Elton: Alone at last.

Armed only with a piano, Elton John is hitting the road without a band for the first time in his long, controversial career. This tour of small U.S. cities kicks off February 19 in Roanoke, Va., with stops scheduled for Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Given the South's well-known lack of hospitality toward gays, is the infamously fancy performer having any second thoughts or sudden stage fright?

Not a chance. "We've had nothing but incredibly positive, heartwarming responses," says John's publicist, Sarah McMullen. "Atlanta is his adopted home. Tennessee has always supported him. In Chattanooga they're beside themselves."

Elton and his entourage are so confident he'll be welcomed with open arms that no one is even entertaining the possibility that fanatic homophobes will come out in force. "I sort of feel that's looking for trouble," concludes McMullen. "We don't go there."