

Sunday Rose and Faith love Keith dearly, as Star previously reported, but they’re feeling very loyal to mom Nicole right now. (The threesome have been enjoying adventures like a recent cruise to Antarctica and hitting various fashion weeks.) The headlines surrounding their dad’s post-divorce dating life aren’t helping. “Being linked to numerous younger women is a bad look. He’s well aware of that,” admits the source, adding that what irks the four-time Grammy winner the most is that the gossip has left him in an even worse place with his daughters. “The last thing they want is to believe their dad is some type of heartless skirt-chaser.” That’s not the only reason Keith’s annoyed by the rumors — which were immediately brushed off by much-younger country musicians Karley Scott Collins and Maggie Baugh. “The fact that these women have moved to flat-out deny there’s any truth makes Keith worry that he comes off like a bit of a loser, this lame dude who’s essentially unable to attract anyone post-divorce,” shares the source. “It’s a lose-lose scenario, basically. Either he comes across like a lusty womanizer or an unappealing older dude who’s striking out with everyone — he really can’t win!”

Picking up the Pieces

While Keith was reportedly the one who wanted the divorce, there’s “no disputing” that his split from Nicole has “turned his life upside down,” says the source. There’s nowhere to go but up. Friends are telling him to try to stay positive and to channel his heartbreak into music. “It’s always been his most constructive tool when the chips are down,” says the source. He’ll have time to work things out on his current High and Alive tour, which takes him to the U.K. and across the U.S. “Keith’s a fighter,” says the source. “He’s been through so much in his life and always comes out the other side stronger.”