NASHVILLE, TN – Lauded country singer Rodney Atkins has filed for divorce from his wife, Tammy Jo Atkins, though denies rumors of domestic abuse.

The singer was arrested on November 21^st under a domestic assault charge filed by his wife. She told police that he attempted to suffocate her with a pillow after a night of heavy drinking.

Attorney Rose Palermo denies allegations of violence; instead calling the couple’s spat “an unfortunate verbal dispute”. Police on the scene did not witness any acts of violence, making it a simple case of his word versus hers, according to Palermo.

TMZ broke the story and said this morning that the divorce documents they recently obtained seem to suggest the couple agree on at least one thing; that each other are “guilty of such inappropriate marital conduct as renders further cohabitation unsafe and improper.” What does that mean in words for your common layman? Hostility, of course. So much so that the judge has signed off on a restraining order to prevent the two from more unfortunate verbal disputes until this case can be settled.

Regarding the case itself, Tammy is seeking full custody of the couple’s 10 year old child, alimony, child support, equal distribution of assets, and wants Rodney to foot her legal bills. Rodney himself demands joint custody, is willing to pay alimony, but apparently wants Tammy to cover his legal bills.

More to follow after the scheduled hearing on December 20^th.

So what do you think? Who should pay whose legal fees? Or should they maybe invest in some counseling?

Rodney Atkins Files for Divorce, Denies Domestic Abuse is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Mindy McCready kidnapping story has just gotten a bit more interesting, as the singer announced she was unlikely to rescind custody of her 5-year-old son across state lines any time soon, citing the fact that she is seven months pregnant with twins.

Earlier this week, news broke that the country singer was the subject of a missing persons report after she failed to comply with court-ordered visitation terms. At the time, McCready made the following statement:

“I am working with lawyers to try to get all this straightened out. I did not steal my child, as it would be impossible for me to kidnap what already belongs to me! There never was any missing persons report and never an Amber Alert.”

McCready does not currently have legal custody of the boy, Zander- her mother does- and the singer was ordered to return the child by today to the custody of his grandma. Despite her delicate condition, McCready risks arrest by failing to return Zander to his grandma by the court-ordered deadline. But she claims he suffered abuse, and says from Nashville she does not intend to comply:

“I’m a mom first. No matter what happens, I’m going to protect my kid. If I have to go to jail, so be it.”

McCready lost custody of her son after an incident at her mother Gayle Inge’s home in 2007, after which McCready was sentenced to 60 days in jail for a probation violation. The singer served 30 days, and lost custody of her son. Inge says McCready’s abuse allegations are ”absolutely not true.”

Mindy McCready Says She Can’t Return With Son Because She’s Pregnant is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jamie Lynn Spears stepped out of the spotlight three years ago to give birth and ultimately raise her daughter Maddie and on Monday the actress and singer stepped back into the spotlight during a concert she was throwing in Nashville, Tennessee.

The 20-year-old singer performed at the Rutledge where her original songs were heard mostly by an audience made up of friends and family members.

Speaking after the show mother Lynne told PEOPLE of daughters performance:

“I am so emotional tonight.”

Father Jamie added:

“We’re so proud of her.”

Sister Britney Spears couldn’t be in attendance to support her little sister because of her own tour but she did send her sister a congratulatory tweet:

“Heard you were amazing sis : ) Love you!!”

After completely her show and first major appearance in three years Jamie Lynn took to Twitter to thank everyone who came out to support her show:

“Just wanna thank all my amazing friends and family for coming out tonight!!!”

Thus begins another generation of lip syncing.

[Image via Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com]

Plug Your Ears! Jamie Lynn Spears Performs In Nashville is a post from: The Inquisitr

Actor Tracy Morgan on Tuesday issued an official apology to the LGBT community in Nashville following his June 3 show in which he went on a homophobic rant.

At a press conference organized by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Tracy said:

“The first thing I want to say is that I apologize to Kevin [Rodgers], the people who were at the show for bumming them out, I want to apologize to my friends and my family and my fans and everyone in every community, who is offended with this.”

“I don’t have a hateful bone in my body. I don’t believe that people should be bullied or just made to feel bad about who they are. I totally feel that in my heart. I really don’t care who you love, same-sex or not, as long as have the ability to love. That’s the important thing here. So, now at this point in my life is an opportunity to make a difference. I don’t really see gay or straight, I just see human beings now.”

Morgan went on to add:

“I pride myself on 20 years, 18 years of standup, using it to heal people and not hurt. That was my whole thing and I hurt people with this. So, from the bottom of my heart, I apologize to everybody who I offended with my words on stage in Nashville and anywhere else. I just apologize to you… To err is human, but to forgive is divine. These young people here forgave me… I just want to take this opportunity to help and not hurt.”

Tracy chose not to take any questions from the audience although event organizers thanked him for his apology and acknowledged that he was just trying to be funny without realizing the weight his chosen words had on his audience during his show and on the people of the LGBT community after his remarks were revealed to the general public.

Tracy Morgan Apologizes To LGBT Community For Homophobic Rants is a post from: The Inquisitr

Regular readers of the Inquisitr know that Jack White is my soul mate, so this post will be a huge exercise in objectivity. You’re welcome.

