Nashville Star Tour Hits the Road. Catch all the excitement of the Nashville Star TV show on this sizzling summer tour, featuring the 2004 champion, and now Epic recording artist, Brad Cotter.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 20 /PRNewswire/ - You watched them every week ... you voted for them ... and now they're coming to your town. The Nashville Star Tour hits the road this summer, featuring the four finalists from USA Network's Nashville Star TV talent search that captivated the nation for the second consecutive year.

Brad Cotter, this year's dazzling Nashville Star winner, heads this package of young country talent. George Canyon, Matt Lindahl, and Lance Miller--the three Nashville Star runners-up--will also perform on the Tour, which kicks off June 18 in Kettering, Ohio.

According to representatives at the William Morris Agency, the company booking the show, dates are rolling in. "The Nashville Star Tour is really sizzling," notes Rob Beckham, responsible agent for the Tour. "We've had a terrific response so far." Currently there are 28 dates confirmed and producers of the Tour plan to carry it to as many cities as can be accommodated within the window of time established for the tour. The tour will stretch across the United States and into Canada.

"The Nashville Star Tour will recreate the energy and feel of the TV series," notes Brinson Strickland of 262 Five, Ltd., the company producing the Tour. "The video screens at each concert venue will run highlights of each performer's segments from the series of shows."

"We're pleased to announce that the Nashville Star Band, the same group from the show, will be traveling with the tour and backing up each performer," Strickland adds.

Nashville Star champ Brad Cotter, 33 hails from Auburn, Alabama, and has been touring and performing since the age of 11. Though he has been a part of the Nashville music scene for eight years, working as a demo singer and songwriter, Cotter, like many of Nashville's biggest stars, has been turned down by nearly every Music Row record label. He now receives his first recording contract with Epic Nashville as part of his winner's package. Cotter's first single, "I Meant To," was released May 3 and broke 2003 winner Buddy Jewel's record for the highest chart debut by a new artist. His debut album is scheduled for release July 6.

George Canyon, 33, is a native of Canada and lists such traditional country stars as Waylon Jennings, George Strait and Randy Travis among his influences. George finished second in the Nashville Star voting.

Matt Lindahl, 28, originally from Snellville, Georgia, was perhaps the most unconventional contestant. Matt, who finished third in the voting, won over viewers with instruments that he invented, including one made from a soup can.

Lance Miller, 33, from Fairfield, Illinois, now lives in Nashville, where he sings demos and writes original songs. His influences include Merle Haggard and Glen Campbell.

Fans will see all four finalists, who became household names as a result of the show, in full musical sets. Each Tour concert will run approximately 90 minutes. Performers will appear in reverse order of their finishes on the show. As the winner, Brad Cotter will close each show, preceded by George Canyon, Matt Lindahl, and Lance Miller.

But the excitement doesn't stop there. The Nashville Star Tour is also providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local talent. "Promoters in the tour cities can run their own Nashville Star Tour contest," says Strickland. "Local winners will automatically go to the Regional Finals in the 2005 Nashville Star competition. They will also have a chance to open the Nashville Star Tour concert in their town."

Fans will have the chance to get up close and personal with the Nashville Star Tour performers. All four artists will be available for media interviews and meet-and-greet autograph sessions in each city. "We'll have Nashville Star merchandise along with items from each individual artist to sell," says Strickland. "We're hoping that each of the artists will bring CD singles or other original music that fans can purchase."

Nashville Star, airing for the second straight season on the USA Network, is a combination talent search and reality series that aims to find the next country music superstar. Contestants are judged by industry executives and artists. Fans also help determine the weekly survivors through telephone and online voting.

The Nashville Star winner receives a contract with Sony Nashville, along with other prizes. Last year's winner Buddy Jewell has already scored two Top 10 singles and a Gold album since his debut.

Now, the Nashville Star Tour is bringing the show to fans all over the country. As Strickland sums up, "Fans will get to share the excitement and energy of Nashville Star all over again. It's really the TV show come-to- life!"

NASHVILLE STAR TOUR ITINERARY

Dates confirmed as of May 19, 2004. To verify confirmed dates prior to publication as well as any additional dates or changes, please visit the usa network website. Click to Nashville Star. Click to Nashville Star Tour.

  DATE            CITY                     VENUE
  06/18/04        Kettering, OH            Fraze Pavilion
  06/19/04        Cleveland, OH            Palace Theater
  06/20/04        Louisville, KY           Palace Theatre
  06/23/04        West Palm Beach, FL      Kravis Center for the Performing
                                            Arts
  06/24/04        Tampa, FL                Carol Morsani Hall
  06/25/04        North Charleston, SC     Oyster Shell at No. Charleston
                                            Coliseum
  06/26/04        Lake Buena Vista, FL     House of Blues
  06/27/04        Sarasota, FL             Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
  07/06/04        Seattle, WA              Paramount Theatre
  07/08/04        Albuquerque, NM          Sandia Casino Amphitheatre
  07/10/04        Englewood, CO            Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
  07/16/04        Easton, PA                State Theatre
  07/17/04        Huntington, WV           Big Sandy Superstore Arena
  07/18/04        Hershey, PA              Hershey Park Amphitheatre
  07/22/04        Doswell, VA              Paramount's King's Dominion
  07/23/04        Cary, NC                 The Amphitheatre at Regency Park
  07/24/04        Charlotte, NC            Paramount's Carowinds Palladium
  07/30/04        Paducah, KY              Four Rivers Center
  07/31/04        Kansas City, MO          Beaumont Club
  08/05/04        Columbus, GA             Columbus Civic Center
  08/06/04        Mableton, GA             Mable House Amphitheatre
  08/07/04        Jacksonville, FL         Florida Theatre
  08/12/04        Niagara Falls, ONT       Niagara Fallsview Casino Avalon
  08/13/04        Rochester Hills, MI      MeadowBrook Music Festival
  08/14/04        Mundelein, IL            Sundance Saloon
  08/17/04        Lewisburg, WV            State Fair of West Virginia
                                            Fairgrounds
  08/21/04        Owensboro, KY            Executive Inn Rivermont