The rapidly developing story of country star Sara Evans’ divorce filing doesn’t just involve the time-honored, sordid standbys of splitsville, like (alleged) adultery, porn, and the seedier side of Craigslist. It also expands to include three possibly even more incendiary elements: politics, religion, and thwarted disco dancing.
I can’t much speak to whether it’s a tragedy that Evans’ career as a hoofer might have been cut down in its prime, but I do have a take on some of the other unusual aspects of this case. Last year, I sat down with her in a Starbucks near her Tennessee home to do an interview for my book, Rednecks & Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music, in which I looked at how the convictions of that genre’s stars mirror or even shape the values of middle America. Evans has one of my favorite voices in the world, and I knew she was an outspoken conservative who collaborates happily with a lot of Nashville’s most notorious liberals, so I was eager to get her take on country’s political divide, Somehow, in the midst of talking about her activism for Republican causes, we ended up on the subject of divorce. So when, in her exit interview on last night’s edition of Dancing with the Stars, she made the assertion that “I’m completely against divorce,” I knew she wasn’t just blowing smoke.
"One of the main reasons I come out so strongly for conservativevalues is not only because of my religious beliefs,” she told me inthat 2005 sit-down, “but because it scares me to think how much divorcethere is in America today, how many babies are aborted, how many brokenfamilies there are. I believe for America to stay strong there isnothing more important than for the family to stay together. I love thefact that some laws are coming into place now to make it harder todivorce." (Evans was talking at that point about the “covenant marriage”legislation that’s on the books in a handful of states, intended toslow down the divorce process with counseling and other roadblocks,which theoretically might prevent couples from splitting up tooimpulsively.) As a kicker, she added: "I come from a divorced family,so I know what it can do."
I’ve seen or heard of a few people citing that passage from my book,wondering if Evans is a hypocrite for heading for the halls of justice.I have to say that, having had that talk with Evans (and having seenher husband, Craig Schelske, practically attached to her at the hipeach time I’d run into her at an awards show or even out on tour), that first divorce headline came as a shocker. On the other hand, if you’ve ever gone to an Evans concert and seen the sheer glee with which she delivers “When You Were Cheating,”her recent wronged-woman hit, the short time span between her learningof the alleged adultery and the court filing is just a little lesssurprising. “How do you like that furnished room, the bed, the chair,the table?” she would sing, smiling. “The TV pictures goes in and out,too bad you don’t have cable /How do you like that paper plate, andthose pork-n-beans you’re eatin’/Maybe you should’ve thought aboutthat/When you were cheatin’…” That’s the Sara Evans we know, too — theone who went back to the judge after the initial filing to get anadditional injunction to stop Schelske from making transfers out oftheir joint account.
Evans is very much an evangelical Christian, and the teaching inthose circles tends to be that, under New Testament restrictions,divorce is never allowable… except if the partner has betrayed themarriage by straying sexually. I think this helps explain why the courtfilings have so many revelations about her husband’s supposedinfidelities that some have called it a “scorched earth” approach: Shemay want her fans, many of whom are conservative Christians themselves,to know in no uncertain terms that she believes she has not just amoral but biblical basis for instigating divorce proceedings. You mighthave heard of the term “getting Dixie Chick-ed,” which means gettingostracized by fans for one’s politics. Along those lines, nobody inNashville wants to be “Amy Grant-ed,” either; Grant lost a lot of herChristian fans when she filed for divorce without specifying thereasons. Evans isn’t in the CCM business, of course, but there is someoverlap in the fan base, and she hasn’t been shy about holding herselfup as a positive role model. So there won’t be any of this “amicable”talk for her, lest anyone get the idea she’s suddenly gone soft on theD-word. On the other hand, if she puts too many allegations outthere—and on some message boards, they think she has—she could be seenas embodying un-Christian qualities of revenge.
After all, it seems like Evans might be just a little less conservative than her husband, who heads up his own GOP PAC and ran unsuccessfully for congress in the state of Oregon a few years ago. The divorce papers (available here as a pdf file)reveal some tension over Evans’ stint as a TV dancer, and the friendsit brought her: “Husband referred to the costume designer for the show Dancing With the Starsas a ‘sodomite’ and told her how awful it was to have the children inthe home when the costume designer was present.” But, to paraphrase anold saying, how are you gonna keep her down on the farm when she’s gonedancing in gay Los Angel-eez?
Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to Evans’ next tour, and not just because she promised last night that she’s going to get Dancingpartner Tony Dovolani to choreograph her previously dance-free show.Evans always talks between songs — a lot — and when it comes time for theinevitable preamble to “When You Were Cheating,” it may be a good ideaif we’re all wearing flame-retardant clothing.
Comments (1-30) of 35 Add your comment
Unless you like Country, not many people know who Evans is. Now because of this divorce, perhaps we will. It is not a nice thing to say but bad publicity is better than no publicity. If her PR person spins this as her being the boo hoo wife against the thirteen year old younger horny wolf it might work out to her advantage. However, I am very sorry for the kids. No kid should be put through this.
1602 Blog Verification
1602
Thank-you for your post, Chris. I’m a big fan of Sara’s am happy to have someone speak up for her who actually knows what they’re talking about. If the allegations against her husband are true, I don’t think anyone can fault her for divorcing, even those who think they don’t believe in it. Sara probably wishes that she could still think that she doesn’t believe in it either.
I hope that Sara gets back to her family, and then back to the music. Enough of DWTS and the media circus.
I love it when holier-than-thous tell everyone how to live their lives. Then, when it becomes inconvenient, they do want they want.
Very good blog, Chris. Being a life long Southern Baptist myself, I know just what she means by what she says. Hopefully people won’t treat her harshly for things over which she had no control.
I like that she does speak her mind and speak her faith but doesn’t come across as an embarrassment to her faith.
U think the main reason she uit that show was because of her children. I don’t watch the show, but I watched the short interview with her.
Mike, I don’t think she is being holier-than-thou at all. She stated religious reasons as only part of why she doesn’t like divorce. Personal experience plays a role for her too. She stated last night that she had planned to do everything in her power to avoid divorce. But apparently, the situation wouldn’t allow that.
I agree w/Stephanie. I never heard of Sara before DWTS and of course, this latest divorce revelation will put her on the front of all the tabloids (People, Star) which is good for publicity and probably album sales. Now, last night’s interview with Tom had my head swimming. The way she talked about her dance partner stating “even though he is from Albania.” I doubt Sara knows where Albania is. The dance partner seemed a little embarassed, as if he had to justify where he came from. That statement from her was condescending. And maybe that’s the true person she really is.
GREAT post, Chris. Those who have already made up their minds about what has happened with Sara won’t be swayed, but hopefully you’ve made the situation clearer for open-minded folks.
I don’t watch Dancing with the Stars, but I know who Sara Evans is and greatly appreciate this post. Usually I find a load of laughs in this blog, but this post was even-handed and fair. Thanks for bringing some rationale to the normally skewed world of celebrity reporting.
I seriously doubt that Sara Evans thought through what a fire-storm her decision to get a divorce would cause. If you look at most of the female singers, especially the Country ones, most of them have husbands who become their “Managers”. It takes a very healthy male ego to be able to make a living off of their wife’s talent and not lose their pride. Some can handle it beautifully and others take to having to shore up their egos with other women, rather real or web-page ones.
Thanks for an article that features an articulate and respectful presentation of the Christian world-view, which is difficult to find in mainstream journalism and particularly unexpected for an entertainment magazine.
CHRIS, i think it is wonderful that at least one person with a public forum whose comments can’t be deleted wrote about Sara with better knowledge, as a long time fan of hers I can tell you she is who she says she is, there is no lying in her and that is why it is painful to see people trying to hurt her instead of supporting her.I personally am proud to be her fan because she is doing the right thing for her kids and herself.As a child of parents who should have gotten a divorce I can tell you it is better for a couple to divorce than stay and create a hostile environment for their children. Great Article!!!!!
I had never heard of her before Dancing with the Stars and although I wish her and her family only the best, I resent that she has turned a fun show into a forum for her views on divorce. There was no reason for this mess to be so public (especially if she cares about her children as much as she claims) and she certainly could have bowed out of the show with some discretion. It don’t know whether she is looking for justification, sympathy or publicity, but I don’t care to ever see her again.
Maybe now Sara Evans will think twice before preaching to the rest of the world about what a bad thing divorce is. Does she still “love the fact that there are laws coming into place that make it harder to divorce”? How ironic is that?!!! And maybe she’ll think twice about being anti-choice as well, and about the kind of painful decisions that women have to make, just like she’s making now. And maybe the Republicans will shut the f up about their superior moral values. Don’t forget, Sara’s husband, Craig, was a major GOP fund-raiser. First Foley, now this. Talk about karma biting the GOP in the a$$.
