NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (ANS) -- Award-winning gospel/country artist and songwriter, Michael Peterson, has just concluded a 10-city goodwill bus tour in nine states, which impacted a total of about 50,000 attendees.

Aimed at supporting youth, educators and building stronger communities the tour was powered by a little magic, some music and a whole lot of motivation. Peterson led 35 assembly programs, about which many administrative faculty and other leaders gave rave reviews.

Gospel/Country Artist Michael Peterson performs for 6,000 at Armed Forces Day celebration at Fort Sill in Lawton, OK.

There were also several other peripheral events in many surrounding communities that Peterson led supporting American Legion Posts and other organizations including an Armed Forces Day Parade in Lawton, OK.

Presented by the U.S.Army, Grammy and CMA-nominated Ptereson's "My Real Life Tour" isa weeklong celebration, which ran from mid-February to the end of May with live appearancs and performances, motivational visits to schools, hospitals, ursing homes, corporate offices and community groups.

Also appearing with Peterson were illusionists Ridgeway & Johnson (with Kristin Johnson, billed as the world's #1 female escape artist: www.livingillusions.com).

Master Illusionists Kevin Ridgeway and Kristin Johnson performed a famous Water Torture Cell Escape, which amazed audiences throughout the ten-city tour.

He also performed for 550 military officers and others at Fort Sill’s Patriot Club hosted by the Lawton / Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce. Peterson was also presented keys to various cities and was also acknowledged by Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman.

No stranger to inspiring communities, Peterson has dedicated most of his career to moving people throughout the world. Before achieving meteoric success as a country music star, he spent 12 years speaking to and motivating high school students throughout the United States, sometimes performing more than 200 school programs a year.

Michael Peterson (center) was honored by Gov. Dave Heineman and First Lady of Nebraska during a stop in Lincoln, NB.

Peterson is bringing his national My Real Life, Strong For America Tour to cities across America. In addition to a concert event, this Tour introduces programs and resources to each community it visits. Specifically, the tour event is designed to help students who are looking for career and educational direction and to provide motivation and tools to adults who have a desire to effectively and efficiently invest their time and talents back into their community, and to bring mechanisms to community leaders and retirees to share their resources, wisdom and time in ways that strengthen the community.

According to his website, "This tour is probably not what you'd expect from a superstar entertainer. Usually, the bus rolls into town, the artist performs a two-hour concert and then goes home. Michael said he wants to spend several days in each town getting to meet lots of members of the community and sharing stories, music, motivation and great ideas about how we can all work to build better communities."

As a musician, Peterson has traveled the world entertaining and captivating audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Today, he continues to move audiences with his music and inspirational message of empowerment and responsibility that resonates with both individuals and entire communities.

Loved for such million-selling country music chart toppers as "Drink Swear Steal & Lie" and "From Here To Eternity", this multiple Grammy and CMA award nominee has moved sold out audiences all over the globe for nearly a decade. But he is so much more than a "celebrity recording artist."

Prior to his career in country music, this national champion collegiate football player spent twelve years teaching hundreds of thousands of Jr High and Sr High school students across North America how to live with uncertainty and not be paralyzed by fear. He is a contributing author to the New York Times bestselling "Chicken Soup For The Soul" series, and is a proven hit songwriter with multiple #1 songs in gospel and country both in the U.S and Europe, recorded by multiple Grammy winning superstars like Travis Tritt, Timothy B. Shmitt from The Eagles and Deniece "Let's Hear It For The Boy" Williams.

But more than anything else Peterson is a proven "people mover" whose consistent commitment to purposes greater than himself has caused organizations as diverse Special Olympics, Selective Service, Ronald McDonald House, FFA, the USO, St Jude Children's research hospital, The American Legion and most recently the New Holland corporation and the U.S. Army to seek him out as a voice for messages that matter.

With a new CD "In Black" and the US Army-sponsored "My Real Life – Strong For America" tour, he is bringing together the power of hit songs, community events and school assemblies to help close the gap between public education, civilians and the military at this critical time in our nation.

Peterson will also be hosting the 3rd Annual New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race on Sunday June 8 at the CMA Fanfare Country Music Festival taking place June 5-8. "The Third Annual New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race" will begin at 11:30 AM on Sunday, June 8, in the Sports Zone Activity Area. A blend of Country Music artists, athletes and celebrities will join Peterson in a race against the clock through an obstacle course on a New Holland compact Boomer(TM) compact tractor.

Following the race, participants will autograph a tractor, which will later be auctioned off with part of the proceeds going to the National FFA and to the winner's charity of choice.

For a media press kit and more information about the tour, please visit www.myreallifetour.com.  For interview scheduling please contact Fred Baye 518-477-2385 or e-mail: FredBaye@aol.com  

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael's involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of ACT International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (ACT) International.