Sara Evans' former nanny, Alison Clinton, is demanding a public retraction after the singer alleged her husband, Craig Schelske, committed adultery with Clinton. The demand was made by Clinton's attorney, Ronnie Berke of Chattanooga, Tenn., in a press release distributed Monday (Oct. 16) on a national news wire service.

Although the allegation of adultery was made in Evans' divorce complaint against Schelske filed Thursday (Oct. 12) in a court in Franklin., Tenn., CMT.com did not mention Clinton's name or her relationship to Evans and Schelske until the former nanny issued Monday's press release. Schelske has denied all allegations in Evans' divorce complaint and commended Clinton's "courageous decision" in rebutting the adultery charge.

Here are the contents of Clinton's press release:

"In response to what Ronnie Berke describes as irresponsible and inexplicable allegations by country music star Sara Evans, Alison Clinton has categorically rejected the sad, unlawful and despicable attempt by Evans to assign part of the blame for her broken marriage on an alleged affair with Evans' husband Craig Schelske.

"Prior to Evans' false accusations, she had been a contestant on ABC's hit show Dancing With the Stars. And prior to the accusations, Clinton had long-considered Evans a dear friend, as well as an employer. Evans even served as Clinton's matron of honor at her July 1 wedding. ...

"Clinton served as a nanny for Evans and Schelske several years ago and stopped in 2004, due to an eating disorder. Because of their friendship and Clinton's commitment to preventing others from suffering from anorexia, Evans signed on as an ambassador for the National Eating Disorders Association. After treatment for her illness, Evans rehired Clinton as her personal assistant and co-president of Evans' fan club. Evans even encouraged Clinton to enter the country music world as a singer.

"According to Clinton, after hearing her demo, Evans pledged that Clinton would be a backup singer and dancer when the country music star returned to the road in December. Furthermore, Evans had spoken to Clinton about being her and her brother's first artist with their new country music production company.

"Clinton married her longtime boyfriend three months ago, at which Evans was the matron of honor and her children were the flower girls and ring bearer. Mr. Schelske was a groomsman.

"Besides committing herself to educating others about the dangers of eating disorders, Clinton has also spent substantial time as a volunteer for Special Olympics.

"Clinton has said she will sign an affidavit disavowing the allegation, as well as take a lie detector test. Earlier ... her attorney sent a tersely written letter to Evans' lawyer, demanding a public retraction.

"'I am crushed. I thought Sarah (sic) was my friend. I have never been anything but loyal to her and her family. I cannot understand this, but now I am forced clear my name in order to preserve the best possible future for me and my family,'" Clinton said.

Meanwhile, Schelske issued another press release Tuesday (Oct. 17) in support of Clinton's public denial of Evans' charges.

Schelske said, "I deeply appreciate the courageous decision of our friend and former employee Alison Clinton to step forward and tell the truth in the face of the cruel and false allegations leveled against her by Sara. No one should have to go through what Alison is being forced to endure, and she is in my prayers."

He added, "I cannot explain why Sara is waging a false media campaign, but I intend to defend myself in court and protect my children as best I can."

Schelske also addressed the matter of a prerecorded interview with Evans scheduled to run Tuesday night on the Dancing With the Stars television show. Evans withdrew from the competition when she filed for divorce.

"As for Sara's scheduled appearance on this evening's episode of Dancing With the Stars, my attorneys have put ABC on notice that I deny the false allegations in the divorce complaint, that those false allegations should not be repeated in the broadcast, and that Sara and ABC should consider the impact of her televised statement on our children, whose well-being remains my highest concern."