NashvilleGab - Country music news and Nashville celebrity gossip

Jason Aldean officially files for divorce

Back last week when word hit that Jason Aldean and his wife of 12 years, Jessica Ussery, had been separated since January, there were understandably a few people who didn't want to believe it, especially since it was Us Magazine that broke the news. 

Unfortunately, fans will now have to face the sad fact that Jason and his wife have indeed called it quits because there are now court documents to back up the news. 

TMZ has obtained divorce papers that Jason filed in Tennessee on April 26, citing the usual "irreconcilable differences." The papers were filed on the same day that Jason's rep had announced that the couple was "having problems."

"I can confirm that Jason and his wife are having problems, but there is nothing more to share at this time. It's a private family matter, and we hope everyone will respect that he would like to keep it that way."

The couple has two young daughters so hopefully things can stay as calm as possible for their sake. 

In unsurprising news of the day, Jason Aldean and wife reportedly separate

In what is probably not the most surprising news to anyone who has kept track of Jason Aldean's actions within the last year, Us Weekly is reporting that Jason and his wife of 11 years, Jessica Ussery, have separated. 

Jason's rep tells the magazine, "I can confirm that Jason and his wife are having problems, but there is nothing more to share at this time. It's a private family matter, and we hope everyone will respect that he would like to keep it that way."

A source tells the magazine that the couple have been separated since January, which makes Jessica's absence from the ACM Awards earlier this month understandable.

As most people are aware, Jason was photographed last September loving up Brittany Kerr, a former "American Idol" contestant (who happened to tweet not too long ago -- jokingly I think -- about trying out for "The Voice") in a California hot spot. After the scandal hit, Jason and Jessica presented a united front and  spoke with several news outlets about the trouble they were going through.

"Our lives got turned upside down, and it's been a learning process," Jason told Us at the time. "When there's kids involved, that's something you've always got to try and protect."

Jason and Jessica have two young daughters so let's hope the pair do, indeed, protect them. 

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Heidi Newfield files for divorce

Well this is unfortunate. 

We haven't heard much out of Heidi Newfield for a while, and now we may know part of the reason....impending divorce.

Heidi took to her website today to let fans know the sad news that she's decided to file for divorce from her husband of seven years, Bill Johnson. 

I never thought I’d be sitting here on the road, writing out my thoughts and comments regarding the end of my marriage. It is a very difficult and strange place to be. Obviously, I thought I was entering into a life-long partnership with my best friend, that we would celebrate the good times and work to make it through whatever tough times we may face in our future.

Sadly, from the beginning, our marriage was never quite what it seemed on the surface. We always looked good on paper. The successful country songstress, who came from nothin’ but horse rich and cash poor….to making my way in this business and building solid work relationships and dear friends, to the successful sports agent who is gregarious, good looking, and fun. It seemed to make sense. I waited to give my heart away…knowing I wanted to be a mother and a good wife. His timing was different …and I tried. I can look myself in the mirror, put my hand on a Bible, or even talk to our Mothers up in heaven…and feel like I really tried. I gave it my best. Now, my best is best served by being true to myself. I still believe in love and I still want to believe in what marriage stands for…

Awww, girl, chin up. Heidi says she'll be channeling her feelings into her music maybe her best work is yet to come. 

You can read Heidi's full announcement here.  

Sara Evans' court drama comes to an abrupt end.....for now

Sara and Craig Schelske in happier times

Sara Evans and her ex-husband, Craig Schelske, may have been divorced for three years, but so far the drama hasn't quite went away. 

Back not too long ago, Sara's divorce attorney John Hollins, Sr. and the law firm he works for had to give Schelske an undisclosed sum of cash and a public apology as part of a settlement for reportedly slandering Schelske in an article in People Magazine.  

“My firm and I represented Sara Evans in a highly contested divorce from Craig Schelske. I represented Sara Evans to the best of my ability. I regret that my actions on behalf of Sara Evans caused Mr. Schelske harm in any way.”  John J. Hollins.

