Rod Stewart (Finally) Seeks Divorce

By Todd Peterson

Friday May 23, 2003 11:00 AM EDT

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You must have seen this one coming: Rocker Rod Stewart is finally making it legal, filing for divorce from his long-estranged wife, model Rachel Hunter, Reuters reports.

The singer, 58, split from the 33-year-old Hunter in 1999 after eight years together. Since then, both Hunter and Stewart have been in widely publicized relationships -- she with another (much younger) British pop star, Robbie Williams, and he with girlfriend Penny Lancaster.

"I've paid my dues to the institution of marriage and have no interest in clinging to the past," Stewart is quoted as saying in Britain's Sun newspaper. "I have decided to get a divorce. "

Stewart has two children with Rachel: Renee, 10, and Liam, 8. At the time of their split, Stewart was hopeful for a reconciliation, saying, "I was so sure she was the woman I was going to spend the rest of my life with."

Now, the twice-married "Maggie May" singer says it's time to put that part of his life to rest.

"I owe it to Penny," Stewart said.