The most epic musical genius of our generation and wife Karen Elson are divorcing, it seems, but the notoriously private musician has taken the interesting step of hosting an event to mark their split. (Which, if you’ve been through a for-the-better divorce or witnessed one, actually doesn’t seem like too bad of an idea.) The event is on tonight in Nashville, and the invitation below reads:

“Karen Elson and Jack White kindly request the presence…at a party to celebrate their 6th anniversary, and their upcoming divorce with a positive swing bang hum dinger. The party will include dancing, photos, memories and drinks with alcohol in them. This is only for close personal friends and family so please no plus ones or dead beats.

“Please help us celebrate together this anniversary of the making and breaking of the sacred union of marriage with our best friends and animals.”

White and Elson, who married on June 1st of 2005, released a statement about the split and the party, acknowledging their intent to parent together and remain friends:

“We remain dear and trusted friends and coparents to our wonderful children Scarlett and Henry Lee. We feel so fortunate for the time we have shared and the time we will continue to spend both separately and together watching our children grow.

“In honor of that time shared, we are throwing a divorce party, an evening together in Nashville to reaffirm our friendship and celebrate the past and future with close friends and family.”

It was also reported that OMG, Jack White, we should totally get married.

Jack White, Wife Announce Split With Divorce Party is a post from: The Inquisitr

Flooding of unprecedented proportions over the past few days has wrought havoc on Nashville and surrounding areas of Tennessee and Mississippi.

Fifteen people have died, and more rain has been recorded in the past 24 hours than has ever fallen in Nashville. While news pictures and footage tell a story, the clip below (via Mashable) paints a much more compelling picture of the devastation in the area. The American Red Cross reports that 800 people have been temporarily placed in about 20 shelters, and a CNN iReporter commented on the conditions in and around Nashville:

“You can’t take showers. You can’t flush your toilets,” Ellis said.

“It’s just a crazy, crazy last two days,” he said. “I think people are just worn out emotionally.”

The National Weather Service has also confirmed that two tornadoes have touched down in the area:

One tornado touched down in Benton and Tippah counties in Mississippi and Hardeman County in Tennessee, the weather service said.

That tornado caused two fatalities and a critical injury when a double-wide mobile home was destroyed east of Ashland, Mississippi, the weather service said.

The tornado also killed a person in Pocahontas, Tennessee, when a single-wide trailer was demolished, the weather agency said.

Video: YouTube upload chronicles record floods in Nashville is a post from: The Inquisitr

Protesters at a rally against an initiative that world force Nashville metro Government to conduct business in English only have said the among other things, the initiative violates Christian teachings.

While the proposal would require all government communications and publications to be conducted in English, though the council could make specific exceptions for health and safety.

“It is wrong morally because it diminishes the value of individuals and it speaks against the principles of liberty for all,” said Patricia Stokes, president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee.

“It doesn’t make sense socially, economically, spiritually, morally,” Councilwoman Erica Gilmore said. “We are a place of many nations and many people, and we should embrace that.”

According to the Tennessean, supporters say the change would encourage people to learn and use English; put the onus for language help on individuals, not government; and save the $100,000 or so Metro spends each year on translation and related services.

Doing Government Business in English Only Apparently Violates Christian Teachings is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nicole Kidman told a Tennessee newspaper, that she loves Nashville and delivers meals on wheels in her spare time, which given the reviews of her most recent movie Australia, she might have a lot more time for.

“I love doing that because it’s just being part of a community,” she says. “That is what is important to both of us, feeling like we’re normal and part of a community.

She also said people don’t always “recognise” her. This is most probably because as Sharon Osbourne said, she has has so much botox, her forehead looks like a “flat schreen tv”.

The Australian press however are whipping themselves into a frenzy about “their Nicole” and her desire for her baby, Sunday Rose to have an “American accent”.

“I’m glad that she is able to say she’s born and bred in Nashville and Tennessee. That is really lovely. I think it’s very appropriate, considering her daddy. His whole life was headed here; from a little boy, he dreamed of coming here. For him to be able to say his baby girl was born here, I think is very special. I hope she has a Southern accent.”

Given the poor kid is called Sunday, she is going to need all the help she can get, so we say the Aussie press should give her a break.

Nicole Kidman Delivers Meals On Wheels in Nashville is a post from: The Inquisitr

Keith Urban rocked out at a down-home concert with his pal Kenny Chesney in Nashville, and even facing a crowd of 50,000 wasn’t going to stop him from beaming about his mega-pregnant wife and her rapidly approaching due date. Keith got ready to start in on “Better Half” at the concert, but before he did, he dedicated his work to Nicole, saying “I’m going to dedicate a song to my very, very, very, very, VERY pregnant wife!”

I hope that Nicole Kidman has an easy “natural lamaze birth” and just enjoys being a mom. (No, I’m not being sarcastic.) I’m just glad we’re not facing as much hoopla as Angelina Jolie’s whirlwind of a pregnancy has treated up to so far!

Nicole Kidman Gets a Cute Dedication from Keith; Will Pop at Any Moment is a post from: The Inquisitr