Kenny Chesney sets first batch of 2002 dates

Country singer Kenny Chesney has mapped out plans for his 2002 "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem" tour.

The jaunt kicks off on Jan. 31 in West Palm Beach, Fla., and so far runs through July 24, when he plays Cheyenne, Wyo. Sara Evans, Phil Vassar and Carolyn Dawn Johnson are among the tour openers.

To prep for the tour, Chesney will make an appearance from 6-6:30 p.m. Saturday (1/ 9), on CMT's "Most Wanted Live." The same day, he is scheduled to perform at on the Grand Ole Opry television show on TNN.

Chesney is planning to release his latest album, "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem" (BNA Records), on April 23. Produced by Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson, the album is his first record of all-new material in three years. "No Shoes, No Shirt, Problem" includes a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "One Step Up." The song "Young" is slated to be the first single.

In 2000, Chesney released a greatest hits collection called "Greatest Hits," which featured "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy," "Back Where I Come From," "How Forever Feels" and "Don't Happen Twice."

Chesney opened for Tim McGraw on his run last year.