Shelton also filed paperwork on 6 July (15) in a different Oklahoma county than the one in which the estranged couple lives in a bid to keep the marriage break-up under the radar.

In the documents, obtained by In Touch magazine, Shelton filed a "petition for protective order", which was approved hours after he handed over the papers.

The stars released a statement through their representatives confirming the sad news on Monday (20Jul15), declaring: "This is not the future we envisioned and it is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately. We are real people, with real lives, with real families, friends and colleagues. Therefore, we kindly ask for privacy and compassion concerning this very personal matter."

The couple wed in 2011.