Peter Overton's 60th birthday bash ruined by drama - as wife Jessica Rowe struggles to get Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban to RSVP

Peter Overton's upcoming 60th birthday bash is at risk of being ruined by celebrity drama.

The iconic newsreader's birthday bash is being planned by his wife Jessica Rowe, 55, who is said to be struggling to get his A-List friends to RSVP, including his close mates Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban.

With Nicole and Keith recently finalising their divorce, Jess is struggling to get the estranged former couple to agree to be in the same room, reports Woman's Day.

'Pete has been in the industry for so long that he has made so many friends along the way, not just at Nine but across all the TV networks. Not to mention his celebrity pals from near and far,' an insider told the publication.

'A crossover of friends at any event is awkward at the best of times but now Jess is having to deal with how to get the likes of Nicole and Keith into a room together so soon after their messy divorce.'

The Sydney-based journalist grew up living next door to Nicole and frequently caught up with Nicole and Keith during their regular trips to Australia, with his nephew Rechner, 23, being friends with her daughter Sunday Rose, 17.

Nicole and Keith have not been seen together publicly since announcing their separation in September.

'Pete would love it if Nicole, Keith and the girls were there, but that's probably not going to happen,' they added. 

The insider said there may also be issues getting former colleagues Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic to RSVP, given the pair have long been subjected to feud rumours, as well as Channel Seven stars Matt Shirvington and Natalie Barr.

They finished by saying Jess was working very hard to get Pete's celebrity friends to put their differences aside for one day to attend the bash. 

'Jess is hellbent on making this a special time for Pete and that means having all his loved ones there, even if they can't stand to be in the same room,' they said.

'Pete's had so much to deal with lately, including some ongoing health problems and she doesn't want anything to ruin his big day.'

'Pete would hate it if his birthday turned into breaking news, so Jess is crossing her fingers that any issues like divorces and rivalries can be put aside for one night.'

The news comes after a difficult year for the power couple. 

In March, the Nine News veteran was forced off air to undergo surgery on his vocal cords after doctors discovered a polyp. 

Jess and her teenage daughter Giselle were able to joke about Peter's health scare in the face of adversity.

The TV presenter-turned-podcaster told Daily Mail that her husband of 21 years was delighted to be back at work after several months off.

'Peter is good. He's all good,' Jess said at Marie Claire's International Women's Day luncheon. 

'Obviously it was scary at the time. It's nice he's back at work. He's loving being back at work and we're loving having him out of the house.'