Elton John [ tickets ] will embark on a rare tour of smaller venues in mid-February, accompanied by only his piano. The tour, playing theatres in secondary markets not generally visited on John's full-band tours, was greeted by a record-setting sellout for the tour's opening night as tickets were put on sale Saturday (1/9). The forty-six minute sellout broke a record previously set by Garth Brooks on his 1996 visit to the venue.

John's tour precedes the March 23rd release of Aida, his second collaboration with composer Tim Rice. As with their first effort, The Lion King, Aida is a Disney project, set to accompany the stage musical of the same name. The John-Rice collaboration on the soundtrack to the animated Lion King movie was a massive success, selling over 10 million copies and producing the hit singles Can You Feel The Love Tonight and Circle Of Life.

Aida additionally brings in a wealth of outside talent, with guest vocals suppplied by LeAnn Rimes, James Taylor, Lenny Kravitz, Shania Twain, Boyz II Men, the Spice Girls, Janet Jackson and Sting. The leadoff single from the album, Written In The Stars, is a duet featuring John and Rimes.

Last week, John was named All Time Favorite Musical Performer at the People's Choice Awards.

Here's the latest itinerary for Elton John.