Keith Urban has praised his loyal wife Nicole Kidman as he emerges from a three-month stretch fighting alcoholism in rehab.

The country singer, who came out of the Betty Ford clinic last week, thanked Kidman for sticking by him through his troubles. He entered the centre just four months after they married.

"My wife stayed extraordinarily strong and loving," he told fans in one of his first statements since leaving the clinic. "It feels really good to have gone through it and be where I am right now."