Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes and sells them on a no-profit basis with zero-interest mortgages to poor families, will get a boost from Reba McEntire [ tickets ]'s first tour in three years.

Appliance-maker Whirlpool has signed on to sponsor the tour, and will use its sponsorship to benefit the charity.

"Reba's tour provides us with the opportunity to go directly to our consumers, talking to them about Habitat for Humanity in a new way and align ourselves with a terrific performer," Whirlpool North America exec David Swift said in a statement.

According to a press release, Whirlpool has donated about 40,000 appliances to Habitat for Humanity since 1999 as part of its $25 million pledge to the organization's More than Houses campaign, which will build more than 100,000 new homes by 2005.

McEntire ventures out in 2004 on her first tour in three years, tackling an itinerary that puts her in more than two-dozen cities. She was one of country music's most reliable concert draws before she stopped touring to dedicate her efforts to the WB network sitcom "Reba," which has been running for three years.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience again," she said in a statement. "I love recording, and I love acting, but getting out there and performing live has always been one of my favorite things to do."

She kicked off her live schedule earlier this month with a concert at RodeoHouston in Texas, and she plays single concerts in March, April and May before getting into the meat of the tour in June and July.

McEntire's previous outing was 2001's Girls' Night Out Tour, which also featured Martina McBride, Sara Evans and Jamie O'Neal.

In November of 2003, McEntire released "Room to Breathe," her 28th album. She has collected many awards over the course of her career, including an unprecedented four consecutive CoMA Female Vocalist of the Year honors and two Grammys.

In 2000, the Recording Industry Association of America--which credits McEntire with U.S. album sales of 36 million--named her the top-selling female country music artist of the 20th century.