Paula Deen's Comeback Continues, Chef Announces 20-City Live Tour

Show will feature cooking demos, story telling and games for audience members

By Alyssa Toomey Apr 28, 2014 5:27 PMTags
Paula DeenPaul Drinkwater/NBC

Break out the butter—Paula Deen is back! 

The 67-year-old chef announced her plans to kick off a live 20-show tour which will begin in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. on June 21.

Only five locations have been announced thus far—all in Southern cities—including Deen's hometown of Savannah, Ga. as well as Atlanta, Nashville, Tenn., and San Antonio, Texas.

Tickets for the 90-minute live show, which will feature cooking demos, storytelling and games for audience members, will go on sale May 1—and there's bound to be lots of audience interaction. "We are going to play musical chairs and the dating game with the audience. That's the excitement of it all — my fans get to be part of the show," Deen told the Miami Times.

Deen is launching her comeback tour nearly a year after the Food Network pulled the plug on her show, following a headline-making racial scandal, which shattered the embattled chef's career.

Despite a number of sponsor's severing ties with the celebrity chef, Deen's comeback company Paula Deen Ventures, recently received an investment between $75 million and $100 million from Najafi Cos.

She also offered yet another apology in February after admitting to using a racial slur in the summer of 2013, telling People magazine, "When I woke up each morning, it was like my world was crashing down again."

"Some people said I never apologized. If anyone did not hear me, I want to apologize," Deen, who also previously provided a tearful apology on the Today show told the mag. "I would never ever hurt anyone intentionally. Never!"

The cookbook author also admitted it will take time to earn the public's forgiveness. "I feel like 'embattled' or 'disgraced' will always follow my name. It's like that black football player who recently came out," she tells People, referring to NFL prospect Michael Sam. "He said, 'I just want to be known as a football player. I don't want to be known as a gay football player.' I know exactly what he's saying."

PHOTOS: Paula Deen through the years