The Nation's 2024 ~ 7-Day Caribbean Cruise

Dear Friend of The Nation ,

Join The Nation on our 7-day Western Caribbean Cruise — December 8 to 15, 2024 — to come together with friends and family in these tumultuous times.

We're sailing to the Caribbean aboard Holland America Line's ms Nieuw Amsterdam to visit four extraordinary islands over a week. Embark on a convenient roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale adventure. Meet stingrays in Half Moon Cay, see how jerk chicken is made in Jamaica, taste rum cake in the Cayman Islands, and explore Cozumel beaches.

In our exclusive panel discussions at sea, we'll talk about Election 2024, the future of progressive politics and the fragile state of democracy, war and peace, hopeful signs of a resurgent labor movement, the fight to save reproductive rights in the US, the on-going fight for racial justice, a rapidly escalating climate crisis, what COVID-19 has shown us about averting the next pandemic, and much more.

I hope you will join The Nation on board in December — this is a crucial moment in our national politics, and the cruise provides essential funds to support the magazine as we continue to instigate progress in these trying times.

With appreciation,

Editorial Director and Publisher, The Nation

  • Smaller Text Larger Text
  • Home / 

“Reality Touring” with Nation Travels

the nation magazine tours

Honolulu or Havana? The world is full of travel opportunities that are more than enjoyable — they can be transformational. By getting out of our comfort zone, we realize that different people find different truths to be self-evident and God-given. We gain an understanding of the other 96 percent of humanity — and in many ways, we can learn a lot about our own country by viewing it from afar.

My tour company has been taking Americans on the road for more than 40 years now. From Lisbon to Istanbul, and from St. Petersburg to Palermo, we offer tours across Europe. I love each of our itineraries, and I frequently travel along with our tour groups — but I also regularly travel beyond Europe. And when I do, I like to enlist the help of what I call “reality tour” companies — organizations that offer educational trips for thoughtful travelers. You can find a list of some of my favorites here .

Recently, I found out about another great option for Americans who want to get an education on the road: Nation Travels . This organization, which is run by The Nation Magazine, takes small groups of progressives to parts of the world whose governments are at odds with our own, with the hope that citizen-to-citizen contact will lead to more productive engagement. At each destination, they introduce travelers to a network of interesting locals, including academics, journalists, activists, and artists — and 100% of their proceeds fund The Nation’s journalism. Plus, their itineraries cover some of my favorite destinations, including India, Iran, and Cuba. Check them out — and keep on travelin’!

  • Arabia: Qatar, Oman and Jordan
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Civil Rights
  • Customized Travel
  • Destinations
  • Testimonials

Distant Horizons Logo

Kremlin - Moscow, Russia

Kremlin - Moscow, Russia

Rice Harvest - Vietnam

Rice Harvest - Vietnam

Meroe Camel - Sudan

Meroe Camel - Sudan

Buddha Park-Ravangla, Sikkim, India

Buddha Park-Ravangla, Sikkim, India

Buddhist monastery of Stakna above Indus river in the Indian Himalaya in late autumn. Stakna, Ladakh, India

Buddhist monastery of Stakna above Indus river in the Indian Himalaya in late autumn. Stakna, Ladakh, India

Karo tribe boys - Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Karo tribe boys - Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Wailing Wall - Jerusalem, Israel

Wailing Wall - Jerusalem, Israel

View from entrance of city - Petra, Jordan

View from entrance of city - Petra, Jordan

Trinity Lavra-Sergiev Posad, Russia

Trinity Lavra-Sergiev Posad, Russia

Traditional stilt fishermen - Sri Lanka

Traditional stilt fishermen - Sri Lanka

Temple of Soleb, Sudan

Temple of Soleb, Sudan

Sunset - Cartegena, Colombia

Sunset - Cartegena, Colombia

Salento balconies - Valle de Corcora, Colombia

Salento balconies - Valle de Corcora, Colombia

Namgyal Tsemo Monastery-Leh, Ladakh, India

Namgyal Tsemo Monastery-Leh, Ladakh, India

Kandy Esala Perahera (The Festival of the Tooth) - Kandy, Sri Lanka

Kandy Esala Perahera (The Festival of the Tooth) - Kandy, Sri Lanka

Hasan II Mosque-Casablanca, Morocco

Hasan II Mosque-Casablanca, Morocco

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Fasilidas Palace - Gondar, Ethiopia

Fasilidas Palace - Gondar, Ethiopia

Djemaa el Fna - Marrakesh, Morocco

Djemaa el Fna - Marrakesh, Morocco

Camel trek - Sahara Desert, Morocco

Camel trek - Sahara Desert, Morocco

Since 1985, Distant Horizons has organized cultural programs around the world. The focus of each trip is to allow the traveler the chance to breathe the culture and traditions of the country they are journeying through. A small group size, the best hotels, superb local guides and an incredible first-hand knowledge of all our trips, allow us to offer comfortable and intimate tours to some of the world's most magnificent countries. Read more...

Please feel free to contact us at:

Phone: 800.333.1240 or 562.983.8828 Fax: 562.983.8833 Email: [email protected]

Distant Horizons 350 Elm Avenue Long Beach, CA 90802

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Get updates and information on upcoming tour dates.

