Stefanie Hertel and Stefan Mross File For Divorce

Mross and Hertel:
Rumors had been swirling for months

Breaking news from Germany is that the schlager music couple, Stefanie Hertel, 32 and Stefan Mross, 35 have just formally filed for divorce. The schlager music hitmakers were childhood sweethearts from the ages of 15 and 18 respectively. They were married in 2006 and have a ten year old daughter, Johanna.

Mross, a trumpeter, won the Grand Prix der Volksmuzik in 1989 with the song Heimwehmelodie and Hertel, an East-German born Alpine-styled schlager singer, followed in 1992 with a victory in that event with "So a Stückerl heile Welt". They entered the event as a team in 1995 and finished second.

Rumors as to their marital troubles had apparently been swirling around schlager music circles for some time. Bild magazine reported that Mross had been having an ongoing extramarital affair. So they instructed their attornies to release a terse statement to German news media Wednesday.

It is interesting that in Germany, there seems a far greater tendency on the part of the press not to pry into the private lives of celebrities as energetically as in the US and UK.

Here is the statement that Hertel and Mross released:

Dear Friends and Fans:

This is the message we have just given to the German Press Agency (DPA):

Stefanie Hertel and Stefan Mross agreed to separate some time ago, but remain on friendly terms and will continue to work together.

Neither Stefanie Hertel nor Stefan Mross will comment on rumors of their involvement in new relationships and ask that you respect their privacy.

They would like to thank you for your support and understanding.

Stefanie Hertel and Stefan Mross

P.S. All of their previously scheduled joint appearances will take place as planned.

Apparently they'll have to at least tolerate each other for a while as they are scheduled to embark on an 18 city "Alpine Christmas" tour beginning November 30th.

Here they are performing together in happier times: