Paula Deen is taking her comeback act on the road.
According to Us Weekly, Deen has decided to hit the road with a 20-city tour of the U.S., which will begin June 21, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The location is also the future home of Paula Deen's Family Kitchen, a new restaurant scheduled to open later this year.
The tour is Deen's latest attempt to launch a comeback following last year's racial discrimination scandal. The former Food Network Chef will be hosting 90-minute shows that will be part-cooking demonstrations, part-party games.
"Paula Deen Live!" is described as an "interactive ninety-minute show featuring Paula demonstrating how to make her favorite seasonal dishes, including new recipes featuring Springer Mountain Farms chickens."
"We are going to play musical chairs and the dating game with the audience," the 67-year-old celebrity chef told The Miami New Times. "That's the excitement of it all - my fans get to be a part of the show. I'll also invite some folks in the audience to come onstage and cook with me."
Only five locations have been announced, including Atlanta, Nashville, Tenn., and San Antonio, Texas. Along for the ride is Deen's husband, who will be co-headlining the tours.
"The crowd just loves him. He's an integral part of the show," Deen said. "And he will put me in my place in a New York minute! We have so much fun bantering back and forth with each other."
The upcoming tour is sponsored by Paula Deen Ventures (PDV), a privately funded business conglomerate encompassing Deen's restaurants, retail endeavors, and "more expansion opportunities in a range of categories."
Deen recently received an investment between $75 million and $100 million from Najafi Co. The celebrity chef has apologized several times - most recently, in February. After admitting to using racial slur, Deen told People magazine that her world came crashing down.
But for now, the TV chef is looking forward to starting new projects, telling the Miami New Times, "This is only the beginning. I can't wait to announce them and for y'all to be a part of it."
Only seven shows of the tour have been announced, but the remaining 13 shows will be announced shortly, according to Deen's website.
Tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster on Thursday, May 1st.
