New Kids on the Block announces epic tour that will come to Dallas on May 23

Apparently, the New Kids on the Block discovered the "right stuff" on the road.

The group, along with "special guests" Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul, announced "The Total Package" tour live on the Today show Tuesday morning. The tour will stop at Dallas' American Airlines Center on May 23.

It turns out that Abdul and Donnie Wahlberg of NKOTB presented an award together at last year's American Music Awards, and Abdul dropped the idea then. Now, it's going to be real and it's going to be spectacular.

Abdul will be "hangin' tough;" it will be her first tour in 25 years. Boyz II Men accompanied NKOTB on the 2013 "The Package" tour. (I wonder if Abdul -- American Idol -- and Shawn Stockman -- The Sing-Off -- will compare notes about their time as TV judges on singing competition shows. Or if Wanya Morris shuts it all down with a samba from his time on Dancing With the Stars?)

The tour will go to more than 40 cities starting May 12 in Columbus, Ohio, and play some storied venues. That includes a stop at home in Fenway Park for the boys from Boston.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, Nov. 19, at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster. (American Express cardholders and "Block Nation" fan club members can buy seats starting Wednesday morning, Nov. 16, at 10.)

Said Wahlberg: "It's going to be a night of hit after hit, and we can't wait to deliver the 'Total Package' to our fans!"

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