'Idol' champ Carrie Underwood signs with Arista, tour ahead

As previous "American Idol" champs Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino have before her, 2005 winner Carrie Underwood has signed a recording deal with Arista Records.

Underwood, who was crowned the winner of the popular Fox-TV talent competition last week, is expected to release her full-length debut album this fall. Arista founder Clive Davis will produce the set, in conjunction with Simon Fuller. "Idol" alumni Clarkson, Studdard, Barrino and Clay Aiken (2003's runner-up) have collectively sold more than 12 million albums, according to Arista.

Underwood's debut single, "Inside Your Heaven," has been sent to radio. The retail single--which hits stores on June 14--will also feature the 22-year-old country singer's cover of Martina McBride's "Independence Day."

Though Underwood won the Idol championship, runner-up Bo Bice --whose CD single "Inside Your Heaven / Vehicle" will be issued by RCA on June 21--is leading on the Amazon.com sales rankings as of Wednesday morning (6/1). Bice ranks at No. 4, and Underwood is at No. 32.

As previously reported, Underwood, Bice and eight other "Idol" finalists will soon embark on the "American Idols Live " tour, which launches in July.

"American Idols Live" tour w/ Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, others.

[Note: The following tour dates have been provided by artist and/or tour sources, who verify its accuracy as of the publication time of this story. Changes may occur before tickets go on sale. Check with official artist websites, ticketing sources and venues for late updates.]
 tour dates and tickets
July 2005
12 - Sunrise, FL - Office Depot Center
13 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
15 - Birmingham, AL - BJCC Arena
16 - Duluth, GA - The Arena at Gwinnett Center
17 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
19 - Reading, PA - Sovereign Center
20 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Center
22 - E. Rutherford, NJ - Continental Airlines Arena
23 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
24 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
26 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - Wachovia Arena
27 - Washington, DC - MCI Center
29 - Hartford, CT - Hartford Civic Center
30 - Worcester, MA - DCU Center
31 - Manchester, NH - Verizon Wireless Arena

August 2005
2 - Cleveland, OH - Wolstein Center
3 - Columbus, OH - Value City Arena at Schottenstein
4 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
6 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
8 - Chicago, IL - United Center
9 - St. Louis, MO - Savvis Center
10 - Norman, OK - Lloyd Noble Center
12 - San Antonio, TX - SBC Center
13 - Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Live at Grand Prairie
14 - Norman, OK - Lloyd Noble Center
16 - Glendale, AZ - Glendale Arena
17 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
18 - Las Vegas, NV - Thomas & Mack Center
20 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion at San Jose
21 - Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
23 - Everett, WA - Everett Events Center
24 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden
26 - Salt Lake City, UT - Delta Center
28 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
30 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center
31 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center

September 2005
2 - Albany, NY - Pepsi Arena
3 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
4 - Norfolk, VA - Constant Convocation Center
7 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
8 - Providence, RI - Dunkin Donuts Center
9 - Portland, ME - Cumberland County Civic Center
10 - Syracuse, NY - War Memorial at Oncenter

 tour dates and tickets
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