Country singing star and actor Tim McGraw, starring in the newly released "Country Strong" with Gwyneth Paltrow, will bring his 2011 Emotional Traffic Tour to Grand Forks' Alerus Center on May 17.
Cheryl Swanson, executive director of the Alerus Center, confirmed the concert that was announced on CMT, saying Alerus officials were "thrilled" to be hosting McGraw's first concert in Grand Forks since 2002.
The Emotional Traffic tour will begin April 8 in Corpus Christi, Texas, and conclude Aug. 13 in Washington, D.C. Luke Bryan and The Band Perry will tour with McGraw, the news release said.
Information on ticket sales will be announced as soon as it becomes available, Swanson said.
McGraw, one of the country's top male singers, was named the top touring act in country music by Billboard in 2010. Last year, he also issued a double-disc career compilation titled "Number One Hits," which featured "Felt Good on My Lips" as a bonus track, which is topping the country charts.
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Like any good country song, McGraw's life has had its share of pain, triumphs and odd twists. Born in Louisiana, McGraw didn't learn until years later that he was born from his young mother's brief affair with star baseball player Tug McGraw.
He attended Northeast Louisiana University on a baseball scholarship, playing the music club circuit on the side. In 1989, he dropped out of school to move to Nashville and pursue a music career.
His first album didn't even make the charts. Then his song "Indian Outlaw," a novelty song from his second album, made it to the top 10, even though some stations refused to play it for being patronizing to American Indians. The album also spun off hits "Don't Take the Girl," "Down on the Farm" and "Not a Moment Too Soon."
His third album ("All I Want") also generated hits, including the No. 1 smash "I Like It, I Love it." During 1996, McGraw supported the album with an extensive tour, accompanied by opening act Faith Hill. In October, after the tour was over, McGraw and Hill married. The two have had multiple successful musical collaborations, including the No. 1 hit "It's Your Love" and the Grammy-winning "Let's Make Love," and are the parents of three daughters.
More albums and hits followed, including "Set This Circus Down" in 2001, which produced four more No. 1 hits, including "The Cowboy in Me." McGraw played Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks in 2002.
McGraw's work in films began with a role in the 2004 movie "Friday Night Lights," in which he played ("with great power," movie critic Roger Ebert said at the time) a father still wearing his high school football championship ring 20 years later who was a bully to his football-playing son.
McGraw since has had roles in "Flicka," "The Blind Side" and "Country Strong."
According to CMT.com, McGraw will be in Sioux City, Iowa, on May 12; Peoria, Ill., on May 13; and St. Paul on May 14.
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Reach Tobin at (701) 780-1134; (800) 477-6572, ext. 134; or send e-mail to ptobin@gfherald.com .
