The George Strait Country Music Festival, which has been among the top-grossing country music tours for the last two years, will take to the road for the third time beginning in late April. The 2000 tour will visit stadiums in just 10 markets--down from 17 in 1999 and 18 in 1998--and won't venture west of Dallas.

Billboard Online, quoting Strait's manager, reported that this year's line-up will include two-time Strait Festival veteran Tim McGraw [ tickets ] as well as Martina McBride [ tickets ], Kenny Chesney [ tickets ], Lee Ann Womack [ tickets ], Asleep At The Wheel [ tickets ], and another act to be determined.

Onsale dates for tickets haven't been announced, but Strait's official website says that additional information will be available in February. Last year, most ticket prices were in the $30 to $50 range.

According to Amusement Business, Strait's festival tour grossed more than $30 million in 1998 and repeated the feat in 1999, when it was the only full-blown tour to play stadiums. Shania Twain's was the only country music tour to gross more in 1999.

The 1999 Strait festival featured McGraw, Dixie Chicks, Jo Dee Messina, Chesney, and Asleep At The Wheel.

The tour has retained its title sponsors, thus its official moniker will remain ''Nokia Presents the George Strait Chevy Truck Country Music Festival.''