The show features three divas, including Nova Payton, Jamet Pittman and Lanier. "Marion J. Caffey, the director and creator of the show, also created 3 Mo' Tenors from 2001 - a PBS hit. Then he came up with 3 Mo' Divas. We're classically trained singers with 10 different styles," Lanier said.

She was in rehearsal in Cerritos, Calif., with two shows on April 10-11.

"I just got over tonsillitis," she said in a voice that she was clearly working to save and speaking softly. She was living on tea, lemon, water, Mucinex and Motrin every four hours.

It's par for doing tours with some places too hot and others too cold.

"You just try to be prepared," Lanier said. "You never know."

They've been in 50 cities so far in the past year and a half, she said. "That's before the show was even heard of. Now we're hopefully planning a PBS tour from the showing of the special."

I raved about the TV show.

"It's exciting," she said. "You get to the end of the show, they want more and more. The great thing about the show is happiness. People need to know that the TV version was edited. There's so much more than what you saw on TV."

She sings such songs as "Mon Coeur S'ouvre a' Ta Voix from the opera Samson Et Dalila, "Downhearted Blues," "God Bless the Child" and others.

But she was about to get a month's break before they have their New York City premiere at the World Famous Apollo Theater's 75th anniversary celebration June 19-21. The Apollo performances for 3 Mo' Divas will be at 2 and 8 p.m. June 20.

She said her first voice teacher, Fay Holley Powell, is hoping to see the show. If you're interested in booking the trip, visit trowellentertainment.org.

"The Apollo is big, but not that big, so I'd get a ticket now," Lanier said, noting that ticket sales are going well. Tickets are from $10 to $60. "It's not an expensive show to see - it's worth every minute of it. People are standing up wanting more."

Lanier said that they'll keep adding shows to their tour "as long as people call. It could land on Broadway - I don't know - we leave it in the creator's hands."

Lanier said she still wants to sing opera, "do my own thing, start working on my original material for my album, my one-woman shows, singing gospel, blues, opera and soul. I want to keep it versatile and market it."

But she still loves working with Marion Caffey. "He's very easygoing, very patient. I've grown to really love him. He was a song and dance man for many years. He knows the business and he's great to promote young singers, especially young African-American singers. He gives us an opportunity to share the gift."

I was amazed to find out that what it takes to get a show to a venue in Memphis, Jackson or Nashville is enough people who call in to ask their favorite theater to book the show.

"Oh, sure," she said. "If enough people call and say they want the show, we can be booked. If people want the show in Nashville, Memphis or Jackson, they can call the performing arts center and say. 'We want 3 Mo' Divas in our city.' They just need to request it - that's how we get booked."

If it's a smaller venue, they can do a show she calls "unplugged. We can do a show to fit your needs. Maybe just the piano in a smaller venue," she said.

So call up the theaters in Tennessee. I want to see the show live.

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