The Dixie Chicks, including lead singer Natalie Maines, are heading out in June on a tour with the Eagles and Keith Urban. This marks the first time in four years that the Chicks take the stage on tour together.
Their tour will bring all of them to Chicago for a show at 8 p.m. June 19 at Soldier Field. Tickets go on sale March 29. (For more on the Dixie Chicks, see Page 3D.)
ACM awards named
Fans picked Luke Bryan as the Academy of Country Music Awards’ top new solo vocalist. A YouTube video he posted went viral, featuring fellow country singers who jokingly told fans “Don’t vote for Luke Bryan.”
Gloriana won top new vocal group, and Joey + Rory are top new vocal duo.
The winners are now in the running for the top new artist award; it will be handed out at the ACM Awards, airing April 18 on CBS. Voting starts April 1 at VoteACM.com.
Boxer for the birds
Former world heavyweight champ Mike Tyson will take flight on Animal Planet with a new sport – pigeon racing. The network said “Taking on Tyson,” a reality show, will pit Tyson, a novice pigeon racer, against serious competitors.
Tyson has raised pigeons all his life but will take to the rooftops as a racing rookie.
The show will film this spring and air in early 2011.
CBS sitcom resumes
Charlie Sheen is back at work on “Two and a Half Men.” His agent, Stan Rosenfield, says Sheen returned to the Warner Bros. set in Burbank, Calif., on Tuesday.
The actor, 44, entered rehab “as a preventative measure” that temporarily halted production of CBS’ top-rated sitcom last month.
Sheen still faces legal problems arising from a fight with his wife in Aspen, Colo., in December; he pleaded not guilty to domestic violence charges Monday. His trial date is July 21.
‘Idol’ has stronghold
The top five prime-time TV shows and viewership for March 8 to 14:
1. “American Idol” (Tues.), Fox, 22.8 million
2. “American Idol” (Wed.), Fox, 20.7 million
3. “NCIS,” CBS, 19.6 million
4. “American Idol” (Thurs.), Fox, 19.3 million
5. “Two and a Half Men,” CBS, 17.6 million
Happy birthday
Among celebrity birthdays today: Actor Patrick Duffy is 61. Actor Kurt Russell is 59. Actor Gary Sinise is 55. Actor Rob Lowe is 46.
