UPN TO PREMIERE "THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT," A NEW DRAMALITY SERIES, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT)

UPN is sending 13 aspiring performers coast-to-coast with Grammy Award-winning artist Missy Elliott on one of her concert tours, where a handful of select male and female vocalists will travel, live together on the road in a tour bus and compete against each other for $100,000 and the opportunity to become music's next big sensation, on the new 10-episode dramality THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, premiering Wednesday, January 5 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.

Just like Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott, herself, the next big superstar could spring from a variety of backgrounds, but what they will have in common is amazing talent, distinctive style and fresh attitude.

Selected from thousands of auditions across America, UPN's new dramality series features a diverse group of singers and rappers, ranging in age from 19-29, as they transform into multi-talented entertainers, in the process facing weekly tests that determine who can make the cut. While dealing with the ups-and-downs of life on the road, this select group will be challenged in a variety of ways and, with Missy's guidance, be exposed to top music industry insiders, all under 24-hour-a-day surveillance of THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT cameras, which chronicle every move.

Missy leads the panel of music industry judges, including respected R&B singer/songwriter/producer/performer Teena Marie, Grammy Award-winning producer Dallas Austin, who has created hits with some of music's top artists, including Madonna, TLC, Pink and most recently, Gwen Stefani, and president of Violator Management Mona Scott, who represents Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, and Tweet, among others. This panel will eliminate one performer each episode until only one is left standing to claim the $100,000 prize.

Then, Missy will help launch the winner's career by signing them to her record label and releasing their first single.

A Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum artist/producer, Missy initially established herself as a genuine hit maker for other artists, including Aaliyah and 702, alongside her longtime collaborator, Timbaland. Then, she moved on to score a dazzling run for herself. Her chart-topping debut album Supa Dupa Fly (1997) and subsequent four albums have made Missy the best-selling female hip-hop star of all time and one of the most influential writer/producer/artists in the music business.

To date, Missy has received 17 MTV Award nominations and has won the prestigious MTV Video Of The Year, two Grammy awards, an American Music Award, three BET Awards and five Lady Of Soul/Soul Train Awards. Twice within the past five years, Rolling Stone has named her Best Female Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, and twice she has ranked as Billboard�s number one year-end female hip-hop star. Her very first music video for "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" was crowned the 15th greatest video of all time by MTV.

Her more recent star-studded production credits include projects with Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Destiny�s Child, among others. Missy has also seen success as CEO of Goldmind Inc., which launched platinum R&B star Tweet.

Arnold Shapiro ("Big Brother"), Allison Grodner ("Big Brother"), Mona Scott, Jay Blumenfield and Anthony Marsh are executive producers. Missy Elliott is co-executive producer. Mona Scott and Jessica Horowitz are creators. THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT is a production of Shapiro/Grodner Productions in association with Monami, Inc.