  • First Name *
  • Last Name *
  • Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“To Reconstruct The Nation”: Special issue of The Atlantic examines America’s most radical experiment and its aftermath

Issue premieres sweeping full-length play by Anna Deavere Smith, This Ghost of Slavery

The Atlantic's December 2023 Cover

The Atlantic is releasing in full “ To Reconstruct The Nation ,” a special issue that, as editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg writes today , is “meant to examine the enduring consequences of Reconstruction’s tragic fall at a moment—­yet another moment—when the cause of racial progress faces sustained pressure.” The centerpiece of the issue, which is led by senior editor Vann R. Newkirk II , is a new feature-length play by the actor, playwright, and Atlantic contributing writer Anna Deavere Smith , which appears along with essays by writers, historians, and scholars including Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie G. Bunch III, Jordan Virtue, Peniel E. Joseph, Drew Gilpin Faust, Eric Foner, and The Atlantic ’s Vann R. Newkirk II, Adam Harris, and Yoni Appelbaum . The issue arrives 157 years after The Atlantic published Frederick Douglass’s famed essay on “ Reconstruction ,” and explores the fleeting time after the Civil War when the country undertook a radical transformation in an effort to become a true democracy. But the backlash against Reconstruction, and its effective end in 1877, prevented its proponents from achieving their aspirations. This issue addresses how the intense battles currently being waged in our politics and culture—over voting rights, access to education, criminal justice, and what it means to have equal protection under the law—can all trace their roots to the unfinished business of Reconstruction. Anna Deavere Smith’s play, This Ghost of Slavery , runs across 32 pages and is the first play The Atlantic has published in nearly a century. Set in Baltimore and Annapolis in the 1850s-60s and the present, the play explores the power of historical trauma to persist for generations. It interrogates the contemporary failures of our juvenile justice system, (“How did we get here?” one character repeatedly asks), finding the origins of the problem in the aftermath of emancipation, when former slaveowners in Maryland used the state’s “Black Code” to immediately re-indenture children under the guise of “apprenticeship.” This functionally extended slavery for adolescents. As with much of Deavere Smith’s work, the play draws from her own contemporary interviews with activists, social-justice workers, and young people whose lives have been affected by the carceral system. For This Ghost of Slavery , she supplemented these interviews with primary-source historical materials, mining 19th-century archives, transcripts, and diaries, and has woven dialogue from these historical sources into the play, which features historical figures such as President Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, General Lew Wallace, and Elizabeth Turner, whose court case brought by her mother against her enslaver turned out to be a hinge on which history turned. The result is a searing drama of great emotional and historical complexity set in two time periods. The play brings history vividly (and at times painfully) to life, makes plain the injustices meted out to Black Americans across centuries, and allows readers to see anew the connections between past and present. “To Reconstruct the Nation” includes the following pieces, all online today:

Lonnie G. Bunch III : “ The Archive of Emancipation ” In the papers of the Freedmen’s Bureau, Lonnie G. Bunch III, the secretary of the Smithsonian, found the hopes and disappointments of a people on the cusp of freedom—including his own family’s. Bunch explores a public transcription and digitization project that is making much of the Freedmen’s Bureau documents available widely for the first time, and what it tells us about the lives of enslaved people, especially after freedom. Vann R. Newkirk II : “ The Years of Jubilee ” In 1871, the choir of the struggling Fisk University engaged in a gambit to save the school: It decided to go on a singing tour of America. Senior editor Vann R. Newkirk II writes about how the choir achieved more than its members could have imagined. David W. Blight : “ The Annotated Frederick Douglass ” In 1866, at the dawn of Reconstruction, Frederick Douglass published an essay in The Atlantic wrestling with the promise of the moment and the shortcomings he could already anticipate. Reprinted in full for the December issue, the essay is newly annotated by Douglass’s biographer David W. Blight. Jordan Virtue : “ Kennedy and the Lost Cause ” In his 1956 book, Profiles in Courage , future president John F. Kennedy promoted the southern mythology of Reconstruction, praising a racist, slave-holding senator while tarnishing the reputation and legacy of his political rival, Adelbart Ames, an ardent supporter of Black suffrage and Mississippi’s governor during Reconstruction. Virtue writes about the efforts of Ames’s daughter throughout her life to correct the historical record and clear her father’s name. Profiles in Courage remains, as of now, uncorrected. Adam Harris : “ The Black Roots of American Education ” Staff writer Adam Harris writes about how freedpeople and their advocates persuaded the nation to embrace public schooling for all. Yoni Applebaum : “ The Atlantic and Reconstruction ” Deputy editor Yoni Applebaum writes about what The Atlantic got wrong in 1901, when the magazine last reckoned with Reconstruction in a sustained way. Drew Gilpin Faust : “ The Men Who Started the War ” John Brown and the Secret Six—the abolitionists who funded the raid on Harpers Ferry—confronted a question as old as America: When is violence justified? Peniel E. Joseph : “ The Revolution Never Ended ” The federal government abandoned Reconstruction in 1877, but, Peniel Joseph writes, Black people didn’t give up on the moment’s promise. Eric Foner : “ A Traitor to the Traitors ” The Reconstruction scholar Eric Foner writes about how—and why—the Confederate general James Longstreet became a champion of Reconstruction. The Atlantic ’s December issue is published today at TheAtlantic.com. Please reach out with any questions or requests to interview the issue’s contributors. Press Contacts: Anna Bross and Paul Jackson | The Atlantic [email protected]

Why The Nation and Other Magazines Look to Luxury Travel to Pay the Bills

Laura Powell, Skift

June 6th, 2017 at 10:03 AM EDT

Each of these media brands is different, but they have the same thing in common: well-heeled readers who will pay a premium to travel together.

