Nic's nuptials news in Australia

Jun 19, 2006, 3:01 GMT

Sydney - Australian sweetheart Nicole Kidman was back in her Sydney hometown Monday preparing for a weekend wedding to New Zealand-born country music star Keith Urban.

Kidman and Urban, both 38, are expected to marry at a Catholic church in Sydney on Saturday.

Oscar-winner Kidman arrived in her private jet from China, where she had been attending the Shanghai Film Festival. Urban, recently voted 'sexiest country music singer,' was with Kidman in China but did not arrive with her.

The glamour couple confirmed their engagement last month, with Kidman moving into Urban's mansion in Nashville, Tennessee.

'I've moved to Tennessee for my personal life,' Kidman told reporters in Shanghai. 'I'm establishing my new home there.'

Kidman and Urban met in January 2005 at an Australian government function in Los Angeles, Kidman's former home.

Kidman ended her 10-year marriage to fellow actor Tom Cruise in 2001. The couple had adopted two children, 13-year-old Isabelle and 11-year-old Connor, who are believed to be arriving in Sydney later this week.

Kidman, daughter of an eminent Australian doctor, was born in the US state of Hawaii but was brought up in Sydney. Urban was born in New Zealand but grew up in Australia.

Urban and Kidman spent Christmas together with both sets of parents in Nashville. Kidman attended the Grammy Awards in February when Urban won the Best Country Vocal Performance award for his ballad You'll Think of Me. The couple also attended the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles, where Kidman was a presenter.

The couple bought a Sydney Harbour home earlier this month. The 4-million-Australian-dollar (3 million US) apartment is in a luxury housing development atop a wooden wharf near the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

There was no comment from Kidman's Sydney-based publicist about the wedding plans.

Kidman and Urban were this year named the richest individuals in Australia's entertainment industry by business magazine BRW. Kidman earned 22 million Australian dollars (15 million US) last year with Urban quadrupling his earnings to 20 million Australian dollars (14 million US).