Kenny Chesney [ tickets ] has announced the first batch of dates for his 2009 "Sun City Carnival" tour, a trek that will keep the performer out on the road through September.

The country superstar launches the first crop of what should eventually grow to more than 50 dates April 17-18 in Uncasville, CT. The initial rollout includes an April 26 appearance at Indio, CA's Stagecoach festival, a few dates in football stadiums and a mix of smaller venues as well. Details are shown below.

"We're gonna try to mix it up again this year," Chesney said in a press statement. "We've got a bunch of football stadiums--because that is an experience like no other, but we're also going to do some amphitheaters and arenas ... and knowing us, we'll probably pop up in a bar or honky tonk or two along the way. What's important is getting out there, and bringing the music to life. That's so much a part of who I am, and what I do ... And I'm ready."

Chesney will be supporting his latest release, "Lucky Old Sun," which surfaced in October. The set, the performer's 12th studio album, debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart, moving 176,000 copies during its first week on store shelves.

The album's leadoff single, "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven," spent two weeks in the top slot on Billboard's country songs chart. The set's second single, "Down the Road," is a duet with country singer Mac McAnally.