JOHN MELLENCAMP announced his 23rd LP, “Sad Clowns & Hillbillies,” out April 21 via Republic Records. The singer-songwriter will recruit special guest Emmylou Harris for a subsequent U.S. summer tour, which launches June 5 in Denver, Colorado and winds down July 11 in Queens, New York.

    Carlene Carter, who features heavily on the album, will also join Mellencamp for the trek, along with folk-pop duo Lily & Madeleine.

    General public tickets for most dates go on sale Friday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. via Mellencamp’s official site. Additional information is available via Mellencamp’s site and AEG Live. Every online ticket purchase includes one physical CD copy of “Sad Clowns & Hillbillies.”

    The new album features a mixture of songs written by Mellencamp and Carter, along with direct collaborations between the duo. On the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, Mellencamp released the brooding political ballad “Easy Target,” which addresses income inequality. (SD-Agencies)