That’s exactly right Mike (quote: “I love it when holier-than-thous tell everyone how to live their lives. Then, when it becomes inconvenient, they do want they want.”), you hit it on the head. Her rambling on moral values reminded me of a “Miss Something” beauty pageant. One thing is for sure: you can sure use her too as proof that money and success don’t do anything (anything good anyway) for the brains.
Too bad about Sara Evans’ situation. However, not all female country singers harp so much about family values. Ever see Shania Twain speak out about divorce? Not that she’s worried, being happily married to Mutt Lang and with a son.
I have read all of these comments and it is funny, because as a child of divorce I know how painful it is to admit the failure, since Sara is a product of divorce herself I think that she is thinking of her children and what THEIR lives will be like above all else. Having parents that are divorced sucks and she knows it. That is not holier-than-thou that is reality.
Great post, Chris. As a Sara fan (and fellow Missourian), I believe that she honestly isn’t in this for the publicity. I don’t share Sara’s conservative beliefs and I’m far from a Republican, but when you’re raised in rural Missouri, these type of things are just naturally ingrained into your psyche. So no, Sara’s not trying to become a tabloid darling; she’s just acting in the manner in which she was raised.
DWTS is a stupid show. But Sara Evans seems like a nice woman. And on a CMT interview she did with Lance Smith. She was funny, articulate and bright. And she never said anything even close to make me think she was a bible holding GOP freak. Her decision to get divorded seems like a valid one if the allegations are true. Regardless if she thinks its good to make it harder to get divorced. She will have to navigate divorce the same way everyone else does. It doesnt make her a hypocrite. She never told anyone they cant get divorced. However, she is anti abortion, and apparantly has said that a few times. If so, if she then goes and has an abortion, that makes her a hypocrite. Its one thing to believe something and do the opposite. Its another to TELL OTHERS not to do something, and then do it herself. Just my 2 cents….
I will never be a republican, but politics aside, let’s just give our support to a struggling human being in a time of great tragedy in her life. That’s all I can say.
As is the case with Martina McBride, I like her voice a lot but am not a fan of her politics, especially when she aligns herself with the likes of Sean Hannity, who makes my skin crawl.
I wish her the best and if she and her soon-to-be ex learn anything from this, it’s that no one’s perfect. My problem with social and religious conservatives is that they place themselves on a higher moral plane and when the trap door of reality gives out beneath them, the fall is that much more painful and, unfortunately in this case, public.
I don’t think Sara is a hypocrite because of her religious beliefs, what she’s said in the past or her political affiliation. Coming to the decisions she’s had to make in the last week have taken a toll on her, and were difficult on different levels.
Fans of DWTS could tell just from Sara’s physical appearance (huge bags/circles under the eyes) that something was wrong. You don’t get that way from late-night dance practices.
I had never heard the name Sara Evans before this DWTS season, and doubt very much I ever will. However, I wonder what type of values is she practicing, by airing her private affairs all over a dance show. Her values should include thinking that the man she is publicly chastising is still her husband, and most important of all, he is and will always be the father of her children. When I found her to be a total hypocrite was when she announced how concerned she was for her husband, her family…… why then treat your divorce in the media? I had thought that by last week, Ms. Evans was done embarassing herself on TV, until I saw her so-called interview with Tom Bergeron. I bet 90% of the viewers wished they would have been spared so much information on a topic which is of no one’s concern other than to Ms. Evans and her spouse. As for Tom Bergeron, please leave the interviewing to Larry King and Diane Sawyer. You, sir, stick to MC-ing…. please……
I like Sara Evans too, but I do have to wonder about that interview. I mean, why? Seems to me she wants some publicity…..I have no idea why she wants that kind of it, though
I am glad Sara Evans is gone. She was really wooden and ackward on the dance floor. I was so afraid that she would win because of the “country” vote. Whew!!
http://jakesboysbigbadblog.blogspot.com/
Sara Evans can’t dance – loser.
sara slutty evans big natural tits loves anal sex..hope sheshows them tits
sara can’t dance but those tits wiggle real nice ..
Sara did better than Gerry Springer
mkpqvyxa pxlfgwji tnuh kcgtyid xctmayjsd mkrcgua odcyhqb