Queen Latifah Launches CW Singing Competition

The CW will launch their own singing competition show later this year featuring Gloria Estefan and John Rich as mentors. The program, tentatively titled The Star Next Door, will be produced by Queen Latifah and Dave Broome, the creator of The Biggest Loser on NBC. The network has ordered 10 episodes of the series for the summer season.

The Star Next Door will slightly tweak the formula of other popular singing competitions by placing an emphasis on the home towns of contestants. The show will begin with a nationwide talent search, and then the mentors will head to the top singers' homes and immerse themselves in the local culture.

Photos: Random Notes

The CW has not yet announced the show's full panel of mentors, or whether the show will feature a host, like American Idol and The X Factor.

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Rihanna to Produce U.K. Fashion Competition Show

Rihanna attends a Los Angeles Lakers-Memphis Grizzlies game.

Rihanna has signed on to be the executive producer of a new fashion competition show being developed for British television. The show, which does not yet have a title, is set to debut on the Sky Living channel in Britain. It will be hosted by Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts and include appearances by Rihanna herself, though it is unclear how frequently the pop star will be on the show.

"I've always had a great love of fashion. It's a constant source of inspiration in my life, and is a big reason why I've grown into the person and artist I am today," the singer said in a statement on Sky Living's website. "I have been very fortunate to work with some truly amazing designers and stylists throughout my career, and they have been instrumental in making sure my creative vision reaches the stage. I am excited to follow the journey of our aspiring contestants and see how their individuality influences their efforts during the course of the show."

The show, which will presumably bear some resemblance to Project Runway in terms of format, will culminate with a final challenge in which the remaining designers must create a unique stage outfit for Rihanna's performance at the Wireless festival in Hyde Park, England, in July.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Rihanna to Produce U.K. Fashion Competition Show

Rihanna attends a Los Angeles Lakers-Memphis Grizzlies game.

Rihanna has signed on to be the executive producer of a new fashion competition show being developed for British television. The show, which does not yet have a title, is set to debut on the Sky Living channel in Britain. It will be hosted by Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts and include appearances by Rihanna herself, though it is unclear how frequently the pop star will be on the show.

"I've always had a great love of fashion. It's a constant source of inspiration in my life, and is a big reason why I've grown into the person and artist I am today," the singer said in a statement on Sky Living's website. "I have been very fortunate to work with some truly amazing designers and stylists throughout my career, and they have been instrumental in making sure my creative vision reaches the stage. I am excited to follow the journey of our aspiring contestants and see how their individuality influences their efforts during the course of the show."

The show, which will presumably bear some resemblance to Project Runway in terms of format, will culminate with a final challenge in which the remaining designers must create a unique stage outfit for Rihanna's performance at the Wireless festival in Hyde Park, England, in July.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »