By DAVID N. GOODMAN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 31 minutes ago

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. - Eminem, his estranged wife and their lawyers met privately in a judge's chambers Tuesday but failed to agree to terms for the couple's second divorce.

"We didn't settle it, so all we did was set it for mediation," Macomb County Circuit Judge Antonio Viviano told reporters after the conference, which lasted about an hour.

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, filed for divorce from Kimberley Mathers on April 5, 82 days after their second wedding.

The couple had daughter Hailie in 1996, married in 1999, divorced in 2001, remarried on Jan. 14 and then quickly separated again.

The 33-year-old rapper has used his sometimes tormented relationship with his high school sweetheart as a source of some of his angriest lyrics.

Kimberley Mathers, 31, has another daughter and is raising her sister's daughter. Eminem has been legal guardian of his half brother.

Kimberley Mathers declined comment on her way out of the courthouse. Eminem wasn't seen leaving the building.

His lawyer, Harvey Hauer, and Kimberley Mathers' lawyer, Michael J. Smith, wouldn't discuss the hearing but expressed optimism for a settlement.

"Mr. Mathers' only concern is the welfare of his children," Hauer said. "Hopefully, we'll put the matter behind us."

"Like Marshall ... what she really wants is the welfare of the children," Smith said. "The parties are hopeful that it will be settled amicably."

Eminem has won nine
Grammy Awards, including best rap album for "The Slim Shady LP," "The Marshall Mathers LP" and "The Eminem Show." He won an Oscar for the song "Lose Yourself" from "8 Mile," the semi-autobiographical 2002 film in which he starred.

His latest recording project, "Eminem Presents: The Re-Up," will be released in December.

Initially expected to be a street mixtape project designed to help launch new artists on his record label, Shady Records, the CD now will be offered for sale in record stores by Interscope Records.

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Interscope is part of Universal Music Group Recordings Inc.

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On the Net:

Eminem: http://www.eminem.com

They need to get divorced, because third time's the charm, and that will be forever.

i know rite

I can't speak for Americans, but apparently in New Zealand statistics show that substantially less than one percent of third marriages end in divorce! Of course there are mitigating factors for that, but it's still impressive.