Tour to Open at Nutter Center in Ohio

Dayton Daily News
By Carol Simmons
Staff Writer
Friday, January 11, 2008

For the most part, entertainers perform because they like it. What they like may be the ability to give something of themselves to others, but still, they like it. And when musicians go on concert tour, they may dearly love getting out on stage in front of their fans, but rarely do tours have a merely altruistic purpose. There is some benefit for the performer: promoting a new album, increasing his or her exposure, trying out new material. If nobody else makes certain of it, then the performer's management certainly will.

So, we have to figure that country superstar Reba McEntire and pop music newcomer Kelly Clarkson each have something to gain from their joint "Two Voices Two Worlds" tour that kicks off Thursday (Jan. 17) at Wright State University's Nutter Center.

But it's hard not to see this as a gift from McEntire to Clarkson.

Yes, the two expressed their mutual admiration last summer in a "CMT Crossroads" special — the basic concept of which is echoed in this limited tour. Yes, the pair is up for a Grammy Award next month for their duet of the Clarkson-penned "Because of You," which McEntire included on her latest album, "Reba Duets." Yes, the tour will put both women in front of new audiences. And yes, they'll be performing each other's songs, so they'll be venturing into new musical realms.

But still.

This is Reba McEntire we're talking about here. Star of stage, screen and personal clothing line. Not to mention the 33 No. 1 hit singles, a couple of Grammy's and multiple honors from the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, the American Music Awards and others.

Clarkson, 25, undeniably has strong vocal and stage skills. And she writes, too, which is no small ability. She also has her own fanbase, which began following her when she came to national attention as winner of the first "American Idol" competition nearly six years ago. Since then, she's earned two Grammys of her own, both related to her sophomore album, "Breakaway." That effort, released in 2004, was enormously successful, and carried her through 2006, when she was reportedly the most played Top-40 artist on American radio.

Last summer, Clarkson left her management company, the Firm, days before a national announcement that low advance ticket sales was forcing the cancellation of a major venue tour to have begun prior to the release of her third album, "My December," due out in late June. The tour would be rescheduled on a smaller scale after the album's release June 26.

In early July, just after her "CMT Crossroads" pairing with McEntire, Clarkson signed a management deal with Starstruck Entertainment, founded and owned by McEntire and her husband, Narvel Blackstock, who runs the operation.

So, apparently, Clarkson's success means success for McEntire as well. It's not altruism after all, it's just good business.

But for ticketholders, it's just good music.

How to go

WHO: Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson

WHAT: Kickoff of the "Two Voices Two Worlds" tour

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 17)

WHERE: Wright State University's Ervin J. Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Fairborn

TICKETS: $56, $46, $36, available at the Nutter Center box office and all Ticketmaster outlets, including by phone at (937) 228-2323 and online at www.nuttercenter.com

CONTACT this writer at (937) 225-7309 or
csimmons@DaytonDailyNews.com.