Remember those rumors claiming rocker Bruce Springsteen had an affair with another New Jersey man’s wife? Well it turns out the "scorned" hubby made the whole thing up — for cash, of course.

According to divorce papers, Arthur Kelly fabricated the allegations that his wife, Ann, was having an affair because he thought The Boss — one of wOw’s very own Sexiest Men Over 50 — would pay "big money" to make the whole thing "go away," reports the New York Post. Kelly apparently hoped to bilk Springsteen out of money and to "humiliate" and "harass" his wife, Ann Kelly, 44, according to claims in the divorce papers.

Arthur Kelly said his wife met Springsteen at the gym, where their romance took off. The Post says the two did in fact meet at that Red Bank, NJ, gym, but that they later took memberships at another nearby club to avoid scrutiny. Mr. Kelly also claimed in divorce papers that his wife’s philandering was the root cause of their split. But Ann Kelly denied having an affair, as did Springsteen, who has been married to backup singer Patti Scialfa for 17 years.

In her own divorce filing, Ann Kelly cited extreme cruelty, irreconcilable differences, intentional infliction of emotional distress and frivolous litigation, and said he has many mistresses.