Owen announces marriage split

Owen wrote on Twitter, ""This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. We appreciate your support and privacy in this matter." He then posted a statement about the split with his wife, Lacey Buchanan.

"I wanted to let my fans know how much I've appreciated their support of not only my career, but my family as a whole. Sadly, Lacey and I have decided to end our marriage. We want to focus on our daughter Pearl and make sure that she has a beautiful life with loving parents. We appreciate you respecting our privacy during this time."

Owen proposed during a charity concert to Buchanan, a model, on May 7, 2012, in Vero Beach, Fla., where he grew up.

Owen talked about his marital problems in an interview posted July 1 on America's Morning Show. "Right now - and I haven't said this a lot lately because I didn't think this was anyone's business other than mine and my wife's - but my wife and I, for the last few months, have really been having a hard time and struggling with communication and literally talking about divorce and all kinds of stuff," he said. "And I don't want to talk about that, but after long conversations for days and weeks, part of us talking about it and getting it out there and letting people know that we're the same as they are, we have problems, too, it made us feel better talking about the things we've kept from each other."

Owen's announcement follows a spate of marital splits in Nashville, including Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock and Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton.