Following a successful run of 2008 fall dates which included multiple sold-out performances, GRAMMY® award-winning and multi-Platinum selling artists Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman will once again hit the road together for the spring leg of “The United Tour.” Kicking off March 28, in Chattanooga, the tour will hit 24 cities across the country including Cleveland, Baltimore, Visalia, Colorado Springs, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Lexington, Nashville and more.   
 
This unique tour showcases two of Christian Music’s most recognized and beloved artists. Together, Chapman and Smith have garnered a staggering eight GRAMMY ® awards, 96 Dove Awards, 78 No. 1 singles and more than 30 gold and platinum albums. The idea for the tour came together shortly after Chapman and Smith spent time together in the UK working on the CompassionArt project that brought more than 10 of Christian Music’s most revered singers, songwriters and worship leaders together to write and record a collection of songs for charity.  
 
The United Tour marks the first time Smith and Chapman have ever toured together, with both artists performing music from their current albums: Chapman’s This Moment and Smith’s A New Hallelujah. The tour took them into 20 major markets last fall, with a cumulative audience of more than 50,000.
 
In addition to uniting on stage, the two artists are also bringing their ministry passions together. Through a groundbreaking partnership, Chapman’s ministry dedicated to orphan care, Shaohannah’s Hope  (www.showhope.org), and Smith’s long-time ministry partner Compassion International (www.compassion.com) will benefit from the tour. More than 2,000 orphaned children in Compassion’s program around the world were sponsored as a result of the tour’s first 20 dates. This spring, Shaohannah’s Hope and their efforts to assisting families who desire to adopt will receive the tour’s charity focus.

About Michael W. Smith:
Throughout his 25-year career as a recording artist, Michael W. Smith has amassed an impressive catalog of achievements. His 20 albums have garnered multiple honors including an American Music Award, three GRAMMY ® Awards (from 13 nominations), 42 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and 33 No. 1 radio hits. In addition, he holds 16 Gold and five platinum albums for career sales approaching 15 million.
 
Smith, who was recently inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, has scored several film projects, written 11 books and has been featured by media outlets including, NBC’s Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, Larry King Live, FOX and Friends, Hannity and Colmes, USA Today, NY Times, The Washington Post, LA Times, Newsweek, has been named one of People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People and has presented multiple times on the GRAMMY Awards show. His tours consistently rank among the best attended in the country and he has performed to capacity crowds throughout the world. Constantly giving back to the community, one of his current projects is Rocketown--a nightclub for teens in his hometown of Nashville, Tenn.--which serves as safe place for young people to enjoy music and for artists to be discovered. He and wife Debbie Smith are the proud parents of five children.
 
Michael W. Smith’s 21st album (and third worship project), A New Hallelujah, was recorded live before more than 12,000 in attendance with a choir of 250 and a few very special guests including The African Children’s Choir and worship leader Israel Houghton. Smith will release A New Hallelujah – The Live Worship DVD on March 17. Smith’s first worship album, simply titled Worship, released in 2001 and has sold more than a million-and-a half copies. Its 2002 follow up, Worship Again, is nearing the 800,000 mark. For up-to-date information on Michael W. Smith, please visit www.michaelwsmith.com.
 
About Steven Curtis Chapman:
Steven Curtis Chapman has sold over 10 million records including two RIAA-certified platinum albums and seven RIAA-certified gold albums. Along with his Dove and GRAMMY ® awards, Chapman has won an American Music Award, recorded 45 No. 1 US radio hits and been awarded 54 Dove Awards, more than any other artist to date. Since his recording career began in 1987, he has recorded 16 projects with Sparrow Records.  
 
Chapman has performed at the White House and has appeared on multiple national programs via CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, CMT, FOX News, the Hallmark Channel and E!, including Good Morning America, Larry King Live, CBS Sunday Morning, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and more.  More than five years ago, Chapman and his wife Mary Beth created Shaohannah’s Hope after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 1800 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world.   For further information on Shaohannah’s Hope the adoption ministry of Steven Curtis Chapman, please visit: www.stevencurtischapman.com.

Chapman recently achieved his 45th No. 1 single with “Yours,” which topped R&R’s soft AC chart. The third single from This Moment, “Yours (new verse)” is available digitally with an additional verse written and recorded after the loss of his daughter. “Yours” follows the hit Christian and mainstream single “Cinderella” a song written by Chapman compelling us to cherish every moment to the fullest with those that we love, especially our children.
 
 “THE UNITED TOUR” Spring 2009
*Dates, markets and venues subject to change without notice.
 
MARCH
3/28        Chattanooga, TN             Abba's House
3/29        West Lafayette, IN          Elliott Hall of Music
3/30        Springfield, MO               Hammons Student Center
APRIL
4/1          Cleveland, OH                Allen Theatre
4/2          Baltimore, MD                The Hippodrome
4/3          Utica, NY                       Stanley Theater at Utica College
4/4          Wilkes Barre, PA            FM Kirby Center
4/5          Norfolk, VA                    Chrysler Hall Theatre
4/9          Santa Rosa, CA              Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
4/10        Visalia, CA                      Visalia Conv. & Concert Center
4/11        Long Beach, CA             Terrace Theater
4/12        Palm Desert, CA             McCallum Theater of PA
4/14        Colorado Springs, CO     Pikes Peak Center
4/16        Bismarck, ND                 Bismark Civic Center
4/17        Sioux City, IA                 Orpheum Theatre
4/18        Peoria, IL                        Peoria Civic Center
4/19        Little Rock, AR               Robinson Center Music Hall
4/21        Holland, MI                     Central Wesleyan Church
4/22        Indianapolis, IN               Murat Theatre
4/25        St. Peters, MO                Church on the Rock
4/26        Lexington, KY                 Theatre at Rupp Arena
4/28        Nashville, TN                  Ryman Auditorium
4/29        Charleston, WV              Charleston Municipal Aud.
4/30        Paducah, KY                  Carson Four Rivers Center