Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton Tampa bound, along with many more top country acts

Miranda Lambert with husband Blake Shelton at the 2012 Country Music Assn. Awards ceremony. Photo by Wade Payne / Associated Press.

Country's coolest couple, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, are headed to Tampa. Alas, not on the same date but both artists will be performing this year at the newly renamed Live Nation Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds, formerly 1-800-ASK-GARY (yep, glad that clunker has been retired).

Lambert and Shelton are part of Live Nation Amphitheatre's Country Megaticket, an expanded eight-show “package” featuring many of the top country acts. The series starts May 11 with a performance by Tim McGraw.

Here's the complete lineup:

May 5:  Tim McGraw
w/ Brantley Gilbert, Love and Theft

June 7:  Rascal Flatts
w/ the Band Perry (read my interview)

June 22: Brad Paisley
w/ Jake Owen and Chris Young (he plays Joyland in Bradenton Feb. 8)

Aug. 30: Blake Shelton w/ Easton Corbin (read my interview) and Jana Kramer (she plays Joyland Feb. 15)

Sept. 6:  Jason Aldeanw/ Thomas Rhett

Sept. 20: Miranda Lambert
w/ Dierks Bentley

Oct. 4: Keith Urban w/ Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch

Oct. 25: Luke Bryan w/ Thompson Square & Florida Georgia Line (read my interview)

Orders for this eight-show country package, priced at $199-$998, will be accepted from the general public beginning 10 a.m.  Feb. 9, before individual show tickets are available.

Information: 800-745-3000 or megaticket.com

UPDATED 4/9: Top 10 summer concerts for Tampa Bay

UPDATED 4/9:

Hottest summer concerts coming to Tampa Bay

Spring is barely a couple weeks old but it's already time to start making plans for the top concerts of the summer.

I know this because my girlfriend has planned everything from transportation to room and meals for us to see Sugarland at the 1-800-ASK-Gary Amphitheatre — in July! 

Yeah, Bruce Springsteen, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jimmy Buffett played here in March but there are plenty more biggies coming through Tampa Bay between now and Labor Day.

Here are the hottest tickets of the summer (by date):

1. Van Halen: April 14, Tampa Bay Times Forum
Van Halen returning to Tampa; check out new single 'Tatoo'

2. Beach Boys: May 5, Straz center
Beach Boys to play Tampa

3. Lady Antebellum: May 11, Gary Amphitheatre
Interview: Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott

4. Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw: June 2, Raymond James Stadium  
Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw tour headed to Tampa

5. Neil Diamond: June 3, Tampa Bay Times Forum
Neil Diamond has Tampa date at St. Pete Times Forum

6. Coldplay with Robyn and Wolf Gang: June 28, Tampa Bay Times Forum 
Madonna 'loves' Robyn and you should, too!

7. Def Leppard with Poison: June 30, Tampa Bay Times Forum
Rock of Ages: Let’s talk Def Leppard’s greatest hits

8. Sugarland: July 28,  Gary Amphitheatre
Sugarland revels in role of Nashville rebels

9. Kiss with Motley Crue: July 28, Gary Amphitheatre
Crue singer on three decades of decadence

10. Jason Aldean: Aug. 10,  Gary Amphitheatre
Country star Jason Aldean in Tampa