American Idol

Season 5 finalists Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington both are busy with tours that take them through the summer months.

Even though it’s meant to find the next big pop singer, “American Idol” has turned out a handful of successful country artists. They’ve sold plenty of CDs, and they’re all touring like no other (except for that darn Carrie Underwood, who just wrapped up a big tour).

In the spirit of country music week coming next, here are a list of tour dates from four of the best-known “Idol” finalists-turned-country stars. You may want to check them out if they’re in your neighborhood.

BUCKY COVINGTON
April 12 — Council Bluffs, IA, Horseshoe Casino/Whiskey Roadhouse
April 13 — Chicago, IL, Joe’s Sports Bar
May 5 — Cherokee, NC, Harrah’s Cherokee Pavilion
May 6 — Hershey, PA, Hersheypark Amphitheatre
May 26 — Zellwood, FL, Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival
May 27 — San Bernardino, CA, Branding Iron
May 29 — Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern
July 12 — Afton, NY, Afton Fair
July 14 — Altamont, NY, WGNA Country Fest
July 28 — East Falmouth, MA, Barnstable County Fairgrounds
Aug. 10 — Belpre, OH, Belpre Homecoming
Aug. 29 — Hickory, NC, American Legion Fair
Aug. 31 — Anderson, SC, Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center
Oct. 1 — Coshocton, OH, Coshocton County Fair
Oct. 13 — Maryville, TN, venue TBA

CARRIE UNDERWOOD
July 15 — Craven, SK, Country Jamboree
Sept. 8 — York, PA, York Fair

KELLIE PICKLER (appearing with Brad Paisley)
April 26 — Chattanooga, TN, McKenzie Arena
April 27 — Statesboro, GA, Paulson Stadium
April 28 — Columbus, GA , Columbus Civic Center
May 3 — Evansville, IN, Roberts Stadium
May 4 — Moline, IL, Mark Of The Quad Cities
May 6 — Champaign, IL, Assembly Hall
May 10 — Maryland Heights, MO, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
May 11 — Bonner Springs, KS, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
May 12 — Dallas, TX, Smirnoff Music Centre
May 17 — Bakersfield, CA, Rabobank Arena
May 18 — Mountain View, CA, Shoreline Amphitheatre
May 19 — Marysville, CA, Sleep Train Amphitheatre
May 22 — Vancouver, BC, General Motors Place
May 24 — Spokane, WA, Spokane Arena
May 25 — Ridgefield, WA, The Amphitheater at Clark County
May 26 — Auburn, WA, White River Amphitheatre
June 7 — Noblesville, IN, Verizon Wireless Music Center
June 8 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Blossom Music Center
June 9 — Mansfield, MA, Tweeter Center
June 10 — Darien Center, NY, Darien Lake Six Flags P.A.C.
June 22 — Grand Junction, CO, Country Jam USA*
June 22 — Greeley, CO, Island Grove Park*
June 24 — Albuquerque, NM, Journal Pavilion
June 29 — Chula Vista, CA, Coors Amphitheatre
June 30 — Devore, CA, Hyundai Pavilion of Glen Helen
July 1 — Phoenix, AZ, Cricket Pavilion
July 19 — Morristown, OH, Jamboree in the Hills
July 20 — Raleigh, NC, Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
July 25 — Harrington, DE, Deleware State Fair
July 27 — Bethel NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
July 28 — Hershey, PA, Giant Center
Aug. 3 — Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Aug. 4 — Atlanta, GA, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Aug. 5 — Clarkston, MI, DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug. 9 — Biloxi, MS, Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Aug. 10 — Pelham, AL, Verizon Wireless Center Birmingham
Aug. 23 — St. Paul, MN, Minnesota State Fair
*Not appearing with Brad Paisley

JOSH GRACIN
April 21 — Fort Worth, TX, Billy Bob’s Texas
April 27 — Mount Pleasant, MI, Soaring Eagle Casino
May 3 — Baltimore, MD, Rams Head Live!
May 5 — Burgettstown, PA, Pepsi Cola Roadhouse
May 6 — Utica, NY, The Bogie
May 12 — Sparta, KY, Kentucky Speedway
May 19 — Detroit, MI, Hart Plaza
May 25 — Kennesaw, GA, Cowboy’s Concert Hall
May 26 — Simpsonville, SC, Freedom Weekend Aloft
June 3 — Rossville, GA, Lake Winnepesaukah
June 9 — Davenport, IA, Le Claire Park Riverfront
June 20 — Oshkosh, WI, Country USA / Sunnyview Expo Center
June 21 — Cadott, WI, Chippewa Valley Festival Grounds (Chippewa Valley Country Festival
June 22 — Richland Center, WI, Star Spangled Celebration
June 24 — Rowlett, TX, Pecan Grove Park
July 13 — Santa Maria, CA, Santa Barbara County Fair
July 17 — Merced, CA, Merced County Fair
July 18 — Central Point, OR, Jackson County Fair
July 20 — Susanville, CA, Lassen County Fair
July 21 — Albany, OR, Linn County Fair
July 26 — Hastings, NE, Adams County Fair
July 29 — Janesville, WI, Rock County 4-H Fair
Aug. 4 — Gilford, NH, Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center
Aug. 17 — Des Moines, IA, Iowa State Fairgrounds
Aug. 19 — Greenville, OH, Darke County Fair
Aug. 24 — Columbus, GA , Columbus Civic Center
Sept. 8 — Fayetteville, TN, Lincoln County Fair
Sept. 10 — York, PA, York Fair
Sept. 11 — Allegan, MI, Allegan County Fair (appearing with Trace Adkins)
Sept. 14 — Old Washington, OH, Guernsey County Fair
Sept. 15 — Abingdon, VA, Washington County Fair
Sept. 19 — Ashland, OH, Ashland County Fair
Sept. 21 — Ocean City, MD, Inlet Beach

American Idol, Kellie Pickler, Bucky Covington, Carrie Underwood, Josh Gracin, Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley