Sara Evans Quits Dancing

By: Shannon Gossage

Evans originally cited "personal reasons" for her departure from the hit show Dancing with the Stars, but it has been revealed that she decided to pull out of the competition because she filed for divorce from her husband Craig Schelske on Thursday. Evans and Schelske have been married in 1993 and just three days ago she spoke very highly of him and of the show. Evans said on October 10, "I feel so loved and adored by my fans, and they know how hard I am working and how much this means to me. [My husband] is amazing, he loves it. He just thinks it is amazing to watch the transition of someone who has never danced before to someone who is really enjoying dancing, so he finds it phenomenal."

A source recently told US Weekly that Evans is "in the middle of a nasty divorce and it is too much for her to keep it going." A video message was posted on her Website, Dancing With Sara.com, last Saturday showing Evans and her dancing partner Tony Dovolani headed to sing the national anthem at an Anaheim Ducks hockey game. In the message she said, "We just want to say thank you for all your votes, and this week we’re having a great time learning the samba. Please keep voting. We love you and we’ll see you on TV Tuesday night." Just five days later she pulled out of the show.

In a statement released by her personal rep it said Evans, 35, made the decision to leave the show "to give her family her full attention at this difficult time. Ms. Evans hopes her fans and TV viewers will respect and understand her need for privacy in the face of recent events." Evans’ last appearance on Dancing with the Stars will be October 17. Her partner Dovolani said of her decision to leave the show, "This has really taken me by surprise."