Rihanna, Lenny Kravitz to perform on TODAY

NEW YORK — TODAY gets ready to rock this summer and marks 16 years of bringing together the biggest, boldest names in music. This year's Toyota Concert Series on TODAY kicks off Friday, May 27 with the original “Good Girl Gone Bad,” Rihanna. In her fourth TODAY summer concert, the three-time Grammy award winner and international superstar will heat up Rockefeller Plaza once again.

The Toyota Concert Series on TODAY continues its tradition of bringing TODAY viewers the hottest hit-making artists in the industry. This year’s concert series features breakout artists Zac Brown Band, Pitbull and Blake Shelton in their first-ever morning television concerts. On July 29, iconic rock band Journey will play their legendary hits for the first time ever on TODAY. And ladies of the world will rejoice on June 3 as not one, but two heartthrob boy bands rock the Plaza — when New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys come together only on TODAY.

1. More from the Concert Series
   1. What is Usher's hit 'Climax' really about?
   2. 'OMG'! Your Usher concert pics
   3. Want a fan pass for Bobby Brown's TODAY concert?
   4. Usher heats up TODAY with his hits! Fans tweeted us their pics
   5. Share and tweet your TODAY concert photos!

Following is a list of concerts scheduled to date. All concerts are Friday performances unless otherwise noted.

MAY
27 Rihanna

JUNE
2 "American Idol" winner and runner-up (Special Thursday performance)

3 New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys

10 The Script

1. More from TODAY.com
   1. Jilted groom suing for $61K: ‘I tried to be a nice guy’
      

      Steven Silverstein, who has made headlines for suing Kendra Platt-Lee for costs related to their canceled wedding and seve...

   2. Pitbull heats up plaza with ‘Love’
   3. Michelle Parker’s mom: Her kids are ‘not the same’
   4. Bobby Brown’s kids talk about his drug use
   5. Bobbie's Buzz: Unique and clever cocktail helpers

17 Kenny Chesney

24 Bruno Mars

JULY
1 Pitbull featuring T-Pain and Ne-Yo

8 Blake Shelton

15 Chris Brown

22 Cee Lo Green

29 Journey

AUGUST
5 Maroon 5

12 Zac Brown Band

19 Enrique Iglesias

26 Train

SEPTEMBER
2 Lenny Kravitz

Additional performances may be announced throughout the season.

Fans and visitors are encouraged to come to the plaza for the live performances.  Viewing is on a first-come, first-served basis outside TODAY's window-on-the-world studio, located at 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Fans should arrive by 6 a.m. for best viewing.

Jim Bell is the executive producer of TODAY (Monday-Friday, 7-11 a.m.). Melissa Lonner is the senior producer responsible for the "Toyota Concert Series on TODAY."

© 2012 MSNBC Interactive.  Reprints