Affinity travel is an under-recognized part of the luxury travel spectrum. Alumni associations, non-profit organizations and cultural institutions often sell travel as a way to cultivate donors and to raise money. Recently, affinity travel has been bleeding into the journalism arena, which itself has been bleeding cash for years.

Janet Moore, owner of affinity tour operator Distant Horizons , says it’s a logical business for certain publications to consider. “The tours add a much-needed revenue stream for special interest magazines that already have a ready-made audience–subscribers–for their programs,” says Moore.  Additionally, reporters on staff can lend expertise, either on tour or pre-tour. Planners can work with reporters to open doors, given their strong connections in a country’s political, cultural and academic landscapes.

Teresa Stack is the former president of The Nation  and founder of the publication’s educational travel programs. “Publishing is struggling in general,” says Stack. “Frankly, we largely developed the tour program to support the journalism. It’s not our number one source of revenue, but it’s a growing source.”

The Nation is the country’s oldest weekly magazine, debuting the year Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. The left-leaning political and cultural magazine is certainly not the first media outlet to introduce tours in order to subsidize journalism. Several travel-related magazines, like National Geographic and AFAR,  run tour programs. In 2014, the New York Times initiated its Times Journeys program . And later this month, the Los Angeles Times will unveil the details of its new Expeditions catalog.

The Nation’s first trips  were seminars at sea, a concept borrowed from The National Review , its political arch rival. While The Nation’s cruise program has sailed along for 20 years, land-based programming was added only in 2014. Cuba was the first stop on The Nation’s itinerary, and the island continues to be a top seller three years later.

Unlike so many group tours, The Nation hones in on issues of interest to its readers. Visits to Cuba have included tours of healthcare facilities and meetings with women’s associations. A group that is currently in Russia with The Nation is meeting the head of the Mikhail Gorbachev Foundation. A trip later this year to Vietnam will include a visit to the DMZ, and seminars on everything from Agent Orange to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Among the other countries on the 2017 roster are Iran and Colombia. According to Stack, “We want to go to places that are unusual, perhaps where the government is at odds with ours. We think there’s something to be gained by having an open, dialogue.”

And the more politically-charged (to a degree), the better. While your average traveler might shun a controversial destination, The Nation’s readers tend to lean into these places. “Our travelers are open-minded, curious and intrepid,” notes Stack. “They want to learn about geopolitical power and politically-charged issues.” According to Debra Eliezer, The Nation’s travel program manager,“Our travelers think it’s important to go places, meet people, see a different side of the story and draw their own conclusions.“

Eliezer adds that there’s another big advantage to this type of affinity travel. “Our travelers bond over politics, and they can sit at dinner knowing they are in a safe environment. That’s a powerful thing, especially now with what’s going on in the United States.” As longtime reader Mary McEvers puts it, “I’ve told my friends it was like I spent a week in a support group for anxiety-filled progressives.”

Sign up for Skift’s New Luxury Newsletter

The Daily Newsletter

Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: luxury , media

Photo credit: The Nation magazine has had success selling high-end trips to destinations including Cuba to its readers.

Jump to navigation Skip to content

Search form

  • P&W on Facebook
  • P&W on Twitter
  • P&W on Instagram

Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work.

Whether you’re pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the Small Presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact information, and more.

Research more than one hundred agents who represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kinds of books they’re interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them.

Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books.

Find publishers ready to read your work now with our Open Reading Periods page, a continually updated resource listing all the literary magazines and small presses currently open for submissions.

Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues, including literary agents, copyright, MFA programs, and self-publishing.

Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests.

Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more.

Subscribe to Poets & Writers Magazine for as little as $1.67 per issue

Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience.

Get the Word Out is a new publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets.

Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more.

Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.

Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

Subscribe to Poets & Writers Magazine for as little as $1.67 per issue

Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers—all in one place.

Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs.

Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.

Discover historical sites, independent bookstores, literary archives, writing centers, and writers spaces in cities across the country using the Literary Places database—the best starting point for any literary journey, whether it’s for research or inspiration.

Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets.

Establish new connections and enjoy the company of your peers using our searchable databases of MFA programs and writers retreats, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

Subscribe to Poets & Writers Magazine for as little as $1.67 per issue

  • Register for Classes

Each year the Readings & Workshops program provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops. Learn more about this program, our special events, projects, and supporters, and how to contact us.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community, providing them with a network for professional advancement.

Find information about how Poets & Writers provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops.

Subscribe to Poets & Writers Magazine for as little as $1.67 per issue

Bring the literary world to your door—at half the newsstand price. Available in print and digital editions, Poets & Writers Magazine is a must-have for writers who are serious about their craft.

View the contents and read select essays, articles, interviews, and profiles from the current issue of the award-winning Poets & Writers Magazine .

Read essays, articles, interviews, profiles, and other select content from Poets & Writers Magazine as well as Online Exclusives.

View the covers and contents of every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine , from the current edition all the way back to the first black-and-white issue in 1987.

Every day the editors of Poets & Writers Magazine scan the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know.

In our weekly series of craft essays, some of the best and brightest minds in contemporary literature explore their craft in compact form, articulating their thoughts about creative obsessions and curiosities in a working notebook of lessons about the art of writing.

The Time Is Now offers weekly writing prompts in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. Sign up to get The Time Is Now, as well as a weekly book recommendation for guidance and inspiration, delivered to your inbox.

Every week a new author shares books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired and shaped the creative process.

