GRAMMY® award-winning and multi-Platinum selling artist Michael W. Smith will celebrate this holiday season with the 16-show “It’s A Wonderful Christmas Tour.” Featuring “American Idol” alum Melinda Doolittle as special guest, the tour kicks off Nov. 29, in Youngstown, Ohio and will hit major markets like Dallas, St. Paul, Spokane, Portland and more before it concludes in Phoenix on Dec. 19.  
 
The Associated Press calls Smith’s Christmas music “cinematic,” and this tour will showcase exactly why he has become one of the most popular holiday performers in the music industry today. Each tour date will feature Smith with a full symphony orchestra, performing selections from his three Christmas albums including his acclaimed 2007 release, It’s A Wonderful Christmas.
 
“There is no greater thrill for me, as an artist, than to play with a symphony orchestra,” Smith explains. “Christmas is my favorite time of the year, and I love Christmas music. My goal every night is to make sure everyone leaves in the Christmas spirit. Having Melinda Doolittle there certainly helps. Her voice is amazing.  The Christmas shows really are special and I can’t wait to take the stage every night.”

“This is my second year to have the honor of being with Michael W. Smith on tour,” Doolittle adds.  “I am head over heels with excitement. I can't even describe how amazing it is to sing with a full orchestra each night and to share the stage with Smitty. And to top it all off, it’s Christmas music that will pull on your heart strings, lighten your spirit and remind you of why we really celebrate this wonderful holiday!”
 
Smith’s holiday tour will come on the heels of a whirlwind fall, during which he has teamed up for the first time with fellow artist Steven Curtis Chapman for the highly-successful “United Tour” and prepares to release his 21st album, A New Hallelujah (Oct. 28). The anticipated new worship project was recorded live before more than 12,000 in attendance, with a 250-voice choir.
 
Tickets for “It’s A Wonderful Christmas Tour” are on sale now. For more information on that tour and “The United Tour,” go to www.michaelwsmith.com. 
 
2008 IT’S A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TOUR with Michael W. Smith
*Dates, markets and venues subject to change without notice.
 
November 9th         Youngstown, OH        Chevrolet Centre
December 1st          Murray, KY               Lovett Auditorium
December 2nd         Dallas, TX                  Meyerson Symphony Center
December 3rd          Dallas, TX                  Meyerson Symphony Center
December 5th         Olathe, KS                   College Church of the Nazarene
December 6th         St. Paul, MN                Xcel Energy Center
December 7th         Grand Forks, ND        Alerus Center
December 9th         Denver, CO                 Wells Fargo Center
December 11th       Tualatin, OR                 Rolling Hills Community Church
December 12th       Tualatin, OR                 Rolling Hills Community Church
December 13th       Redmond, WA            Overlake Christian Church
December 14th      Boise, ID                      Taco Bell Arena
December 15th       Spokane, WA              Spokane Opera House
December 17th       Modesto, CA              Calvary Temple Church
December 18th       Corona, CA                 Crossroads Church
December 19th       Phoenix, AZ                 Christ Church of the Valley
 
About Michael W. Smith:
Throughout his 25-year career as a recording artist, Michael W. Smith has amassed an impressive catalog of achievements. His 20 albums have garnered multiple honors including an American Music Award, 3 GRAMMY ® Awards (from 13 nominations), 42 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and 33 No. 1 radio hits.  In addition, he holds 16 Gold and 5 Platinum albums for career sales approaching 15 million. Smith’s first worship album, simply titled Worship, released on September 11, 2001 and has sold more than a million-and-a-half copies. Its follow up, Worship Again, released September 19, 2002 and is nearing the 800,000 mark.