Considered one of the most watched television shows in the world with more than 200 million viewers, Eurovision has inspired the United States. The country of Uncle Sam will broadcast an American version of the contest next March on a major national television channel.
American rapper Snoop Dogg and singer Kelly Clarkson will host the “American Song Contest” which will air for eight weeks on NBC until the May 9 finale, according to a statement. There will be solo artists, duos and groups from all 50 US states, the federal capital Washington and five territories under US jurisdiction.
“It is an honor for me to host the ‘American Song Contest’ alongside Kelly Clarkson, aka Miss Texas”, welcomed in a press release Snoop Dogg, one of the richest rappers in the United States, hip-hop star, and who performed Sunday at halftime of the Super Bowl won by the Rams of Los Angeles. From his real name Calvin Broadus, Snoop Dogg has also been the target since last week of a civil complaint for rape filed in Los Angeles by a woman who accuses him of having assaulted her in 2013.
As for singer Kelly Clarkson, originally from Texas, she was the very first winner in 2002 of the “American Idol” singing competition. In a statement, the artist said “fan and lover of the concept of Eurovision and delighted to bring this musical phenomenon to America”. She also declared herself “so happy to work with Snoop”.
The producer of the “American Song Contest” Anders Lenhoff paid tribute to him in a statement to Eurovision by comparing it to a competition where “Music would be an Olympic sport” and or “artists from all over the world would come to compete for a gold medal”. According to him, his “American version will be different from anything that has been done before on American television”.
This year, Italy will host the 66th edition of this contest after the victory of the Italian rockers Maneskin, in 2021 in Rotterdam. The show will be hosted from May 10 to 14, 2022 in Turin by Italian singer Laura Pausini, British-Lebanese performer Mika and Italian television personality Alessandro Cattelan.