Country music star Reba McEntire has announced that she’s splitting from her husband of 26 years Narvel Blackstock. However, though their romance has ended, the former couple intend to continue their professional relationship, as Blackstock is her current manager.

The 60 year old country music veteran and her manager / producer husband, 58, revealed on Monday (August 3rd) that they had split after living apart for several months. However, representatives for the couple did not confirm whether they were filing for divorce yet.

Reba McEntire Narvel BlackstockReba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock have split up after 26 years of marriage

It’s a shock to many onlookers who cited their marriage of more than a quarter of a century as one of the strongest relationships in the whole music industry, never mind the Nashville country music scene.

More: Kelly Clarkson marries Brandon Blackstock in Tennessee ceremony

A statement from the Big Machine Label Group, run by Narvel and to which Taylor Swift is signed, was released to McEntire’s website and read: “Despite this being the end of their marriage, they continue to support each other. They have worked together for 35 years and will continue to do so. They have asked that you respect their privacy during this time.”

Reba and Narvel married in 1989 and had a son, named Shelby, who is now a professional race car driver. Blackstock also has three children from his previous marriage to Elisa Gayle – daughters Shawna and Chassidey, and son Brandon (who is married to pop star Kelly Clarkson).

McEntire is one of the most successful artists in country music history, winning two Grammy Awards and racking up 28 albums that are certified as gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. She has appeared in a total of 11 films, and was also the star of the popular sitcom ‘Reba’ which ran from 2001 to 2007 on The WB.

More: Reba McEntire – ‘Going Out Like That’ [video]