Listen to original audio recordings of authors featured in Poets & Writers Magazine . Browse the archive of more than 400 author readings.

Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. Our audience trusts our editorial content and looks to it, and to relevant advertising, for information and guidance.

Start, renew, or give a subscription to Poets & Writers Magazine ; change your address; check your account; pay your bill; report a missed issue; contact us.

Peruse paid listings of writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, calls for submissions, and more.

Poets & Writers is pleased to provide free subscriptions to Poets & Writers Magazine to award-winning young writers and to high school creative writing teachers for use in their classrooms.

Read select articles from the award-winning magazine and consult the most comprehensive listing of literary grants and awards, deadlines, and prizewinners available in print.

Subscribe to Poets & Writers Magazine for as little as $1.67 per issue

  • Subscribe Now
  • Printable Version
  • Log in to Send
  • Log in to Save

Twitter logo

The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States and features the latest developments in news, politics, and the literary world.

Books to be considered for review should be mailed to the attention of the Literary Editor at the address below.

Contact Information

  • Join Cherry Tree

the nation magazine tours

Cherry Tree

Cherry Tree is a community for fans of The National; a place where the band can connect directly with, and give back to each of them. Sign-up now so you don’t miss out on the exciting things coming this year.

Video thumbnail for Dreaming

Join Mailing List

Put-in tours

Original tour agency in moscow and st petersburg..

Onboard a Soviet van!

Welcome to Russia!

We are Sergey and Simon, a Russian and a Frenchman, both  passionate about Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and classic cars. Together, we have created Put-in tours. Our goal is to help you experience Russian culture off the beaten path. Join us onboard our classic Soviet van and let’s get rolling!

In Moscow we offer you a city tour to discover most of the city in an original way as well as a night tour to admire the lights. Our pubcrawl is ideal to explore Moscow’s night-life and have fun. If you are craving to discover Russian culture, come impress your senses during our monastery diner or join our 100% Russian Banya Excursion . The latest will also bring you to Sergiyev Posad and it’s famous monastery!

For the most extreme travellers, our shooting tour will deliver your daily dose of adrenaline whereas our tank excursion will let you ride a real tank and shoot a bazooka.

We also offer help to receive your visa , safe and multilingual airport transfers , as well as organisation services for team-building events or bachelor parties .

All our excursions (but the monastery diner) happen onboard our Soviet military vans and can be covered by our  professionnal photographer or videographer.

In Saint Petersburg

We welcome you in Saint Petersburg onboard our Soviet van to discover the imperial city with our city tour and night tour .

Continue your discovery in style! The adrenaline lovers will like our shooting tour  which brings 3 Russian weapons to the tip of your trigger finger.

Follow us on Social Media...

Our partners

© Copyright 2021 - Put-in tours Designed by SD Marketing & Design

At Put-in tours, we put you in our classic Soviet vans to go explore Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Russian culture off the beaten path. Discover our Moscow city guided tour, visit Moscow by night, join our banya & Sergiyev Posad excursion, visit and dine in one of Moscow's oldest monastery or even Luzhniki stadium, before you party on our famous pubcrawl! Original and atypical tours : Shoot AK47 and a bazooka after riding on a tank with our tank & bazooka excursion ! Extreme tours: Fly a fighter jet in Moscow onboard a L-29 or L-39 aircraft!

© Copyright 2021 – Put-in tours

Design web: SD Marketing & Design

Home About us Videos Moscow Saint-Petersburg Contact Online booking Blog Disclaimer Privacy Policy

WhatsApp us

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

What to Know Before Booking a National Park Trip This Summer

Additional routes in popular parks now require reservations, the annual pass gets a big change, Juneteenth is now a new free entrance day and more changes for 2024.

A deep-blue mountain creek with evergreen trees and brown grasses along its shores is in front of a towering gray mountain peak scattered with snow.

By Lauren Matison

In 2023, the seashores, lakeshores, battlefields, historic sites, monuments and more that make up the National Park Service had 325.5 million visits , an increase of 4 percent from the year before.

The National Park Service director, Charles F. Sams III, praised the surge of interest in “learning our shared American story throughout the hidden gems of the National Parks System.”

Expecting an even greater turnout in 2024, the Park Service and Recreation.gov , the booking platform for federal land reservations, have implemented new measures to streamline the park experience, manage overcrowding and safeguard the environment.

More parks are requiring reservations

To better avoid congested trails, packed parking lots and overflowing trash cans, additional parks are joining Rocky Mountain , Arches and Glacier National Parks this year in requiring day-use permits, timed entries and other reservations for travelers who wish to visit, particularly during peak hours, holidays and the parks’ high seasons. Yosemite National Park is reinstating a timed-entry system it instituted in 2020, but paused in 2022.

Many park enthusiasts expressed mixed feelings about the reservation policies, with some lamenting a lack of first-come, first-served campsites while others find comfort in knowing they have a confirmed booking. As nearly 75 percent of visitors each year descend on national parks from May to October (and often on weekends), park officials stand by the system.

“In some parks, the level of demand is exceeding the capacity for which infrastructure was designed or is outpacing the National Park Service’s ability to sustainably support visitation,” said Kathy Kupper, a public affairs specialist for the service. “This trend is resulting in the need to explore new strategies to protect natural and cultural resources and provide opportunities for safe and meaningful visitor experiences.”

It can be confusing.

