Putting an end to months of speculation and denied rumors, Madonna's publicist confirmed that the 50-year-old Queen of Pop is indeed getting a divorce from her husband of nearly eight years, British director Guy Ritchie, 40.

"Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after 7 l/2 years of marriage," a rep for the pop star and her husband said in a statement. "They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time. A final settlement has not been agreed upon yet."

As for why the two decided to part ways, various stories came out about Madonna's extreme devotion to the Kabbalah cult, her desire to adopt another and even a possible affair with Yankee’s player Alex Rodriguez. The celebrity couple was under the microscope this summer when Madonna was dragged into the middle of Rogriguez’s divorce from his wife, Cynthia. Both Madonna and A-Rod denied accusations at the time claiming they were "good friends," while his wife said there was more going on.

Upon the news of the breakup, sources close to Madonna told Usmagazine.com that she and A-Rod "are definitely romantic."

"Guy is not involved in this equation," the insider was quoted by Usmagazine.com as saying. "With or without A-Rod, Madonna and Guy haven't been 'together' for over a year - they have been privately separated. Madonna, however, wanted to finish her world tour before divorcing."

According to reports, Madonna and Ritchie consulted divorce attorneys this summer, with Madonna paying a visit to one of the lawyers on Paul McCartney’s divorce team, and Guy visiting a more low-key firm. With no prenuptial agreement, Madonna, who is said to worth over $400 million, is trying to keep the divorce details private. Citing unnamed sources, British newspaper The Sun reported that the couple want a divorce finalized by Christmas. The two were last spotted together in public in September, when she rang in Guy's 40th birthday in London and attended the premiere of his latest flick, "RocknRolla."

Regardless of being a "great couple" and "brilliant" parents, the two just couldn't pretend anymore, especially Ritchie, sources close to the couple told the newspaper.

"Despite huge attempts to patch things up, they both knew deep down that divorce was in the cards. It wasn't a matter of 'if' but 'when.' They tried hard over the past few months, but their fighting was getting out of control. The final straw came before Madonna started her U.S. tour," the source explained.

Madonna, who is currently in the middle of her "Sticky and Sweet" tour, and Ritchie, who was believed to be on the set of his latest film, "Sherlock Holmes," tied the knot in December 2000 at Skibo Castle in the Scottish Highlands. The couple have two sons together, 7-year-old Rocco and David Banda, whose adoption from Malawi was approved in May. The singer also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from an earlier relationship.