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Taylor Swift Brings “Fearless Tour 2009” to Mandalay Bay May 23

Big Machine recording artist Taylor Swift, Nielsen SoundScan’s 2008’s top-selling artist, takes her FEARLESS TOUR 2009 to Las Vegas with a stop at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, May 23.

“Headlining my own tour is a dream come true! This way I can play more music every night than I ever have before,” says Swift. “Having written my own songs, they are all stories in my head, and my goal for this tour is to bring those stories to life. My favorite thing when I go to a concert is having lots of changing things to look at, so I’ve been working really hard to make this show as multi-dimensional as possible. I want to be sure that everyone has the opportunity to come see my show, so we have affordable tickets available for every date we do this year.”

One of the YEAR’S most-anticipated musical experiences, Swift’s FEARLESS TOUR 2009 show will feature an incredibly theatrical presentation of graphics, sets and visual elements designed by Swift herself. During each show, she will play five guitars as well as the piano. Multiple costume changes and a fairy-tale castle illuminated by more than one million lumens of light are just some of the highlights of the three-act show.

Swift’s good friend, American Idol finalist Kellie Pickler, will join her as a featured artist on all of the dates on the FEARLESS TOUR 2009. Each show also will include a second special guest, Gloriana.

When Pickler’s self-titled sophomore album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Album Chart in the fall of 2008, she became only the sixth country artist in history to have both HER first and second albums debut at No. 1. From the sassy single “Red High Heels” to the searing, soul-bearing honesty of “I Wonder” (both songs she co-wrote), Pickler is plowing down the road on her own terms. Her current single, “Best Days Of Your Life,” is a musical revenge song that she co-wrote with Swift, who lends background vocals on the album as well.

Gloriana represents an exciting new and vibrant force in country music. The group, featuring Tom Gossin, Mike Gossin, Rachel Reinert and Cheyenne Kimball, consists of four uniquely talented and enthusiastic young musicians joining forces to create a fresh, one-of-a-kind sound. Their soaring four-part harmony and an electric stage presence reflect the best of today’s Nashville. The group’s first single, “Wild At Heart,” is arriving at Country radio to rave reviews and their debut album is set for release later this year.

Swift spent eight consecutive weeks in the No. 1 position atop Billboard’s all-genre Top 200 Albums sales chart and this week finds her back on top again. Her eight-week run was the longest at No. 1 for a female artist (all genres) in 13 years. Swift’s sophomore album, Fearless, has sold more than 2.4 million copies since its November 2008 release. Her MySpace music streams recently crossed the 150 million mark.

Tickets priced at $75 and $65, not including applicable service charges, go on sale Saturday, Feb. 28 at 10am at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to six (6) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800)745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Tour information will be regularly updated on www.taylorswift.com and www.myspace.com/taylorswift.