breaking news: Backstreet Boys [ tickets ] will open their world tour behind the new album "Black and Blue" on Jan. 22 in Fort Lauderdale, according to SFX Entertainment. The tour will visit 23 North American cities, but specific venues and dates will not be announced until Monday (11/27).

Following the winter tour of North America, the group will tour South America (April) and Europe (June). A second string of shows is being planned for U.S. stadiums in the summer of 2001, to be followed with shows in the Pacific Rim, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

The following cities will be on Backstreet Boys [ tickets ]' North American route this winter, the group announced in a press conference in New York on Tuesday (11/21); more information from the press conference will be posted on liveDaily later today.