New to implementing timed-entry reservations for vehicles is Mount Rainier National Park , in Washington, for its popular Paradise and Sunrise Corridors during certain times in the summer season. Reservations cost $2, are valid for one day and must be purchased along with the park ticket, but do not apply for visitors with wilderness permits or camping or lodge reservations. Similar vehicle reservations are now required for certain periods for viewing the sunrise at Haleakalā National Park in Maui, Hawaii , and driving the Cadillac Summit Road in Maine’s Acadia National Park .

Visitors wishing to hike Old Rag Mountain in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park must obtain a day-use ticket between March 1 and Nov. 30, and in Zion National Park, in Utah, hikers wishing to visit Angels Landing , the dramatic 1,488-foot-tall rock formation, also need to purchase a permit. Fees range from $1 to $6, in addition to the parks’ entrance fees.

As each destination is managed differently, check the park’s webpage for the type of reservation required. Although most bookings can be made through Recreation.gov, some sites, such as Muir Woods National Monument, use a different system.

New features on Recreation.gov

In 2023, Recreation.gov reported that more than 4 million camping reservations and 2 million timed-entry reservations were booked online, and 1.5 million permits were issued. Some 2.9 million new users signed up for the site. With its expanding user base, the booking platform has added 58 reservable national park locations — including 17 campgrounds — such as Central Avenue Walk-in Sites at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Bluff Hike In Camping in South Carolina’s Congaree National Park.

Recreation.gov has also improved an alerts feature, piloted in July 2023, that can notify users through email or mobile push notifications when a sold-out campsite becomes available. After Recreation.gov notifies you of availability, you must book the campsite yourself online — and quickly, as you’ll be shown how many other people (possibly hundreds) have received the same alert.

While its customer support center and mobile app are still only available in English, Recreation.gov recently introduced a Spanish language translation option. The Park Service partners with Latino Conservation Week , which hosts nationwide hikes and events on environmental education and in-park stewardship, and will celebrate its 10th year in September.

A limit to the annual America the Beautiful pass

The 2024 America the Beautiful pass no longer allows two owners. The annual interagency pass, which costs $80 and covers the entrance fees for more than 2,000 federal recreation sites (of which roughly 100 do not charge for admission year-round), is now marked by a single signature line on the back of the card. The pass owner must show I.D. and be present with any accompanying travelers wishing to access the park with the pass. (Annual passes issued in 2023 will still be valid until their expiration date.) The pass covers all passengers in a vehicle — up to four adults, and children under 16 are admitted free — or up to four cyclists riding together. Active military or veterans and people with permanent disabilities are eligible for a free lifetime pass; 4th grade students may receive a free annual pass; and senior citizens may purchase a $20 annual pass or pay $80 for a lifetime pass.

At the parks, more accessible features, E.V. chargers and new lodging

To better protect against global warming, the Park Service is putting more than $65 million from the Inflation Reduction Act and Great American Outdoors Act into climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration.

Using $15.9 million budgeted for zero-emission vehicle deployment, charging capacity and infrastructure, the Park Service is prioritizing a reduction in carbon emissions, said Mr. Sams, by installing new electric-vehicle charging stations and running electric buses.

An interactive online locator tool created in 2023 shows E.V. charging stations throughout 27 national parks and the type of chargers available. In addition to the tool, every national park page displays alerts on road closures, parking lot capacities, construction work and other incidents.

Mr. Sams also said the Park Service is investing $1.3 billion from the Great American Outdoors Act to improve accessibility features, ranging from a new A.D.A.-compliant visitor center at Morristown National Historic Park in New Jersey to new beach wheelchairs at Sleeping Bear Dunes , Channel Islands and Virgin Islands National Parks . Each destination’s website has an accessibility tab to help visitors plan their trip, and Recreation.gov now has a search filter on its homepage to make it easier to locate accessible accommodations.

New lodging options now available across the country include the Flamingo Lodge , which opened inside Everglades National Park last fall with 24 guest rooms built from repurposed shipping containers. In March, along the southeastern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cataloochee Ranch reopened with 11 renovated cabins and a new restaurant. This spring, the Clubhouse Hotel & Suites will welcome its first guests in Rapid City, S.D., the closest major town to Badlands National Park , and opening in May in Idaho is the Yellowstone Peaks Hotel , a 30-minute-drive from Yellowstone National Park. This fall, California-bound travelers planning a visit to General Sherman, the largest known tree on Earth, might book at AutoCamp Sequoia , just outside Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park .

Also in California: Those who don’t score a highly coveted (and contentious) spot at the newly reopened High Sierra Camps in Yosemite could book Wildhaven Yosemite in Mariposa, which offers more affordable rates, hiking trails and views of the Sierra Nevadas. Reservations for its first season are available beginning May 1.

Celebrating milestones and a new free entrance day

On the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, visitors can pay tribute to African American heritage at over 100 parks , including the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument , and the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail . This year also marks 100 years since Indigenous people were recognized as United States citizens. Although many parks have Indigenous programming , Mr. Sams, who is the first Native American to serve as N.P.S. director , suggested visiting Hopewell Cultural Historical Park in Ohio and Whitman Mission Historic National Historic Site in Washington, where he recently brought his daughter.

“In order to celebrate the diversity that makes our country great, we must share the complete story of America, which includes both the successes and challenges encountered on the way to form a more perfect union,” Mr. Sams said.

Juneteenth National Independence Day is the National Park Service’s newest free entrance day . Visitors can also take advantage of free admission on April 20, the first day of National Park Week; Aug. 4, the four-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act ; Sept. 28 on National Public Lands Day ; and Nov. 11 for Veterans Day .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this article misstated the location of the Flamingo Lodge. It is inside Everglades National Park, not outside the park.

