Ashley Judd and Dario Franchitti Split: Mutual Decision & Will Stay 'Family Forever'

Ashley Judd and Dario Franchitti announced their split on Tuesday, Jan. 29.

The couple who have been married for ten years have no children together and released a joint statement regarding the breakup to People magazine:

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“We have mutually decided to end our marriage. We’ll always be family and continue to cherish our relationship based on the special love, integrity, and respect we have always enjoyed.”

Tuesday night, Ashley tweeted a message out to her soon-to-be ex: "Family forever." 

Judd, 44, and Franchitti, 39, announced their engagement in 1999 and tied the knot in a private ceremony in Scotland in 2001. Judd’s famous country singer sister, Wynona, served as maid of honor for the ceremony and Franchitti’s brother Mario was the best man.

As a race car driver, Dario nabbed a number of championship titles including winning the Indianapolis 500 three times and the Indy Car Series four times.

There was much talk of the “Missing” star’s interest in trading in her acting career for a shot at politics. Ashley was poised for a run against top senate Republican Mitch McConnell for a seat to represent Kentucky. However, her publicist Cara Tripicchio squashed those rumors in a statement to Politico.

“Ashley has yet to decide about running for the United States Senate. She is honored by the incredible encouragement from her fellow Kentuckians and the national interest, including Senator McConnell,” Tripicchio said.

In 2012, Ashley reportedly looked into what would be required of her if she did want to pursue a career in politics. Sources said she met with New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in December about the possible bid and started conducting opposition research.

"She is doing all the things that a serious candidate exploring a race should do," Rep. John Yarmuth told Politico at the time about Ashley's political activities.