Jenna Bush Hager and Justin Sylvester Redefine Success in Love After Kidman-Urban Split

The news of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s divorce after 19 years of marriage sent ripples through Hollywood and beyond, leaving fans grappling with the end of a seemingly unbreakable bond. The couple, who confirmed their split on September 29, 2025, after drifting apart over the summer, had built a life together marked by red-carpet glamour and quiet family moments with their daughters, Sunday, 17, and Faith, 14. As the public mourned, TODAY with Jenna and Friends became an unexpected stage for reflection, with hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Justin Sylvester diving into a raw, heartfelt discussion about marriage, divorce, and what it means to love and let go. Their candid perspectives, aired in the show’s latest episode, surprised viewers with their depth, challenging conventional views on relationships and redefining what makes a marriage “successful.”

Jenna Bush Hager, the 43-year-old daughter of former President George W. Bush, and Justin Sylvester, the charismatic E! News alum, brought their unique lenses to the conversation. Jenna, married to Henry Hager since 2008 and mother to Mila, Poppy, and Hal, spoke from the vantage point of a long-term partnership forged through deliberate choice. Justin, 38, known for his wit on Daily Pop, drew from a childhood where his parents’ separation left him longing for even a fleeting glimpse of their togetherness. Together, they pushed back against the narrative that Kidman and Urban’s divorce marked a failure. “I think we both think the same way, in the sense that 19 years of being married to someone, that’s a successful marriage in my book,” Sylvester declared, his voice carrying the weight of someone who’d never known his parents together. “To get 19 months of seeing that would have been a joy,” he added, a poignant nod to his own story.

Bush Hager echoed this sentiment, reflecting on how society often misjudges the end of a long marriage. “You said you would have loved if your parents were married for 19 years,” she told Sylvester, framing the couple’s tenure as a triumph rather than a tragedy. Their perspective struck a chord, challenging the stigma that divorce equates to defeat. Sylvester, with the clarity of age, dismantled the cliché of “growing apart” as an excuse. “I always thought that was some kind of B.S.,” he admitted. “But growing up and being older now, I realize that people really do kind of grow apart and it’s okay. It really is okay.” This honesty resonated deeply, with fans on X praising the duo for normalizing the natural evolution of relationships. One viewer tweeted, “Jenna and Justin just get it—love doesn’t always mean forever, and that’s not failure.”

Jenna’s reflections turned personal as she shared wisdom from her own marriage. “You have to remind yourself every day, ‘I’ve chosen you, I’m going to continue to choose you,’” she said, referencing advice that anchors her bond with Henry. “It doesn’t always look glamorous.” The mother of three admitted that marriage is less about fairy-tale moments and more about the grit of growing together. “The ceremony is the easy part,” a commenter agreed online, amplifying her point. “It’s putting up with each other and learning to grow and learn from your mistakes.” Yet, not all fans aligned with their optimism. Some voiced dissent, with one X user arguing, “No, 19 years is NOT a successful marriage. They are right in the middle of growing a family with children. People are just selfish.” The divide highlighted the raw emotions Kidman and Urban’s split had stirred.

As rumors swirl about the couple’s breakup— with People reporting on October 1 that Kidman fought to save the marriage while Urban appeared to move on—the conversation on TODAY offered a broader lens. Bush Hager and Sylvester didn’t dwell on speculation but instead focused on universal truths: love can evolve, and endings can still hold beauty. Their discussion, raw and unfiltered, reminded viewers that relationships, like people, are complex. For Kidman and Urban, co-parenting their daughters will be the next chapter, a task they’ll navigate with the same grace that defined their union. For fans, Jenna and Justin’s words were a balm, a reminder that 19 years of shared laughter, tears, and growth is a legacy worth celebrating, not mourning. In a world quick to judge, their message stood firm: love’s success isn’t measured by forever, but by the courage to live it fully, together or apart.