Bucky Covington may be singing the blues for awhile.
The fifth-season American Idol finalist announced Tuesday that he has separated from his wife of seven years, Crystal. They have no children.
"This is a difficult time for both of us and I would ask that everyone respect our privacy," Covington, 29, said in a statement issued by his record company, Lyric Street Records.
Crystal, a nurse, was by Covington's side—in spirit if not always geographically—as he competed on Idol last year, eventually finishing in eighth place. The couple are from Rockingham, North Carolina, but Covington made a move to Nashville this year to pursue his country-rock music career, which is at least one thing that seems to be working out really well.
Covington, whose real name is William Joel Covington III, released his first single, "A Different World," last month and his self-titled debut album is due out Apr. 17. The singer will also be following in the footsteps of the most prominent names in country on Mar. 9, when he's set to make his Grand Ole Opry debut.
"That is just going to be awesome, man. I am really looking forward to it, and I just hope I don't screw up!" he told Larry King last month.
The video for "A Different World" was recently shot in Los Angeles, where Idol's sixth season is in full swing to the tune of 35 million viewers a week and is set to premiere Thursday on CMT and Friday on Yahoo Music.