George Strait [ tickets ] has unveiled most of the dates and cities for his winter tour, which is expected to touch down in more than 20 cities from mid-January through March.

The jaunt will visit large arenas, and shows will sport a center-stage configuration that allows Strait to play to the whole audience. Opening acts for the entire outing will be Dierks Bentley ("What Was I Thinkin'") and Kellie Coffey ("When You Lie Next To Me").

Tickets for Strait's Jan. 31 appearance at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas go on sale on Oct. 4, according to his publicist. Other on-sale dates weren't available at press time.

Strait--who has sold more than 57 million records over the course of his 20-plus-year recording career--released his latest studio album, titled "Honkytonkville," in June. The 2004 dates will mark his first outing since the album's release.

One of country music's best live draws, Strait released his first concert album in February. The 16-song CD, titled "For the Last Time--Live from the Astrodome," was recorded on the closing night of the 2002 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Strait performed for more than 68,000 fans that night, including former President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush.

Strait returned to the arena circuit in the fall of 2002, after heading up the George Strait [ tickets ] Country Music Festival stadium tour for four years. Over its run, that event grossed about $100 million from ticket sales alone, according to Amusement Business.