"Duets" is a one of a kind singing competition that takes the Superstars out from the judge's panel and onto the stage. Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles, Lionel Richie, and Robin Thicke will individually set out on a journey across America looking for undiscovered talent worthy to be their protégés. Ultimately, each Superstar will choose two singers to be their duet partners. Together, the Superstar and their protégé will take the stage each week and perform in front of a live studio audience. In the end, only one duet will be at the top of the charts and the winning amateur will receive a recording contract with Hollywood Records. Television personality Quddus, best known from his days as the host of MTV's "Total Request Live," will host the series.
"The simple fact that I get to go out and find two people that I believe in, sing with them every week, and help them accomplish their dream is an amazing thing that I can't wait to be a part of!"
Since bursting onto the music scene 10 years ago, Kelly Clarkson has released 5 studio albums (Thankful, Breakaway, My December, All I Ever Wanted, Stronger), sold over 20 million albums worldwide, 10 million albums in the US and has had 10 singles in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. She is the recipient of 2 Grammy Awards, 4 American Music Awards, 3 MTV Video Music Awards, 1 Country Music Association Award and 12 Billboard Music Awards. Clarkson's most recent effort Stronger debut at #2 on both the Billboard Top 200 and Digital Albums Chart. The album is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. and produced the smash singles, "Mr. Know It All" and "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" which marks Kelly's 9th and 10th Top 10 hit. "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) was #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart for two consecutives weeks marking her 3rd #1 on the Hot 100 chart after 2002's "A Moment Like This" and 2009's "My Life Would Suck Without You."
"The concept of "Duets" is so fresh because its mentoring is active and participatory. Most of my greatest learning was from singing and playing with other performers throughout my life and career. To have had the opportunity to perform with an established artist would have been so incredible when I was up and coming."
Jennifer Nettles, lead vocalist for international super-duo Sugarland, has become one of the most popular singer-songwriters in music today. Sugarland has sold over 15 million records, achieved eight No. 1 singles and have headlined multiple nationwide tours. Jennifer has won five ASCAP awards for her songwriting abilities and in 2008, she received a Grammy Award, ACM Award and CMA Award for penning the No. 1 hit "Stay". She has been seen all over the media spectrum with performances on Oprah, The Kennedy Center Honors, CNN Heroes and most recently performing with Lady Gaga on the 'Grammy Nominations Live' concert special.
John Legend is a critically-acclaimed multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter, known for his dedicated work as a philanthropist/social activist. He has won 9 Grammy Awards, 2 NAACP Image Awards and was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People. Legend has collaborated with a veritable who's who of artists including Kanye West, The Roots, Andre 3000, Common and performed with The Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, Lauren Hill and Jay-Z. Legend's albums Evolver, Wake Up! and Get Lifted all debuted at the top of the charts and have demonstrated his amazing musical talent as an artist and performer while elevating him to superstar status. In 2007, he launched the "Show Me Campaign," a nonprofit organization fighting poverty around the world. Legend has been recognized several times for his activism including the 2010 BET Humanitarian of the Year award and the 2009 CARE Humanitarian Award for Global Change. A native of Springfield, Ohio, Legend is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
"I'm truly excited to be a part of 'Duets.' The format is unlike anything that's out there right now and the opportunity to work with such talent, both the other artists and contestants, is definitely going to make for an exciting competition."
By the age of 16, Robin Thicke was writing and producing songs for artists like Brandy, Color Me Badd, and Brian McKnight. At 21, he had written and produced songs on over 20 gold and platinum albums including Michael Jackson, Marc Anthony, Pink, Christina Aguilera and others. One year later he signed with Jimmy Iovine and Interscope records. It didn't take much time for Robin to make A Beautiful World, his critically acclaimed debut album released in 2003 under the name "Thicke." His breakthrough second release, 2006's The Evolution Of Robin Thicke produced the mega hit "Lost Without U" which became the #1 most played song in Urban Adult Contemporary BDS and topped four Billboard charts simultaneously: #1 R&B /Hip Hop album, #1 Hot R&B / Hip Hop song, #1 Hot R&B Hip Hop Airplay, and #1 Hot Adult R&B Airplay. Robin established himself as one of the most respected singer-songwriters in soul and R&B music today. Robin received some of the industry's top accolades including the VH1 Soul/Vibe award for "Best Breakthrough Artist" and nominations from BET, Soul Train, MTV VMA, MOBO, the American Music Awards and the ASCAP Song of the Year. The award-winning multiplatinum superstar returned to center stage in 2008 with the critically acclaimed Something Else and followed up in 2009 with the release of Sex Therapy. Robin's fifth studio album, Love After War was released on December 6th, 2011 to more critical acclaim. The album is Thicke at his most raw and honest condition yet.
Television personality Quddus, best known from his days as the host of MTV's "Total Request Live," will host the highly anticipated ABC music competition series, "Duets."
"To say that I'm excited to be the host of 'Duets' would be an understatement," said Quddus. "This show is going to take the singing competition genre to the next level, and I'm absolutely honored to be a part of it."
Quddus' professional career in broadcasting began in 2000 as a host and co-writer of "VOX," a groundbreaking Youth Culture Show on TV Ontario which went on to win a Gemini Award (Canada's version of the Emmy®). This led to his big break - hosting "Total Request Live" on MTV. As host of MTV's biggest show, Quddus conducted daily interviews with stars such as Will Smith, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Jake Gyllenhall, Alicia Keys, Ben Affleck and Denzel Washington, and his work on "Total Request Live" led to both Usher and Britney Spears requesting him to host their Showtime concert specials. Quddus' popularity among MTV fans and celebrities alike earned him a 2003 Favorite TV Personality nomination at the Teen Choice Awards. In 2005 TV Guide named him one of TV's Hottest New Stars, USA Today featured him as a "young hunk worth watching," and Teen People named him one of the "50 Sexiest Men Ever." In 2008, the New York Times called him "the Ryan Seacrest of the Hip-Hop generation," while The Associated Press declared him "the coolest guy on television."
Contestants
TEAM ROBIN THICKE:
Alexis Foster, age 21, from Knoxville, TN
Olivia Chisholm, age 21, from Charlotte, North Carolina
TEAM JOHN LEGEND:
Johnny Gray, age 37, from Shoreline, Washington
Bridget Carrington, age 34, from Farmville, Virginia
TEAM JENNIFER NETTLES:
J Rome, age 25, from Laurel, Maryland
John Glosson, age 32, from Douglas, Georgia
TEAM KELLY CLARKSON:
Jason Farol, age 23, from Torrance, California
Mixed feelings. So far, what I'm seeing seems to have quality, but we're just so SATURATED on music competitions right now, even though this one might have a different twist.
Are you sure? That's a Wednesday and Idol airs on Wednes & Thurs.
Yep
Quote:
That happy day — well, for everyone but the runner-up — will occur on Wednesday, May 23!
Fox will break their usual routine of Wednesday performance nights and Thursday results shows for that week. The final two competitors will have their singing showdown on Tuesday, May 22, with results revealed the following evening.
Contestants
