Veteran entertainer Bette Midler [ tickets ] mounts her first tour in more than four years this winter to support her recently released tribute to singer Rosemary Clooney.

Midler's run kicks off in Chicago on Dec. 10, and will make stops in 40 cities, according to organizers. Confirmed dates (shown below) so far stretch into February. Additional cities for which dates and venues are yet to be announced are: Washington, DC; Dallas; San Diego; Los Angeles; Las Vegas; Miami/Fort Lauderdale; Tampa; Atlantic City. NJ; Seattle; and Portland, OR.

Tickets for shows in Chicago; Columbus, OH; St. Louis; Uniondale, NY; Philadelphia; New York; and Cleveland will hit the box office next week, while stops in Toronto, Boston and Washington, DC go on sale the following week, according to tour promoter Clear Channel Entertainment.

Midler's road work backs her new album, "Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook," which landed in stores on Tuesday (9/30). Joining Midler on her tribute to the late singer is Barry Manilow, who co-produced the set with Robbie Buchanan. Manilow, who was Midler's original piano player and musical director, produced her first two albums: "The Divine Miss M" (1972) and "Bette Midler" (1973).

"I have loved Rosemary Clooney for as long as I can remember," Midler wrote in her notes for the album. "She possessed one of the great American voices of the last century, full of warmth, sincerity and truth. Her intonation was impeccable, she never sang a false note ... she radiated intelligence and good humor, and boy, could she swing!"

Clooney died on June 29 of last year.

Streaming samples of all 11 tracks on "Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook" are posted at Midler's website.

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