ROMANTIC INTEREST AND RIVIALRIES EMERGE AS THE PERFORMERS TRAVEL FROM THE STREETS OF NEW YORK TO MARYLAND, ON "THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT," WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12 AT 8:00PM ON UPN

"You Ain't Confident, You're Cocky" -- While at Jimi Hendrix's Electric Lady studios, judge/record producer Dallas Austin asks the performers to begin composing original lyrics to his new music track, causing one competitor to vocalize her attraction to a fellow participant, on THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, Wednesday, Jan. 12 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.

Then, the competitors' performance skills are tested on the streets of New York and Missy takes the winners bowling. Later, as the tour bus rolls into Maryland, the building rivalry between two challengers explodes and the judges surprise the participants with an impromptu performance challenge to see how much progress they have made in creating a new song to Dallas' track, leading to the elimination of one vocalist.

PARTICIPANTS:

Akil , teacher, age 23 of Jersey City, N.J.

Cori, recent college graduate, age 21 of Orlando, Fla.

Deltrice, clothing designer, age 23 of San Francisco

Eddie, construction worker, age 25 of New Orleans

Frank B, construction worker, Age 21 of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Heather, student, age 22 of Boston

Jessica, writer, age 23 of Chicago

Marcus, security guard, age 24 of Houston

Matthew, theme park entertainer, age 25 of Orlando, Fla.

Melissa, student, age 19 of Plymouth, Minn.

Nic, disc jockey, age 29 of Aliso Viejo, Calif.

Nilyne, make-up artist/student, age 23 of Plainfield, N.J.

Yelawolf, contract artist (mural painting), age 24 of Rainbow City, Ala.

RATING: To Be Announced