George Michael announces US tour

George Michael has had 10 number one singles in the US

Singer George Michael is to tour the US and Canada for the first time in 17 years, he has announced.

He will open his 25 Live tour in San Diego on 17 June, winding up in Sunrise, Florida, on 3 August.

Michael's last European tour featured an attack on US President George Bush, who appeared in inflatable form during the protest song Shoot The Dog.

The star's greatest hits album Twenty Five, released in the UK in 2006, is due to hit US stores on 1 April.

Last month, the 44-year-old singer signed a multi-million pound deal with publisher HarperCollins to write his autobiography, which is due out in the autumn.

TV appearance

The run of concerts, which follows a two-leg European tour in 2006 and 2007, will take in 22 shows.

Michael has had 10 number one singles in the US including three with Wham! and two duets.

His last US number one was his 1991 duet with Elton John, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.

Michael will make his US acting debut on Wednesday when he will play himself in an episode of legal drama Eli Stone.

Each episode of the show, which stars British actor Jonny Lee Miller, is named after a George Michael song.