AUSTRALIAN star Nicole Kidman and country music crooner Keith Urban still enjoy a close relationship, it appears.
On the same day a British newspaper reported that the glamour couple had parted company, they have been spotted together enjoying a cosy lunch in the US country music mecca of Nashville.
A source close to Urban says the Oscar-winning actress and the singer, both 38, showed their affection for each other while relaxing on Sunday with a group of friends at a Nashville eatery.
The source said the pair had also planned to attend an American football match that evening.
Rumours of a bust-up were first reported in London newspaper The Mail on Sunday, suggesting Kidman had dumped Urban because he had “not turned his back on his wild ways”.
Although the paper reports a friend as saying Kidman broke off their “engagement”, their relationship has never been officially formalised.
“Nicole told Keith she needed space to think and had to break off their engagement,” the source said.
Kidman split with actor husband Tom Cruise in 2001 after a decade of marriage. Urban, originally from Queensland but now based in the United States, has a reputation for living in the fast lane.
Since photos of Kidman enjoying a bike ride with Urban were splashed around the world last July, speculation has mounted about their involvement.
However, neither of their publicists have ever confirmed their union.
Kidman’s Australian publicist Wendy Day said today that while it was obvious the couple appreciate each other’s company, there was nothing else to report.
“Clearly they are enjoy a nice friendship together,” Day said.
“But Nicole’s personal life is her personal life and I have no further knowledge of their friendship,” she said.
The US’s People Magazine created a stir last year when it reported Kidman was seen wearing a diamond ring on her wedding finger while out walking with Urban in Boston.
Just two weeks ago, Kidman was seen sporting the flashy 3.5 carat ring.
In recent months the couple have spent time at Urban’s Nashville mansion and Kidman was a constant presence when he toured at the end of last year.
They are reported to have spent Christmas together in Nashville.