Reunited rockers No Doubt, rapper Flo Rida and R&B singer Jennifer Hudson are among the artists headlining the upcoming summer concert series on morning chat show "Today," NBC announced said on Thursday.
Joining them will be the Dave Matthews Band, All-American Rejects, Kings of Leon and Black Eyed Peas, among others.
The 2009 version of the popular Friday-morning series kicks off its 14th season on May 1 with No Doubt, marking that band's first live concert since reforming after a five-year hiatus.
The appearance also marks a series first for Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews and Flo Rida.
"I always do something real big every time I get on TV, but since this is my first time on 'Today' I definitely have to set the mark very high," the rapper told Billboard.com.
Other bands, like the All-American Rejects, keep coming back for more. The rejects have been part of the series two times before, and the band's bass player Tyson Ritter called their appearance "old hat."
"They've embraced us there," said Ritter. "I guess they know four boys from Oklahoma aren't really going to make that much trouble at five in the morning."
The early morning concerts take place outside the "Today" show studios at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, and fans can get in for free. The lineup is:
May 1: No Doubt
May 8: New Kids On The Block & special guest
May 15: Jennifer Hudson
May 22: Fall Out Boy
May 29: Taylor Swift
June 5: The Dave Matthews Band
June 12: Black Eyed Peas
June 19: Jonas Brothers
June 26: The Fray
July 3: Rob Thomas
July 10: Rascal Flatts
July 17: The All American Rejects
July 24: Katy Perry
July 31: Kings of Leon
Aug 7: Jason Mraz
Aug 14: Flo Rida
Aug 21: Natasha Bedingfield
Aug 28: TBA
(China Daily/Agencies, April 3, 2009)
