Martina McBride has altered her schedule and also added some new dates onto her “Waking Up Laughing Tour” for this summer and fall. The trek will launch this week.

The outing is scheduled to kick off in Clarkston, MI on July 11 and visit over 30 amphitheaters all over the US through the middle of October. Shows that have been added since last check include Red Wing, MN; Albuquerque NM; Bakersfield, CA; Missoula, MT and Gilford, NH.

Jack Ingram, the songwriter/singer based out of Texas who appeared on the arena tour of McBride’s earlier in the year, continues as special guest. The opening slot will be shared by Jason Michael Carroll and Chris Young.

According to a recent press release, “Waking Up Laughing,” McBride’s tour in 2007, was a Top 10 tour for the year across all genres. The album with the same name was released last year, debuting in the No. 3 spot on Billboard’s 200 chart and spawning “Anyway,” the fastest selling single for McBride to date, along with the radio hits “For these Times” and “How I Feel.”

“Martina McBride: Live in Concert,” the first live set for the Grammy winning singer, was released in April. It includes a CD of eight songs along with a DVD that contains a recording of her concert at I wireless Center in Moline, IL last September. The film has been shown on “Great Performances,” the PBS-TV series, all over the country.

McBride has won Vocalist of the Year from the Country Music Association four times and has sold over 16 million albums and had 22 Top Ten singles over her career of 15 years.

Martina McBride has lined up her first set of concert dates for 2008 as she continues to push the momentum behind “Waking Up Laughing,” her latest album.

To close out the year, McBride has shows booked for Friant, CA and Washington, D.C. Her 2008 tour will launch in Evansville, IN on January 18. Currently the dates for McBride stretch from the Midwest over to the East Coast until early March.

The shows will be opened this time around by Lady Antebellum, the up and coming trio from Nashville, and Jack Ingram, songwriter/singer from Texas.

According to a recent press release, McBride’s 2007 outing, which ended in August, was seen by over 250,000 fans and visited 52 cities. It was the No. 1 tour for a solo woman county outing ranked by Pollstar.

The ninth album from McBride, “Waking Up Laughing,” marks the first time she has served as artist writer and producer. “Anyway,” the debut single from the album, is the fastest-selling single for the career of McBride. It has also been nominated for three CMA Awards. McBride is also in the running for the award Top Female Vocalist. She has won the award four times. McBride is currently tied with Reba McEntire for most Female Vocalist CMA wins.

McBride over the holiday season is also supporting a reissuing of her set “White Christmas,” released earlier in the month. The set is an updated version and includes an additional four recordings: “Jingle Bells,” “Winter Wonderland” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” a duet previously released with Dean Martin.

Over her career of 15 years, McBride has had 22 singles in the Top 10 and sold over 16 million albums.

This April, Martina McBride will be launching a tour of the US shortly after the release of “Waking Up Laughing,” her ninth album set to be out in stores on April 3.

The trek will be kicking off in Kansas City, MO on April 12. So far the outing’s route will travel across the East and South as well as Midwest until July. According to a recent press release, additional concerts will be added. Confirmed dates for McBride include a few fairs and festivals in addition to the tour.

Supports spots for the tour will come from Rodney Atkins, whose song “If You’re Going Through Hell” was country radio’s most played single last year, as well Little Big Town, the breakout, Grammy nominated band.

McBride can’t wait to be out on the road. In a statement the country super star said, although it is very exciting creating a new album, nothing is as thrilling as being able to get feedback immediately from live crowds.

McBride, four time winner of Country Music Association’s Vocalist of the Year, produced her new album “Waking Up Laughing.” “Anyway,” the debut single from the set, is McBride’s first songwriting credit as well as the fastest rising single of her career, according to a recent press release.

“Timeless,” McBride’s 2005 classic country standards album, debuted on the Billboard Country Album chart in the No. 1 spot. Her “I Still Miss Someone” rendition received a Grammy nomination for the category Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

According to McBride’s website, over her career she has sold over 16 million albums. Earlier this month the home state of McBride honored her by inducting her into the Kansas City Music Hall of Fame.

Early winter dates have been set by Martina McBride for the fourth edition of her traveling holiday show “Joy of Christmas.”