How we handle corrections

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

R&K Insider

Join our newsletter to get exclusives on where our correspondents travel, what they eat, where they stay. Free to sign up.

A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Featured city guides.

Search

Imagine Dragons To Unveil New Album ‘LOOM’ On June 28th & Launch North American Headline Tour

Facebook icon

TICKETS GO ON-SALE FRIDAY, APRIL 26

New single “eyes closed” available now, entering a fearlessly bold era, imagine dragons will unveil their anxiously awaited sixth full-length album, loom (kidinakorner/interscope), on june 28, 2024., pre-order/pre-save here ..

“Imagine Dragons are flying higher than ever ….Ten years after their commercial breakthrough, the Las Vegas rockers are still scoring real crossover hits, playing to packed houses, and playing a U2-esque long game” – Billboard

“Imagine Dragons still know how to efficiently stomp stadiums into rubble…The alt-rock band remains reliably, radioactively enormous ”—Rolling Stone

In tandem with the record, the band will embark on their biggest North American headline tour to date. Descending upon legendary venues across the country, it kicks off on July 30, 2024 in Camden, NJ at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion , rolls through major markets coast-to-coast, and concludes on October 22, 2024 at Los Angeles’ iconic Hollywood Bowl . Check out the full confirmed itinerary below.

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale (details below) beginning on April 23.  Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning on April 26 at 10AM local time at https://www.imaginedragonsmusic.com/tour .

VIP: Several VIP experiences will be available. Select packages include a signed guitar played by a member of Imagine Dragons on stage that night, a backstage tour, on-stage photo, and more!  All VIP packages include early entry, digital activities, and exclusive merchandise. Learn more at ImagineDragonsVIP.com.

PRESALE: Citi is the official card of the Imagine Dragons tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning April 23 at 10AM local time until Thursday, April 25 at 10PM local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com .

Imagine Dragons’ sixth studio album LOOM represents the pinnacle of their artistic journey of self-discovery and marks the best body of work they’ve ever made. LOOM , produced entirely by Imagine Dragons and their longtime collaborators Mattman and Robin, finds the perfect balance between the classic sounds that have made them superstars and the freshness that brought them joy in the studio. Featuring 9 brand new tracks including hit single “Eyes Closed”, LOOM signifies new beginnings on the horizon – the excitement for a new day, moments yet to come.

Last year, the members of Imagine Dragons found themselves with a rare and well-deserved break from the road—perhaps their longest in many years. So, they made the most of it by devoting that time to family and friends. Catalyzed by this respite with a refreshed perspective, the band rallied together in the studio and mined the same well of inspiration that fed their most beloved material. The musicians reflected on the past in order to catapult into a future where stylistic boundaries have disappeared entirely and anything is possible creatively. This journey has brought them to their most dynamic and definitive body of work to date, LOOM .

To herald LOOM , the band recently shared their soaring new anthem entitled “Eyes Closed.” Check out the video HERE . The track illuminates their penchant for boundary-breaking. Stretching the limits of the soundscape almost to the breaking point, they harness a burst of energy with a rafter-reaching refrain primed to soar on the upcoming summer tour.

It’s the year of the Dragons …

Tour Dates:

July 30, 2024 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

August 2, 2024 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

August 4, 2024 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

August 6, 2024 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

August 8, 2024 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage

August 12, 2024 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

August 14, 2024 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake

August 16, 2024 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

August 18, 2024 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

August 20, 2024 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

August 22, 2024 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

August 23, 2024  – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

August 26, 2024 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater

August 28, 2024 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

August 30, 2024 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

September 1, 2024 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

September 4, 2024 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

September 6, 2024 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman

September 8, 2024 – Ridgedale, MO – Thunder Ridge Nature’s Arena

September 28, 2024 – Seattle, WA, The Gorge Amphitheatre

September 29, 2024 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

October 2, 2024 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre

October 5, 2024 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

October 6, 2024 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

October 9, 2024 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater

October 11, 2024 – Salt Lake City, UT –  Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

October 17, 2024 – Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre

October 20, 2024 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

October 22, 2024 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl

the nation magazine tours

Photo Credit: Eric Ray Davidson

ABOUT IMAGINE DRAGONS:

Imagine Dragons continue to redefine rock in the 21 st century. Filling stadiums, crafting cloud-rattling anthems, and breaking records at every turn, diamond-certified GRAMMY® Award-winning Las Vegas quartet Imagine Dragons occupy rarified air as one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Tallying cumulative sales of 74 million album equivalents, 65 million digital songs, and over 160 billion streams, they stand out as “the only band in history to earn four RIAA Diamond singles , ” namely “Radioactive” (16x-platinum), “Believer” (13x-platinum), “Thunder” (12x-platinum) and “Demons” (11x-platinum). Since emerging in 2009, they’ve scored five consecutive Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 with Night Visions [2012] (7x-platinum) (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope), Smoke+Mirrors [2015] (platinum) (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope), Evolve [2017] (triple-platinum) (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope), Origins [2018] (platinum)(KIDinaKORNER/Interscope), and Mercury – Act 1 [2021]( KIDinaKORNER/Interscope). With the release of Mercury – Act 2 (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope) in 2022, they completed their first double-album opus produced by the legendary Rick Rubin. The hit single “Bones,” featured on Mercury Act 2, went to number one at Alternative Radio and remains in the Global Top 50 on Spotify. The band’s hit collaboration with East Atlanta-based rapper J.I.D, “Enemy,” has racked up billions of global streams and landed at #6 on the IFPI Global Singles Chart for 2022. Dominating radio, they remain one of only four bands to ever achieve consecutive Top 5 singles at Alternative radio, and the only band to repeat this feat. Most recently, Imagine Dragons made history on Spotify, as “Bad Liar” became their 10th song to surpass 1 billion streams. The band now holds the crown for the group with most billion-plus streamed songs, becoming the first in the platform’s history to have ten songs reach this milestone. Meanwhile, Imagine Dragons’ music videos for hits “Thunder” and “Believer” have garnered an astounding 2 billion YouTube views, while videos for “Radioactive” and “Demons” have surpassed over 1 billion views.  They’ve collaborated with everyone from Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, and Wiz Khalifa to Avicii and film composer Hans Zimmer. Giving back, they’ve raised millions for various causes, including their pediatric cancer charity the Tyler Robinson Foundation, and frontman Dan Reynolds’ LOVELOUD Foundation and festival in support of LGBTQ+ youth. In 2022, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky named them ambassadors for UNITED 24, which benefits humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Imagine Dragons earned an impressive four nominations for the 2022 American Music Awards including “Favorite Pop Duo or Group,” “Favorite Rock Artist,” “Favorite Rock Album” and “Favorite Rock Song.” The band was also nominated for “Group of 2022” for the 2022 People’s Choice Awards. Most recently, they received an MTV VMA nomination for “Video For Good” for their acclaimed “Crushed” music video.

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.

Media Contacts

Imagine Dragons:

Carleen Donovan | [email protected]

Franny Lail | [email protected]

Hillary Siskind | [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts:

Monique Sowinski | [email protected]

Valeska Thomas | [email protected]

Read more about

Mandisa remembered. Fans, music industry, friends pay tribute to 47-year-old singer

the nation magazine tours

Grammy-award winning musician and "American Idol" alum Mandisa was found dead at her Nashville home on Thursday.

The 47-year-old Christian singer dazzled audiences when she hit the stage of "American Idol" in 2005 and made it through to the final nine. From there she released her debut album, but dealt with pain from the loss of a beloved friend and having a personal crisis of faith. Her journey through heartache and depression to finding her faith again inspired many that were going through similar situations.

"Mandisa was a voice of encouragement and truth to people facing life’s challenges all around the world," was written on an Instagram post announcing Mandisa's death.

Since the news of her death, family, fans and friends in and out of the music industry, have paid tribute to the singer.

What happened to Mandisa?

On Friday, The Media Collective, Mandisa's rep, issued this statement confirming her death, but did not disclose how the songstress died.

"We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased. At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time."

Mandisa's story and journey to 'Overcome' touched many

Mandisa crisis of faith was an inspiration not only for an album, but inspired others who were going though hardship. Fans shared their stories on the Instagram post announcing her death.

"I’m devastated 💔💔💔 Overcomer help me healed when I loss my daughter at 16. She gave hope even when she didn’t have any to give herself. Mandisa is truly one of God’s Devine. I hope she finally has the peace she struggled so long to find. We have truly really loss one of God’s truest and purest creatures… I love you now and forever on Mandisa. God speed on your journey to heaven….," wrote user keishacraftsmith.

Mourning her loss: TobyMac remembers Mandisa after Christian singer's death, 'I know her battle is over ...'

Other's shared how her music and writing helped them through some of the toughest times in their lives. Actress Candace Cameron Bure shared broken heart emojis under the post, while Christian rap artist Wande offered condolences.

Fellow Christian musician and friend Colton Dixon, shared memories of being on the road with Mendisa and Toby Mac.

"Mandisa is the sweetest, kindest soul that  @anniedixon__  and I have met on the road. After hearing she went to be with the Jesus last night I was reflecting this morning on the times we had together," Dixon wrote.

Singer and songwriter Matthew West paid tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator with lyrics from their song "Only the World", stating that they "hit differently" now that Mandisa was gone.

"I am so incredibly saddened to hear about the loss of my friend Mandisa. I will always cherish the memories of times we spent together hosting award shows, going on tour, and most of all helping her tell her story in the songwriting room," West also wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts also paid tribute to the late singer.

"My heart is heavy hearing about Mandisa. Incredibly blessed that she was there my first day back on ⁦ @GMA ⁩ following my long medical leave. Her beautiful music & spirit lifted me and countless others," Roberts wrote on X.

Fellow musician Don Moen provided a statement to The Tennessean, saying Mandisa was not only a powerhouse of a talent, but that she also possessed a genuinely kind spirit.

"We ministered together several times, she sang background vocals on my album 'Thank You Lord' and joined me on several tours," the statement read. "On one particular tour, notes kept appearing in everyone's bunk on the bus or in their instrument cases. These were encouraging messages like: 'You are blessed and highly favored,' or 'You're such a blessing on this tour.' Only at the end of the tour did we discover it had been Mandisa. Whether behind the scenes or center stage, her presence always brought joy and hope.

Where was Mandisa from?

Mandisa was born in California, but her home was in Tennessee.

She graduated Fisk University in Nashville in 2000 and was a member of the famed Fisk University Jubilee singers. She called Tennessee home after her graduation, through her "American Idol" tenure, a Grammy win, multiple albums and until her death on Thursday.

IMAGES

  1. The Nation October 17/24, 2022 (Digital)

    the nation magazine tours

  2. The Nation Magazine Subscription United States

    the nation magazine tours

  3. The Nation Magazine

    the nation magazine tours

  4. The Nation December 4-11, 2017 (Digital)

    the nation magazine tours

  5. The Nation Magazine Subscription United States

    the nation magazine tours

  6. Healing To The Nations Magazine

    the nation magazine tours

COMMENTS

  1. The Nation Travels

    We support the communities we visit and we purchase carbon offsets to counter all emissions. Covid vaccination is required for all of our tour participants and tour staff. We are available for any ...

  2. The Nation Caribbean Cruise

    Join The Nation on our 7-day Western Caribbean Cruise — December 8 to 15, 2024 — to come together with friends and family in these tumultuous times. We're sailing to the Caribbean aboard Holland America Line's ms Nieuw Amsterdam to visit four extraordinary islands over a week. Embark on a convenient roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale adventure.

  3. The Nation

    The Nation is a progressive American monthly magazine that covers political and cultural news, opinion, and analysis. It was founded on July 6, 1865, as a successor to William Lloyd Garrison's The Liberator, an abolitionist newspaper that closed in 1865, after ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.Thereafter, the magazine proceeded to a broader topic, The ...

  4. "Reality Touring" with Nation Travels

    My tour company has been taking Americans on the road for more than 40 years now. From Lisbon to Istanbul, and from St. Petersburg to Palermo, we offer tours across Europe. ... This organization, which is run by The Nation Magazine, takes small groups of progressives to parts of the world whose governments are at odds with our own, with the ...

  5. The Nation

    The Nation magazine's YouTube channel features insightful interviews and video on current news and issues.

  6. Travel Agency for Private, Customized Cultural Tours & Travel

    800.333.1240 or 562.983.8828. 562.983.8833. [email protected]. 350 Elm Avenue. Long Beach, CA 90802. Private and customized cultural and educational tours to Iran, Cuba and destinations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The focus of our tours is to allow you, the traveler, the chance to absorb the culture and traditions of the ...

  7. "To Reconstruct The Nation": Special issue of

    Vann R. Newkirk II: "The Years of Jubilee" In 1871, the choir of the struggling Fisk University engaged in a gambit to save the school: It decided to go on a singing tour of America. Senior ...

  8. The Nation

    Digital-only annual. $47.88 $24.95 per year. Unlimited online access. Newsletters curated by our editors. Subscriber-only app access (iOS and Android) Archive access dating back to 1865. Convenient automatic renewal. BEST VALUE.

  9. Why The Nation and Other Magazines Look to Luxury Travel to Pay the Bills

    The left-leaning political and cultural magazine is certainly not the first media outlet to introduce tours in order to subsidize journalism. Several travel-related magazines, like National ...

  10. The Nation

    Literary Editor. 520 Eighth Avenue. New York. New York. 10018. Phone: 212-209-5400. The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States and features the latest developments in news, politics, and the literary world.Books.

  11. The Nation Magazine

    The Nation Magazine. 597,221 likes · 2,630 talking about this. Founded by abolitionists in 1865. Committed to hard-hitting, progressive journalism.

  12. The Nation

    The Nation ... Loading... ...

  13. The National

    The Official Website of The National. Home to news, tour dates, music, merchandise, and access to The National's exclusive fan club, Cherry Tree.

  14. The Nation

    The Nation. Send any friend a story. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. Give this article — —Hedrick Smith.

  15. Tours in Moscow and St Petersburg

    In Moscow. In Moscow we offer you a city tour to discover most of the city in an original way as well as a night tour to admire the lights. Our pubcrawl is ideal to explore Moscow's night-life and have fun. If you are craving to discover Russian culture, come impress your senses during our monastery diner or join our 100% Russian Banya Excursion.The latest will also bring you to Sergiyev ...

  16. What to Know Before Booking a National Park Trip This Summer

    Visitors wishing to hike Old Rag Mountain in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park must obtain a day-use ticket between March 1 and Nov. 30, and in Zion National Park, in Utah, hikers wishing to ...

  17. Walking Tour: Central Moscow from the Arbat to the Kremlin

    This tour of Moscow's center takes you from one of Moscow's oldest streets to its newest park through both real and fictional history, hitting the Kremlin, some illustrious shopping centers, architectural curiosities, and some of the city's finest snacks. Start on the Arbat, Moscow's mile-long pedestrianized shopping and eating artery ...

  18. Tour & Travel Agency in Moscow

    In addition to our standard services, Grand Russia offers tours packages to Moscow and St Petersburg. You cannot resist our Two Hearts of Russia (7 Days &6 Nights), Golden Moscow (4 Days &3 Nights), Sochi (3 Days & 2 Nights), Golden Ring (1 Day & 2 Days), and many more. As a leading travel agency specializing in the tour to Russia and Former ...

  19. Imagine Dragons To Unveil New Album 'LOOM' On June 28th & Launch North

    In tandem with the record, the band will embark on their biggest North American headline tour to date. Descending upon legendary venues across the country, it kicks off on July 30, 2024 in Camden, NJ at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion , rolls through major markets coast-to-coast, and concludes on October 22, 2024 at Los Angeles' iconic Hollywood Bowl .

  20. What happened to Mandisa: Friends, fans honor singer found dead

    Grammy-award winning musician and "American Idol" alum Mandisa was found dead at her Nashville home on Thursday.. The 47-year-old Christian singer dazzled audiences when she hit the stage of ...