Kelly Clarkson arriving at Xcel Center Aug. 4

After becoming a mom last year, the inaugural "American Idol" champ has another big year lined up.

March 3, 2015 at 6:31PM
FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013 file photo, Kelly Clarkson performs on stage at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. The British government has stepped in to stop singer Kelly Clarkson from taking a ring once owned by author Jane Austen out of the country. The "American Idol" winner bought the gold and turquoise ring at auction last year for just over 150,000 pounds ($228,000). But on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey put an export bar on the item until Sept. 30 in
Kelly Clarkson in 2013 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

With her latest album, "Piece by Piece," arriving Tuesday via a strong industry buzz and media blitz, Kelly Clarkson announced a summer tour that will bring her to Xcel Energy Center on Aug. 4. Two theater-level acts with strong Twin Cities followings, Pentatonix and Eric Hutchinson, will open the show. Tickets go on sale March 21 at 10 a.m. for $29.50-$99.50 via Ticketmaster and the arena box office.

Clarkson, 32, was the first winner on Fox TV's "American Idol" and remains the only champ from the show to sustain her popularity. The Texan pop singer, who became a mom last summer, hasn't performed in town since 2011, when she headlined KDWB's Jingle Ball.

Tuesday's Clarkson announcement follows Monday's big news of another Madonna date at Xcel Center.

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about the writer

Chris Riemenschneider

Critic / Reporter

Chris Riemenschneider has been covering the Twin Cities music scene since 2001, long enough for Prince to shout him out during "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." The St. Paul native authored the book "First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom" and previously worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman in Texas.

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