Following a one year absence, McBride’s Christmas-themed tour is returning. Earlier this year McBride tour extensively in support of “Timeless” her latest album.

The holiday production employs multimedia, special effects, elaborate sets and a group of actors to back up the vocals of McBride.

In a recent press release, Bud Schaetzle, executive producer for the show said, one minute you are under a Christmas tree inside a quaint village, in the next minute you are crossing the desert in Bethlehem, then there is a World War II Bing Crosby/Bob Hope vibe. Of course the show’s centerpiece is McBride as well as her music.

The sets lists of McBride’s for her show “The Joy of Christmas” includes many standards from “White Christmas,” her holiday album from 1999.

In a recent press statement, McBride said, Christmas is a very wonderful time. I wanted to be able to create a holiday experience that was memorable for the whole family. We were able to develop a show incorporating elements of special effects, video and theater along with audience interaction. This allows us to take our audiences through every Christmas season aspect in an inspiring and magical way.

“Timeless” was released in October. During its first week out the album sold over 185,000 copies, debuting in the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country Albums chart as well as the No.3 spot on Billboard’s 200 chart.

“Timeless” features McBride renditions of classic country hits from artists like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Buck Owen and Johnny Cash.

In 2005, Martina McBride only performed a handful of concerts. However early next year she will be returning full force on the road, mounting a U.S. arena circuit run to support “Timeless,” her latest album.

In mid January, McBride will be launching an East Coast run. Most of the dates are in January and February, but to date are stretched out through April. Tickets for a majority of the concerts will become available for sale over the course of the next month.

According to a recent press release, the shows will be two hours plus and spotlight the hits of McBride’s in addition to some of her country standards renditions that appear on “Timeless.”

McBride’s extended break from touring was to give her time for spending with her family as well as to work on her album “Timeless.” In June her third daughter was born.

In a recent statement, McBride said, I admit I did enjoy having time off from the road so I could devote myself completely to my family and the recording process. Now that my new album has been released and I have performed in front of television studio audience, I’ve realized how much I’ve been missing live shows.

During the first week of its release “Timeless” sold 185,000 copies, debuting in the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country albums chart and on the Billboard 200 chart at No. 3. Several milestones were set by the album for McBride. “Timeless” was McBride’s third No. 1 Country Albums chart debut in a row, her highest Billboard 200 placement, and her sales record for a single week.

The set features McBride renditions of other famous country hits from other artists such as Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Lynn Anderson.

McBride said, for me “Timeless” was a dream project and labor of love. Having it debut in the No. 1 spot means a lot to me. To me it’s exciting how many people are hearing these classic great country songs. I imagine the songs being played at work and in people’s cars and houses. Hopefully all my love and respect I have for the music shines through.

“Timeless” is a follow up to “Martina” from 2003. During its first week it sold 123,000 copies and debut on Billboard’s 200 chart in the No. 7 spot. According to McBride’s publicist she has sold over 15 million albums.

For the third year in a row, Martina McBride will be ringing the holidays in with “The Joy of Christmas,” her theatrical production.

In a statement, McBride said, the Christmas productions that Radio City Music Hall in New York put on inspired me. Every year we go and love it.

The program is two hours long and includes special lighting and effects as well as holiday-themed sets, along with an actors troupe who participate in scenes including a nativity live scene and Santa’s workshop. One show segment will feature caroling along with the children from the audience.

According to information posted on McBride’s website, show tickets will become available for the next couple weeks.

“The Joy of Christmas” set lists from McBride will include many standards that were on “White Christmas,” McBride’s 1999 holiday album.

Before McBride opens her Christmas tour, she will be appearing at the annual Tim McGraw annual charity show Swampstock. She is also scheduled to perform several additional dates with Alan Jackson on their long standing co-headlining tour.

McBride is continuing to back “Martina,” her set released last year and first album of new material since “Emotion” in 1999. Her platinum-certified set was co-produced with Paul Worley, her long time collaborator, and recorded in Blackbird, her new studio in Nashville.

McBride last year was awarded her second Female Vocalist of the Year from the Country Music Association. At the Academy of Country Music Awards in May she won her third Top Female Vocalist award in a row in addition to the Humanitarian Award.