May 1, 2009

Swine flu affects country artists' touring & fans


The influenza that won’t easily lose its initial “swine flu” moniker has made its mark on the country music world already, and in particular, on the Lone Star concert circuit.

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga., recently reported that there is one death and 28 confirmed H1N1 flu cases in Texas, country-music performers on tour in the Friendship State have begun altering their tour routes and usual road routines, according to artist Web sites and interviews broadcast on country radio.

The newly launched Kenny Chesney tour, for one, has confirmed that the genre superstar is among those feeling the backlash of the infuenza formerly known as Swine. In turn, the Tennessee performer, who’s touring with Texas-born and based Miranda Lambert throughout the summer, has nixed fan meet ‘n’ greets In San Antonio, Houston and Dallas over the H1N1-induced panic.

To read the full story, as well as comments from the artists swine flu is affecting on the road, please access my latest National Country Music Examiner article.

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