Then in March, Schelske decided that Sara's upcoming summer tour was no place for their kids to be, accusing the singer of having an unfit tour-life for kids.  He filed papers hoping to get more visitation, stating he had "first-hand knowledge that the children are exposed to inappropriate conduct, spend little time with [Sara], and are placed in a party atmosphere with excessive drinking and drug use." 

Now it appears that the drama may finally be subsiding (at least we can hope) now that Schelske's request has been denied. 

Last week, despite bringing in his and Sara's ex-nannies, who the judge quickly dismissed, Schelske's request to have the children for the summer while Sara was on tour were denied, although they were denied without prejudice meaning that he can again take Sara to court. 

Also thrown out were Schelske's request for a court ordered Psychiatric Evaluation in regard to concerns of Parental Alienation. 

Schelske states, “This was a frustrating day but I am committed more deeply than ever to seek, and get, a fair and equitable parenting situation in the best interest of our children.”

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was probably frustrating and upsetting to the kids to see their parents fighting over them.  Let's hope things cool off now.  

Since his and Sara's divorce, Schelske has joined ACFC, an organization that attempts to get equal rights for both parents, fighting on behalf of fathers.  You can check their website out here. You can also read the whole drama from Schelske's side of things on his website here. 

Is Billy Ray Cyrus' divorce off?

Billy Ray Cyrus filed for divorce from wife, Tish, on October 26th, over 38 days ago, which the number of days is actually legally significant apparently.

According to Hollywood Life, Tish hasn't been served with divorce papers yet and by Tennessee law, Billy Ray had 30 days to get the papers to her or apparently the divorce papers would need to be refiled.

I'm sure there's a lot more to the law and divorce proceedings than just a 30-day time limit, but it's an interesting thought considering we haven't really heard a peep about the divorce since it was announced. 

Has Billy Ray had a change of heart? 

Here's what Hollywood Life had to say:

Clerks at the Chancery Court Of Williamson County tell us that once the divorce is filed, there is a strict 30-day time period from day of filing for the respondent/defendant (in this case, Tish) to be served with divorce papers.

As of today (Dec. 3), it’s been 38 days. Two clerks tell HollywoodLife.com that there is no notice of service to Tish on file at the court and that when one party isn’t served within 30 days, it typically means the divorce is off.

“It’s highly unusual for a lawyer to miss a basic procedural filing deadline,” says Stacey Schneider, New York City attorney and He Had It Coming: How to Outsmart Your Husband and Win Your Divorce. “Tish, if she wanted to, could move to dismiss the divorce complaint based on a defect for lack for service.”

We spoke to another legal expert who tells us if the time frame has lapsed and the Cyruses still want to proceed with the divorce, they would need to re-file.

Billy Ray’s rep tells us: “This is absolutely untrue. There has been no change as to the filing of the divorce proceedings.”

So do you think Billy Ray may be having second thoughts? 

An update on the Blake Shelton fight and Eddie Montgomery's divorce drama

 
Two updates on a couple of stories I told you about yesterday. 

First off, the Eddie Montgomery divorce story.  Eddie's wife, Tracy, also has a Twitter account (her tagline is "Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History." That kind of made me chuckle) of her own and Twittered a statement regarding her divorcing her famous husband. 

 

Sounds fair since there really are always two sides to every story.  I'm just hoping no other parties are involved in this divorce since there's been too much of that going around these days in the celeb world. 

And now for the Blake Shelton/Miranda Lambert/Nickelback dude near-three-way-bar-brawl.  One reader wrote me to let me know what she herself seen the night of the CMAs when the Us Weekly story was supposed to have taken place.  Here's what she had to say:

I have a few accuracy issues with the US Weekly story about Blake and Miranda and Chad.  November 10 was the night of the CMAs, and I know because we were there for the ceremony...our station won for major market radio station...yee haw!  Anyway, after the show, we stopped by the Warner Brothers party and Blake was there, but Miranda wasn't.  Chad was also there, though I had no idea who he was.  A co-worker grabbed my daughter (age 11) and ushered her up to him to have a picture taken with him, and we were all cracking up because none of us (except said co-worker) knew who he was! 

I guess maybe Miranda could have had a birthday party that night, but it would have been a really late party.  When we left Warner Bros. at 1ish, Blake and Chad were still there. 

So there you go, a little extra to add to any watercooler gossiping you may be doing today. 

Proof that life can always get just a little bit crappier - Eddie Montgomery's wife files for divorce

 
Well this is just kind of cringe worthy.  Eddie Montgomery - the prostate-cancer-suffering half of Montgomery Gentry - may have thought his life had hit an all time low when he was recently diagnosed with cancer, but that was before his wife decided to slap him upside the head with divorce papers. 

Last night, Tuesday, November 30th, while having what was probably a lovely dinner with his 23-year-old daughter Brooke at the steakhouse Eddie owns, he was served the divorce papers.  Eddie then quickly took to his Twitter to ask what pretty much anyone would have done....WTF?

The tweets, which have since been removed, were along the lines of:

“OMG, I just got my heart broke.”

"She says she’s a Christian wow…I think I need to get her a braclet what would Jesus do cause I hope he still here with me”

“U find out u got cancer then u found out ur wife can’t handle that so she seek of and files for a divorce ,,, merry christmas.”

Merry Christmas indeed.  You never know what's going on in a person's personal life and behind closed doors, but you would have thought that after 20 years of marriage the lady could have at least given Eddie a little respect and stayed with him until his surgery was finished sometime this month. 

Seems a bit harsh, don't you think? 

Randy Travis ready to marry his mistress....wait, Randy had a mistress?

 
Another story from the bowels of the National Enquirer. 

Apparently (allegedly) there's more to the story of Randy Travis' divorce from his wife of 19 years, Libby Hatcher, and it's a sordid tale of love, lust, and dentistry. 

From the National Enquirer:

Back in July we revealed Libby, 69, had caught the "Forever & Ever, Amen" singer, 51, cheating with his dentist's wife, mother of two Mary Beougher. The ENQUIRER exclusively published photos of the illicit couple in a steamy embrace.

Now the triple Grammy winner and his 51-year-old lover are house-hunting, looking at $10 million mansions near Gainesville, Texas, to share, according to insiders.

Travis - who turned his back on a juvenile delinquent past of boozing, burglary and car theft under Libby's guidance - is drinking again for the first time in many years, say sources.

"Randy is taking a last shot at being the wild young man with his new lover," a Nashville insider told The ENQUIRER. "He's going through a late midlife crisis, and wrecked one of the most successful marriages in the music business."

An affair with a married mother of two seems like such an un-Randy thing to do, let's just hope it turns out to not be true.  Something that does get me, though, is where are the homewrecker headlines that a certain country starlet has had to endure over the last year?  Is it a double standard because Randy's a guy?  Is it because he's seems to be such a private person and hasn't flaunted a possible girlfriend?  Is it because he's older?  Something to make a person go hmmmm I guess. 

Bret Michaels talks about THAT rumor

 
I've been wondering who would be the first to break their silence on the whole Brett Micheals slept with Billy Ray's wife rumor, and now we have our answer....it's Brett Michaels.

Brett recently chatted with Fox & Friends about his diabetes crusade, his brain hemorrhage, his reality shows, and THAT rumor.

Who knew Fox & Friends would go there? 

Brett didn't hesitate when answering.  "The answer is no. I've been friends with her family forever.  It started out with me and Miley simply working on a song together.  Her mom, Tish, likes Every Rose Has Its Thorn,the first concert Miley ever saw was Poison, and so they wanted to remake it for the new record."

One down, two to go.  Who do you suppose will be next to crack? 

Is Bret Michaels a homewrecker?

Rumors have been circulating about the recent announcement of Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus' divorce.  The new "Us Weekly" is reporting that Mrs. Cyrus had an affair with rocker and reality show star Bret Michaels! 

                                                                    Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

An inside source told the magazine that while Bret was recording his duet "Nothing To Lose" with Miley Cyrus in February, he was also making music behind the scenes with Tish.  Billy Ray was completely in the dark about it.

Reps for both Bret and Tish deny the allegations, but the inside source to Us Weekly says, "It was a professional relationship that turned into something more".

 

Posted by Guest Blogger: Staci M.