Country acts Vince Gill [ tickets ], Patty Loveless [ tickets ], The Del McCoury [ tickets ] Band and Rebecca Lynn Howard [ tickets ]--all frequent guests at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry--will canvass the U.S. this year during the Grand Ole Opry American Road Show 2004.

The outing gets underway on April 23, and is scheduled to focus on the fair circuit through October.

"We know that millions of music fans across the country hold the Grand Ole Opry in the highest regard, and that not everyone has had the opportunity to visit Nashville to see this remarkable icon," Steve Buchanan, senior vice president of tour organizer Gaylord Entertainment, said in a statement. "Our goal is to give fans across the country the chance to sample the best the Opry and Nashville have to offer, inspiring them to visit Music City to witness country music at its finest."

The artists on the tour will play their own material, and will also join each other on stage for collaborations. Tour stops will also feature WSM-radio's Grand Ole Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs and guest appearances by other performers. The tour will follow the format of the Grand Ole Opry radio show, and will feature the Opry's signature barn backdrop and microphone stands.

During the tour, the regular Tuesday, Friday and Saturday Grand Ole Opry radio and Internet broadcasts will continue in Nashville.

According to tour organizers, the Opry first took to the road in the 1930s, playing traveling tent shows. During the World War II era, Opry stars toured American military bases in the U.S. and Central America.

In 1990, the Opry traveled to Houston to perform for President George Bush and the heads of state attending the Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations. A 10-city Opry tour followed in 1991.

More information is available at the Opry's website.