MOST TALENTED VIEWERS TO BE CROWNED AT-HOME KARAOKE KING AND QUEEN

ABC's New Summer Series "Karaoke Battle USA" Announces Online Karaoke Contest

Viewers are Invited to Submit Online Karaoke Renditions of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" or "Unchained Melody"

Millions can play along at home as America's most talented karaoke singers take the stage Friday, August 12 on "Karaoke Battle USA." "Karaoke Battle USA's" panel of all-star judges and show producers will select finalists from the best video submissions from aspiring amateur karaoke stars. Then viewers will pick a winning At-Home King and Queen online. Contestants should visit www.karaokebattleusa.com or the "Karaoke Battle USA" Facebook page and follow the directions to enter, starting at 9:00 a.m., ET on August 12. A karaoke version of either "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" or "Unchained Melody" will be available upon registration, and eligible contestants can upload a video of their solo performance using Facebook or YouTube.

VIDEO SNEAK PEAK: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/americas-karaoke-king-queen-14170533

"We are really rooting for the at-home karaoke singers to succeed, but they're going to have to sing well to impress us!," said show judge Carnie Wilson ("Bridesmaids" and Wilson Phillips). "We will be judging the at-home karaoke singers just as carefully as we judge the show contestants, with great attention to voice quality, interpretation and entertainment value."

John R. Green, executive producer of "Karaoke Battle USA," said: "We were so inspired by what we saw in karaoke bars across the nation, we wanted to give people at home a chance to channel their inner star for our judges from home."

The winners receive a professional karaoke machine and $100 iTunes gift certificate.

Finalists for the At-Home Karaoke King and Queen will be chosen in advance of August 26, and their performances will be posted online for viewers to vote and ultimately pick a male and female winner to be announced in September. See the Official contest rules at Karaoke Battle USA (www.karaokebattleusa.com) for all the details. No purchase necessary.

About "Karaoke Battle USA":

"Karaoke Battle USA" shines the spotlight on the best karaoke singers across the country in six one-hour episodes, hosted by Joey Fatone (*NSYNC, "Dancing w/the Stars") and premiering with a two-hour episode, FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. The series will air regularly Fridays from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET.

Host Joey Fatone and a judging panel including singer/songwriter and TV host Carnie Wilson ("Bridesmaids"), music journalist Joe Levy (Maxim, Rolling Stone) and 2009 National Karaoke Champion Brian Scott will travel to the regional competitions at House of Blues locales, semi-finals and finals, along with officials from the pre-eminent Karaoke World Championships USA organization, which crowns two U.S. champs each year. As part of "Karaoke Battle USA," the best male and female performers at each regional competition will move on to the Los Angeles House of Blues, where they will square off for the titles of King and Queen of Karaoke. In addition to those bragging rights, winners will also receive a prize package that includes a recording released by Hollywood Records and a trip to compete at the Karaoke World Championships in Ireland later this year.

The series is produced for ABC by Lincoln Square Productions. Executive producers are Rudy Bednar, Muriel Pearson, James Sunderland and John R. Green.

"Karaoke Battle USA" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with stereo sound. TV parental guideline is TV-PG.