Earlier this summer, it was reported that Lauper was readying an album for release in September. Titled Shine, the album is now expected to hit the shelves sometime in 2002.

Although she’s not been on a full-scale tour since 1999’s outing with Cher, Julio Iglesias Jr., and Wild Orchid, Lauper has kept her vocal chords warmed up this year with a handful of benefit and specialty concerts.

At the beginning of June, she joined in the Life Ball in Austria, benefitting the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Later that month Lauper participated in New York’s Gay Pride Festival, following things up the next week with a private party function benefitting the Gay & Lesbian Service Center on Long Island.

In October, Lauper joined a slew of artists in the John Lennon tribute concert held in New York. The event remembered Lennon’s life and raised funds for the American Red Cross.

The Go-Go’s were originally scheduled to perform with Lauper at the Disney World New Year’s Eve event, but they have since pulled out, leaving Lauper as the headliner.