Kenny Chesney made the announcement via nifty press release below that he will indeed embark on a mega tour this upcoming 2011 summer.    It looks to be a good thing for country music.

What no one saw coming is the fact that he has agreed to CO-Headline his stadium shows.   Zac Brown Band will be joining Kenny at a bunch of stadium shows that are sure to be hits.

It’s already arguable that either artist could fill these stadiums… or maybe with todays economy both camps need a bit more juice to fill stadiums.  Either way it’s great for the country fan with our biggest names and a show – they say- with tickets as low as $25 buck.

Official release below:

Kenny Chesney Announces First Concerts for 2011 “Goin’ Coastal Tour”

Chesney And Zac Brown Band To Share Stage on 9 Stadium Dates

Kenny Chesney’s “fans can count on his shows to be fun, fun, fun” (LA Times), and they can prepare to see “how deep this country megastar’s talent really runs” (Chicago Tribune) as Chesney announces the first leg of what will be his biggest tour in five years. After a hiatus from the road in 2010, the 4 time CMA and 4 time ACM Entertainer of the Year will take his “Goin’ Coastal Tour” to 9 stadiums next year. Chesney was the second biggest ticket seller of the decade and the only artist in any genre to sell over a million tickets for 8 consecutive summers.

Tickets for stadium dates in nine cities will go on sale starting November 20, with additional arena and amphitheatre dates to be announced later, with more dates than any Chesney tour since 2006. Chesney will co-headline the stadium dates with Zac Brown Band, GRAMMY’s “Best New Artist” in 2010 whose latest album ‘You Get What You Give’ debuted at #1 on the Billboard top 200. Multi-GRAMMY nominee Billy Currington has secured the highly coveted support slot powered by six No. 1 Billboard country singles and the success of his fourth and latest album ‘Enjoy Yourself.’  Uncle Kracker, who sang with Chesney on the #1 country hit “When The Sun Goes Down,” will open all the stadium dates except Foxboro, MA.

The man the Associated Press calls “among the hardest charging acts on the road” is already excited about returning to the stage. “We’re going to be playing new songs and lots of old favorites, and I can already tell it’s going to be a lot of fun,” says Chesney.  ”I can’t wait to get back in front of my fans.”

“With four acts on the bill, we’ve created these shows as all-day events, and are working hard to make them affordable for our fans,” says tour promoter Louis Messina.  Chesney will make at least 7,000 tickets available at $25 at the majority of the stadium dates, with a whopping 13,922 for the March 19 Tampa show.

Chesney took a break from the road in 2010 to record his new album ‘Hemingway’s Whiskey’ (BNA Records), which entered the Billboard 200 at #1 (his sixth album to achieve that feat) and to produce “The Boys of Fall,” the documentary about high school football now available for pre-order and in Walmart beginning November 9. “I’ve always loved playing stadiums because I get to see so many of my fans at one time, but after everything I learned from the football heroes I met while making ‘The Boys of Fall,’ I’m seeing stadiums in a whole new way,” Chesney says.

Fans can buy tickets at http://www.kennychesney.com’. The Kenny Chesney Official Fan Club will be offering presale tickets for all shows on Kenny’s 2011 Tour prior to the general public on-sale.

Kenny Chesney 2011 Tour (Stadium Dates Only – co-headline with Zac Brown Band)
Sat Mar 19  - Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium (on sale Sat Dec 11)
Sat Apr 16 – Dallas, TX – Cowboys Stadium (on sale Sat Dec 4)
Sat Jun 4 – Washington, DC – FedEx Field – (on sale Fri Dec 3)
Sat Jun 11 – Green Bay, WI – Lambeau Field (on sale Sat Dec 11)
Sat Jun 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field (on sale Sat Nov 20)
Sat Jul 2 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Field (on sale Sat Dec 4)
Sat Jul 30 – Kansas City, MO – Arrowhead Stadium (on sale Sat Dec 4)
Sat Aug 20 – Detroit, MI – (on sale Sat Dec 4)
Sat Aug 27- Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium (on sale Sat Nov 20)

The tour is billed as Corona Extra presents Kenny Chesney’s Goin’ Coastal Tour, starring Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band.

About Crown Imports LLC:
Corona Extra and Corona Light are imported by Crown Imports LLC, a joint venture that imports, distributes and markets the Modelo portfolio and other fine beer brands across the entire U.S.

James Heads to Sony

NASHVILLE, TN – Cool, TX native Casey James has turned his third place American Idol finish into record deal with Sony Music Nashville and 19 Recordings/BNA Records. The musician and singer/songwriter who’s been fronting the Casey James Band since 2008, had never even seen a single episode of the top rated show before auditioning in Denver and winning a golden ticket to Hollywood.

An elated James remarked, “Some dreams in life are only just that….dreams. All my life I have wanted this and now my dream has come true. Words can’t describe how thankful and blessed I am for the opportunity to give back to all those who have supported me. I’m going to work hard to make the best album possible! I want to thank my Momma for making me go to Denver. Look out! I’m Nashville bound!”

Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton says, “We at Sony Music Nashville are incredibly excited about signing Casey James. I flew to New York to see him ‘live’ with the American Idol Tour and I was blown away with his voice, guitar playing and stage presence…and so were the thousands of fans in the amphitheatre. He has honed his skills as a showman with his years of performing live on stage! I can’t wait to get him into the studio to begin recording his debut album.”

Simon Fuller, Creator of American Idol and founder of 19 Entertainment adds, “Casey is an exceptional talent and it is wonderful to see another of last year’s Idols secure a major record deal and the opportunity to fulfill many more dreams.”

James is currently on the American Idols Live! Tour 2010, and will soon be at work on his debut album, releasing next year.