October 1, 2007: You'll Not Always Be My Baby

Sara Evans' bitter divorce is finally over, following affairs.

by Jeffrey Cottrill

Country-music star Sara Evans had her divorce granted in Nashville last week, almost a year after she had filed for the split. Judge R.E. Lee Davies announced at a September 28 hearing that Evans and her ex-husband, aspiring politician Craig Schelske, had come to an agreement on custody and assets.

According to the Associated Press, Evans, 36, will pay Schelske a minimum of $500,000 in spousal support over the next decade. The ex-spouses also agreed to a joint-custody arrangement for their three children.

Judge Davies granted the divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences, in spite of months of nasty allegations, especially from Evans' side. But both spouses have accused each other of cheating. The singer claimed that Schelske was an emotionally and verbally abusive husband with a drinking problem, who had been cheating on her and often watched pornography at their home. Schelske replied that Evans' accusations were false and that Evans herself had had several affairs; in fact, he'd allegedly found out about one affair on the same day she filed for the divorce last October.

More information on cheating and affairs: Forgive Him... for Now Forgiveness after Betrayal Frequent Questions about Infidelity Warning Signs of Infidelity Divorce: What went wrong?

Regardless of the cheating and affairs, a court statement from both lawyers said: "Both parties are fully committed to raising their children in a cooperative and positive way. Both parties are loving and caring parents. They request that everyone respect the family's privacy."

Evans and Schelske were married for 13 years.

Evans, whose hits include "No Place That Far," "Born to Fly," "Suds in the Bucket," and "A Real Fine Place to Start," is releasing a Greatest Hits album next week. Her latest single, "As If," is currently rising on the charts.

Schelske ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2002, representing Oregon's Fifth District as a Republican.

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