Shania Twain has told her fans she needs time to mend her "broken heart" after her marriage to producer husband Robert 'Mutt' Lange ended.
The Man! I Feel Like A Woman star and her legendary producer husband were married in 1993, only six months after first meeting and are parents to Eja D'Angelo, their six-year-old son.
But a statement issued to People magazine confirmed they were to split, with subsequent rumours suggesting that Lange had been involved in an affair with Marie-Anne Thiebaud, a friend of Twain's, though these reports have been denied by both parties.
In a posting on her website, the country megastar has opened up about the pain of the split.
"As I am sure you have seen or heard; I am going through a rough time personally in my life," she wrote.
"I wanted you all to know that I could not be getting through this without you. Your letters, emails and words of encouragement give me strength."
She also thanked fans for their support which "reminds me to smile, no matter how deep the pain and to always be grateful for all the beautiful blessings in my life".
Twain, 42, achieved the third biggest-selling album ever with her 1997 effort Come On Over - produced by her husband - and is the only female artists to have three albums with sales of more than ten million copies, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
Lange, 17 years Twain's senior, is one of the most successful rock music producers of all time, having worked with artists such as the Cars, Foreigner, Def Leppard and AC/DC, for whom he produced Back in Black, the fifth biggest-selling album of all time.
"I have so much to say but I know the best way for me to speak is through my music," she continued in her web posting.
"This is my therapy, my passion, and my love. I look forward to sharing it with all of you as I begin this new journey.
"I need some time to heal this broken heart but make no mistake; I will be back and hopefully stronger than ever. Thank you my friends, from the bottom of my heart."
06/06/2008 15:05:36
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