Country crooner Jason Aldean is closing the door on his marriage to Jessica Ussery.

Aldean filed the papers last Friday, according to the Los Angeles Times. Last week was the first time the singer had publicly acknowledged the couple's marital difficulties.

"This is a really tough time for my entire family," Aldean said Monday according to People. "Jessica and I have been together since we were teenagers. We've been through a lot of ups and downs over the years as we grew up together as a couple. She will always be important to me because she is the mother of my children, and I know that we will both always make our daughters our No. 1 priority."

Last October, the 36-year-old Aldean was seen at a California bar kissing former American Idol contestant Brittany Kerr. Although Aldean issued a formal apology, he attended the Academy of Country Music Awards solo this year according to Reuters.

Aldean and Ussery are the parents of 10-year-old Keeley and 5-year-old Kendyl. While the public may wish to speculate over the reasons for the couples divorce, Aldean asks for privacy for the sake of his children.

"I understand that because of my job, I have to go through a lot of this in the public eye, but for my girls' sake I really wish people would give us some level of privacy and at the very least be respectful of them," Aldean stated, reports People.

The divorce papers were filed under Aldean's birth name, Jason Williams, by attorney Rose Palermo in Williamson County, Tenn., according to documents obtained by TMZ.

Tags: Jason Aldean