Sara Evans says day of filing divorce, dancing on reality TV show was 'a blur'

Country singer Sara Evans said her experience as an entertainer helped carry her through her final performance last week on ABC television's "Dancing With the Stars."

Photo: Sara Evans says day of filing divorce, dancing on reality TV show was 'a blur'

Evans had learned hours before the show Oct. 11 about racy allegations against her husband of 13 years that prompted her to file for divorce, she said in an interview aired Tuesday night on the show.

"It's a blur," she said.

"The good thing is that I'm so used to performing, as you know, that as an entertainer, we just have the ability to just try to flip the switch, turn it on, do the dance and make it through the day," she said.

Evans, 35, alleges that Craig Schelske, 43, committed adultery, was verbally and emotionally abusive, drank excessively and frequently watched pornography in their home.

"I cannot explain why Sara is waging a false media campaign, but I intend to defend myself in court and protect my children as best I can," Schelske said in a statement issued Tuesday.

He said his attorneys advised ABC that he denied all of the allegations in the divorce filing and said Evans needed to consider the well-being of her children in doing the interview.

Evans said there were already "some things in motion" in her decision to divorce Schelske, but that she had hoped to work it out.

"It was always my intention to try to take things slowly," she told host Tom Bergeron. "My intention was to try everything that was in my power" to save the marriage, reports AP.

"It's very personal and very traumatic and very hard for my children," she said. "Things drastically went downhill at 100 miles an hour."

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

Schelske ran for Congress as a Republican from Oregon's 5th District in 2002. He is a native of Salem, Oregon.

Evans was recently nominated for female vocalist of the year honors by the Country Music Association. She made her recording debut in 1997 and her 2000 album "Born to Fly" went double-platinum. Her hits include "Perfect," "Suds in the Bucket" and "Real Fine Place to Start."