Will Chase, Charles Esten & More Set for ABC's NASHVILLE Concert Tour

Due to the overwhelming success of sold-out tours in 2014 and 2015, the stars of ABC's "Nashville" will take the show on the road again this spring with a concert tour across the U.S. The tour will feature cast members Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack and Charles Esten performing original music as well as songs from the hit television series. Will Chase, Jonathan Jackson and Aubrey Peeples join the tour in select cities. "Nashville" returns with all original episodes beginning Wednesday, March 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT) on ABC.

Last week it was announced that the "Nashville in Concert" tour will also stage its first-ever international run in the United Kingdom with Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Charles Esten and Sam Palladio performing.

"It is truly extraordinary how demand has grown over these past three years," said Steve Buchanan, president, Opry Entertainment. "We have added several new major markets this year so that we can reach as many of our dedicated 'Nashville' fans as possible all across America. Audiences have been consistently blown away by the performing and songwriting talent of our cast."

"It's so great to see the cast have an opportunity to take their show on the road again," said Russell Ziecker, executive vice president, TV Music, Lionsgate. "The spirit and energy they bring to the stage is infectious. They've all become country music evangelists and ambassadors of Nashville, both the show and the city. It continues to amaze me how many ways life imitates art imitates life on this show and with this cast."

Also announced today is the May 13 soundtrack release of "The Music of Nashville, Season 4, Volume 2" (Big Machine Records.) Receiving much praise from critics and fans alike, the music from "Nashville" has amassed over five million track sales since the show's inception.

All U.S. shows go on sale March 18 at 10 a.m. local times at www.abc.com/nashvilletour.

4/14 San Jose, CA City National Civic
4/15 Las Vegas, NV The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian
4/16 Los Angeles, CA Microsoft Theater
4/17 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre
4/19 Denver, CO Paramount Theatre
4/21 Tulsa, OK Brady Theater
4/23 Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
4/24 Austin, TX The Moody Theater*
4/25 Houston, TX Revention Music Center
4/27 Atlanta, GA FOX Theatre
4/28 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
4/30 Rosemont, IL Rosemont Theatre
5/1 Detroit, MI FOX Theatre
5/3 Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall
5/5 New York, NY The Theater at MSG
5/6 Boston, MA Wang Theatre
5/7 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena

*Austin on sale is March 25 at 10 a.m. local time at www.abc.com/nashvilletour.com

All UK shows go on sale March 18 at 9:00 a.m. GMT at www.gigsandtours.com; www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.axs.com.

6/13 Manchester Bridgewater Hall
6/14 Birmingham Birmingham Symphony
6/16 Glasgow Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
6/17 Bristol Bristol Colston Hall
6/18 London London Eventim Apollo Hammersmith

The tour is produced by Opry Entertainment.

"Nashville" airs on six continents and in more than 70 countries, including the United Kingdom, which will air season four this spring. Since its debut, the show has inspired seven "Music of Nashville" soundtracks as well as a Christmas album, which have collectively sold more than one million soundtracks and millions more single tracks to date.

About "Nashville"
Now in its fourth season, the critically-acclaimed series "Nashville" is set against the backdrop of the city's music scene and follows Rayna Jaymes and Juliette Barnes. Both women face personal and professional challenges as they navigate their paths as artists and individuals. Surrounding them and often complicating their lives are their family, friends and, in some cases, lovers, as well as the up-and-coming performers and songwriters trying to get ahead in the business. Music City can mean so many things to different people. In "Nashville," musicians and songwriters are at the heart of the storm driven by their own ambitions. Some are fueled by their creativity and passion for fame. Others struggle to cope with the pressures of success and doing everything in their power to stay on top.

"Nashville" stars Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes, Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes, Clare Bowen as Scarlett O'Connor, Chris Carmack as Will Lexington, Will Chase as Luke Wheeler, Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne, Jonathan Jackson as Avery Barkley, Sam Palladio as Gunnar Scott, Maisy Stella as Daphne Conrad, Lennon Stella as Maddie Conrad and Aubrey Peeples as Layla Grant. "Nashville" is executive-produced by Dee Johnson, Callie Khouri and Steve Buchanan. Buddy Miller is Executive Music Producer and Frankie Pine is Music Supervisor. The series is produced by Lionsgate, ABC Studios, and Opry Entertainment.

About Opry Entertainment
Opry Entertainment®, a division of Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP), is a producer of multi-media entertainment experiences with primary interests in location-based entertainment and television and stage production. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, its core business segments include the world-famous Grand Ole Opry®, the historic Ryman Auditorium®, and legendary radio station 650 AM-WSM.

About Lionsgate
Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms, video games and international distribution and sales. The Company has nearly 80 television shows on 40 different networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and Syndication businesses. These include the critically-acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black, the multiple Emmy Award-winning drama Mad Men, the hit broadcast network series Nashville, the Syndication successes THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW and CELEBRITY NAME GAME (with FremantleMedia), the breakout series THE ROYALS and the Golden Globe-nominated dramedy Casual.

Its feature film business has been fueled by such successes as the blockbuster Hunger Games franchise, the first two installments of the Divergent franchise, Sicario, The Age of Adaline, CBS/Lionsgate's The DUFF, John Wick, Now You See Me, Roadside Attractions' Love & Mercy and Mr. Holmes, Lionsgate/Codeblack Films' Addicted and Pantelion Films' Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.

Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world. www.lionsgate.com

Follow "Nashville" on: Facebook www.facebook.com/NashvilleABC , Twitter @Nashville_ABC, #Nashville, @ABC_Publicity

For more information about "Nashville" visit ABC.com/Nashville.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos