Nicole Kidman Hopes Daughter Has a Southern Accent

Don Arnold/Wireimage

The decision by Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban — both native Aussies — to deliver their daughter Sunday Rose, 4 ½-months, in Nashville may have surprised some in their homeland, but it "just felt right" to the couple. So says Nicole in a new interview with The Tennessean. "I’m glad that she is able to say she’s born and bred in Nashville and Tennessee," she explains. "I think it’s very appropriate, considering her daddy."

"His whole life was headed here. From a little boy, he dreamed of coming here. For him to be able to say his baby girl was born here, I think is very special."

Sunday’s birth was "peaceful," and Nicole offered thanks to the medical staff at Baptist Hospital for being "just wonderful" to the couple. "It was very simple and people allowed us that very, very special moment to, I suppose, fuse together more and also bond with our baby." From the sound of things, the Williamson County, Tenn. farm the couple currently call home will stay their home for some time to come. "I hope she has a Southern accent," Nicole says of Sunday. So at ease is she in the community, the 41-year-old actress went door-to-door earlier this year as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels. "When I was 8 ½ months pregnant and delivering, people would be like, ‘When are you going to have that baby?’" Nicole says. "Or if we were [recognized], they didn’t say, and that is lovely."

The atmosphere isn’t for everyone, however! Isabella Jane, 15, and Connor Antony, 13 — Nicole’s children with ex-husband Tom Cruise — aren’t completely sold on their mom’s home, but they do appreciate the heritage of their surroundings, she says.

"They are city kids right now, so I’m hoping they’ll want to spend more and more time here as they get older. They are at the stage of being 16 and my son is going to turn 14, so they’re like, ‘Show us some action.’ But they love music as well."

Source: The Tennessean   

Comments

Its nice hearing her talk about her other kids too. Sometimes I forget Izzy and Connor are her and Tom’s kids too. Because the only kids we see and hear about these days are Suri and Sunday.

- Kaylee on November 24th, 2008

Welcome to the South, sugar. You earn our respect on your merit, and not on your fame. I’m glad to know that somebody appreciates not automatically having their word taken as Gospel because their name is in lights. If you deserve to be liked as a person — not as a super-entity — then we like you.

- Mtoo on November 24th, 2008

I see them around town a lot here in Nashville (not the baby, but Nicole and Keith). Nobody really bothers them either. They just blend in.

- asm1976 on November 24th, 2008

So is Nicole not in Scientology anymore? I’ve always been a little bit confused about that point. Does anyone know where she and Connor and Isabella stand on that?

- phoebe on November 24th, 2008

Nicole never was, Phoebe. Connor and Isabella are being raised as Scientologists. Some rumors have said that disagreement over how to raise the 2 kids as far as religion went is part of the reason Nicole and Tom split.

- MB on November 24th, 2008

Phoebe-
This is JMO but… Back in the day it was said that Tom dumped Nic because after almost 10 years of marriage she still wouldn’t become a Scientologist. She took some classes to please Tom. But never fully got into it. And no one knows who Issy and Connor live with full time. I’m guessing Tom. But being a hardcore Scientologist like he is… I am sure all Tom’s kids are Scientologist and go to Scientology schools. I hope I helped answer your question.

- Kaylee on November 24th, 2008

As a Northern transplant, no one should wish a Southern accent on the child. To some it may seem quaint and folksy, but to others, it’s unintelligable. After eight years, I still ask folks to repeat themselves because they love to to combine words and leave off important syllables. I’m constantly correcting my family so they don’t pick it up.

- J-Lin on November 24th, 2008

Thank you Kaylee and MB, that was very sweet of you to take the time to answer that for me! I’ve wondered about it before. I think it’s good that Connor and Isabella have a more ‘mainstream’ influence (no offence intended there btw) as well as the Scientology part. It’s the raising children aspects of the group that has fascinated me. Sorry to keep asking questions (!), but does anyone know what would be the case if the children grew up not wanting to remain Scientologists? Depending on the group’s attitude towards that, I think that’s actually another very good thing about having their mum not being a part of it, they have a faith base with her that shows them an alternative if they ever wanted it.

- phoebe on November 24th, 2008

Phoebe, I’m 99% sure that Nicole and Keith got married in a Catholic church. I’m not sure if Connor and Isabella are Scientologists.

- chris on November 24th, 2008

I’m a born and bred Noo Yawker, but my peeps are from the South. I love southern accents and can listen to Donna Brazille and James Carville all day long. And what I love about Southern drawl is that it will vary from southern state to southern state.

- mom-squared on November 24th, 2008

I was born and raised in the south. Not everyone that lives here has a drawl.

- beezy on November 24th, 2008

Chris, Nicole and Keith were married in a Catholic Church in Sydney. In fact Nicole and her side of the family are still Catholics.

I’m quite sure I’ve heard her mention before she respects the fact Bella and Connor are being raised as Scientologists. I have a feeling that might have been part of the custody agreement between Tom and herself.

- Annie.M on November 24th, 2008

Keith and Nicole did get married in a Catholic Church, if I remember correctly as she didn’t get married in a Church the fist time around she really wanted the traditional wedding.

I like how although everyone can see the differences in Tom and Nicole’s religious outlook, they have never seemed to be mean to each other in public. There separation and divorce was pure class.
I actually like who Nicole doesn’t bring up her older children much, she’s said before they’re old enough to choose to be private people and they like that. She sees them a lot, but more in private. We haven’t even see many photos of Tom and the older kids in ages.

- Laura on November 24th, 2008

She sounds so happy : )
J-Lin, that is not a nice thing to say. You wouldn’t like it if someone said that about *your* accent.

- MissAllisonJenny on November 24th, 2008

As a proud Australian, it disappoints me that Nicole doesn’t want her daughter to have an Australian accent, seeing as both she and Keith are Aussies. At times, it seems to me that she is ashamed of her Australian roots. And that’s not just my opinion, but that of many Australians.

- Ratty on November 25th, 2008

Ratty- Actually, Nicole and Keith don’t have Australian roots. Keith was born in New Zealand, and Nicole, I believe, was born in Hawaii.

Nicole and her family moved to Australia when she was very young, though, which is why people always think she was born there. I’m not sure about Keith and his family, but I think he has lived in Australia from an early age as well.

- CelebBabyLover on November 26th, 2008