The wedding's off, Nicole tells Urban cowboy

Hollywood Star Nicole Kidman has reportedly broken off her engagement to country singer Keith Urban, fearing he has 'not turned his back on his wild ways'.

Urban, a former alcoholic crack cocaine addict with a reputation as a womaniser, is said to be "devastated" by the split from his lover of five months.

Just two weeks ago, Kidman was proudly sporting the ostentatious 3.5-carat engagement ring Urban gave her. The pair spent Christmas together at the singer's £2.5million Nashville estate and there were rumours that they would tie the knot over New Year.

But now the relationship seems to have faltered. A friend of Nicole told The Mail on Sunday: "Everything seemed to be going fine, but then she heard stories that Keith had not totally turned his back on his wild ways.

"Nicole told Keith she needed space to think and had to break off their engagement.

"The truth is, a lot of her friends were worried about him from the start because of his reputation as a womaniser and no one wants to see her hurt again. She feels Keith isn't ready to settle down. Keith's devastated but determined to win her back."

Although they are both 38, with antipodean roots and lucrative showbiz careers, Kidman and Urban are worlds apart.

Kidman is a glamorous leading lady from a middle-class Sydney family with a squeaky-clean image, while New Zealand-born Urban - who was raised on a dusty farm near Brisbane, Australia, before seeking his fortune in America - revels in his scruffy "Urban cowboy" reputation.

But despite - or perhaps because of - his hellraising past, Nicole fell for Urban. The romance came after a series of failed relationships in the wake of her divorce from Tom Cruise, including affairs with rock star Lenny Kravitz and Liz Hurley's billionaire ex, Steve Bing but neither wanted a serious relationship.

And now she fears Urban, who earned around £10million last year, cannot commit either.

One woman who predicted trouble is veterinary assistant Laura Sigler, 35, who was Urban's girlfriend for eight years. She told The Mail on Sunday: "I knew it wouldn't last. Keith is charming and very charismatic, but not reliable.

"He had numerous flings while we were together. He is very attractive and when he talks the talk, he can be very seductive. But I'm not sure Keith will ever be ready to settle down. He talks about wanting a family, but there is a dark side to him. He was a drunk and a drug user. He has an addict's personality and always wants more. I'm not sure any one woman can make him happy."

Nicole Kidman's representative did not return calls about the engagement break-up. A spokesman for Urban said: "We do not comment on Keith's private life."

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