Rodney Atkins Files For Divorce; Denies Abuse Claims

After the country star's wife,Tammy Jo, had him arrested for allegedly trying to smother her with a pillow, Rodney Atkins says he had no choice but to file for divorce. COUNTRY MUSIC STAR RODNEY ATKINS HAS A WHOLE LOT OF NEW MATERIAL FOR HIS NEXT ALBUM... THE "IT'S AMERICA" SINGER HAS FILED FOR DIVORCE FROM HIS WIFE, TAMMY JO, AFTER CLAIMING SHE MADE FALSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES AGAINST HIM. ON NOVEMBER 21ST, RODNEY WAS ARRESTED, AFTER TAMMY JO CLAIMED HE TRIED TO SMOTHER HER WITH A PILLOW. ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, TAMMY TOLD POLICE THAT AN ALCOHOL-FUELED FIGHT WITH HER HUSBAND TURNED VIOLENT, AND THAT HE GRABBED HER BY THE FACE AND THREW HER DONE A HALLWAY IN FRONT OF THEIR 10-YEAR-OLD SON. HIS LAWYER SAYS, AFTER HIS WIFE'S ALLEGED FALSE CLAIMS, RODNEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FILE FOR DIVORCE... AND HE CITED THE USUAL, "IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES" BUT ALSO INCLUDED "inappropriate marital conduct" ON HIS WIFE'S PART AND THAT "further cohabitation unsafe and improper." WELL, THAT'S ONE THING THAT EVERYONE CAN AGREE ON! THE JUDGE HANDLING THE CASE JUST SIGNED OFF ON A RESTRAINING ORDER—BARRING BOTH RODNEY AND TAMMY JO FROM "HARASSING, THREATENING, ASSAULTING OR ABUSING THE OTHER PARTY". A COURT DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR JANUARY.