MULTI-PLATINUM R&B/POP GROUP 98° AND AWARD-WINNING COUNTRY SUPERSTAR LEE BRICE TO PERFORM AT THE "2018 MISS USA(R)" COMPETITION

THE "2018 MISS USA(R)" SPECIAL AIRS LIVE MONDAY, MAY 21, AT 8:00 PM ET ON FOX

As previously announced, Vanessa Lachey and Nick Lachey will take the stage together to host the competition, with TV personality and fashion expert Carson Kressley and supermodel and pageant expert Lu Sierra as competition insiders to provide analysis and commentary throughout the live telecast. Lee Brice is set to perform during the show, and along with his hosting duties, Nick Lachey will take the stage to perform with fellow 98° bandmates Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons.

Additionally, fans can vote to help one contestant advance into the semifinals. Voting is open through vote.missusa.com through May 20 and reopens during the live broadcast on FOX.

The 2018 MISS USA(R) competition is a two-hour special event which concludes with Miss USA 2017 K�ra McCullough crowning her successor. Women representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia will compete for the opportunity of becoming the next Miss USA. To learn more about this year's contestants please visit: www.missusa.com/contestants.

Performer Bios:

· 98°: Best-selling R&B/Pop recording artists 98° have sold more than 10 million records worldwide and achieved eight Top 40 singles in the U.S. The band's signature R&B-tinged, four-part harmonies feature vocalists, Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre and Jeff Timmons, who will be back on the road later this year.

· Lee Brice: American country music singer and songwriter Lee Brice has sold more than 11 million albums, and each of his three albums have been certified GOLD by the Recording Industry Association of America. Brice is a Grammy(R) and CMA award nominee, as well as a double ACM Award winner.

Find MISS USA(R) on Facebook and YouTube, and follow on Twitter and Instagram.