Arts & Entertainment

The Next: Nelly's New TV Series Starts Tonight

The show, which features University City native Nelly, premieres tonight on the CW Network.

A new music reality show premieres tonight—and this one features 's own Nelly. The Next premieres at 8 p.m. tonight on KPLR Channel 11. 

The series stars include Nelly, Joe Jonas, Gloria Estefan and country star John Rich. In each episode the stars will drop in on the lives of four up-and-coming local musicians. The show will jump to a new city for each episode—going to Orlando, Baltimore, New York, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles.

 grad Nelly was back in town in late July to  with the St. Lunatics.

Find out what's happening in University Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the show's web site, the show will make over each contestant:

Over the course of 72 hours, each superstar will groom one contestant — while taking over their lives. It’s one thing to work with a musical icon in the studio, it’s another thing to have him or her tagging along to your day job, eating every meal with you, and hanging with you at your local karaoke dive bar.

Find out what's happening in University Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When that 72-hour mentoring session is up, the four newly groomed artists will go head-to-head at a well-known local venue. One winner will be chosen and that contestant will move on to represent their city in the semi-finals. Then it’s on to the next city and four more contestants.

After six episodes in six different cities, each of the local winners and the fan favorite will battle it out on stage over the course of the final episodes until only one contestant remains — the vocalist left standing at the end will be rewarded a recording contract with Atlantic Records.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from University City