CMT News

Dwight Yoakam kicks off a 50-date North American concert tour on July 1 in Sun City West, Ariz. The country singer will criss-cross the U.S. and play two Canadian shows before ending the trek at the Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 3. Yoakam is touring in support of his latest album, Tomorrow's Sounds Today. Yoakam's writing-directing film debut, South of Heaven, West of Hell, is slated to open on June 15 in New York and Los Angeles. He stars in the flick with Bridget Fonda, Peter Fonda, Billy Bob Thornton, Paul Reubens and Vince Vaughn. The movie premiered in January 2000 at the Slamdance Festival in Park City, Utah. Yoakam faced major obstacles launching the independent film. Some individuals involved with the movie reportedly filed complaints with unions and brought litigation against the county star in small claims court. The production company set up for the film, A Cast of Strays, reportedly filed for bankruptcy. Yoakam said the ordeal was "the hardest experience I've ever gone through in my professional life in terms of executing art." He has since acted in The Panic Room, starring Jodie Foster. See Yoakam's concert schedule. 05/31/01