Evans quits 'Dancing With the Stars'

LOS ANGELES - Country singer Sara Evans on Thursday announced she was filing for divorce and quitting the "Dancing With the Stars" television competition.

Evans filed for divorce from Craig Schelske in Williamson County, Tenn., where she lives, according to a statement issued by Allen Brown, her representative at Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

"Recent events that shed light on the status of her marriage prompted Ms. Evans to make the filing," Brown said in the statement. He declined to elaborate.

The couple were married in 1993 and have three children.

Evans decided she needed to leave the TV show "to give her family her full attention at this difficult time," Brown said.

She was among 11 celebrities who paired with professional dancers to compete on the third season of the popular ABC reality series.

"Ms. Evans hopes that her fans and TV viewers who've supported her in recent weeks and throughout her music career will respect and understand her need for privacy in the face of these recent events," Brown said.

Evans, 35, was recently nominated for female vocalist of the year honors by the Country Music Association. The Missouri native made her recording debut in 1997 and her 2000 album "Born To Fly" went double-platinum.