CMT News

The 2011 American Idol Live tour will launch on Wednesday night (July 6) near Salt Lake City. The tour will feature the season's top 11 finalists. Scotty McCreery, who won the show, and Lauren Alaina, who placed second, are both pursuing country music careers. The tour will conclude Sept. 10 in Rochester, N.Y. In related news, ninth-place finalist Pia Toscana has signed with Interscope Records. She will release a new single, "This Time," on July 12 and perform it during the tour. Her album is due later this year.