'The Four: Battle for Stardom' experts panel and premiere date announced by Fox

The Four: Battle for Stardom is coming to Fox in early January, and the panel of experts have officially been confirmed.


Fox has announced The Four: Battle for Stardom will premiere Thursday, January 4 at 8PM ET/PT and star music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, Republic Records president Charlie Walk, music producer DJ Khaled, and Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Meghan Trainor as the panel of experts.

The six-episode series will kick off with a two-hour premiere. The show is based on an overseas format that will begin where many reality singing competitions end: with only four talented finalists in the competition vying for the show's title.

Diddy and DJ Khaled appear extremely enthusiast and boastful of the new Fox series' potential.

"This show is going to disrupt the world of competition television and will revolutionize the format. It took the right show and network to bring me back in the game. We plan on being the best talent show out there, taking it to that next level and making history again," Diddy said in a statement.


"This series is about pure competition, fighting for your survival. Do you want to win? Do you want to be great? We're giving fans a genuine look at what it takes to make it to the top and stay there -- surrounding these up-and-coming artists with the best, turning them into the next generation of stars."

DJ Khaled said he's very "proud" to be participating in "one of the most important, if not the most important events on television and pop culture." He called it a "one-of-a-kind experience."

"[The series] will showcase the best of the new generation of musical geniuses. When you come from where I come from, you know just how hard it is to turn your dreams into a reality. It's a long road to the journey of success. I've spent my career discovering amazing talent and working with the biggest icons from every corner of the globe and now I'm bringing my one-of-a-kind approach to Fox," DJ Khaled said.

"I immediately jumped at the opportunity when I realized Fox shared the same vision as me, and that's to be the best!!! If you think you have what it takes to become the next icon, trust me, DJ Khaled is the one that will let you know. So be prepared for a new era of television. All I know is how to win...more!!! FOX x DJ Khaled...be ready!!!"

As previously reported, the four finalists will be chosen by the show's judging panel from an initial round of auditions.


The competitors must then attempt to defend their coveted spots on the stage as they are challenged individually by new singers determined to unseat and replace them.

Every time a finalist outperforms a challenger, he or she will move on to the next week of competition and perform again until the season ends.

Challengers can range from fans sitting in the audience to viewers at home who can submit an audition video for the chance to compete.

America will decide which hopefuls will be welcomed on the show by voting for their favorite videos when the auditions are made available and streamed.

"When Fox asked me to be a part of this new series, without hesitation, my answer was... YES!," Meghan gushed in a statement.


"I know firsthand what it's like to be thrown into the music industry head first, as an artist and a songwriter. I also know what it takes to hang on for the ride. I'm so humbled to help discover new talent with this amazing panel of experts."

In the finale of The Four: Battle for Stardom, the last four singers standing -- who potentially could have survived weeks of cuts -- will face off against each other and perform until only one finalist remains and is crowned the winner.

In his own statement, Charlie explained that what lies at the heart of the music business is "talent."

"Discovering and developing talent remains the most important, consistent driver of my home, Republic Records, and now Fox's The Four: Battle for Stardom," Charlie said.

"I'm thrilled to be joining this incredible panel of my longtime friends... to help make the difference on a platform that's truly committed to identifying and breaking the next generation of superstars. We will guide them, advise them, and be with them every step of the way on their journey, starting on the most transparent stage in television."


The winner of The Four: Battle for Stardom will be mentored by the four music-industry experts going forward in his or her career.

The winning artist will also be named an iHeartRadio "On The Verge" artist, which is a program that provides "unparalleled national reach through on-air radio exposure, as well as digital and social support across iHeartMedia's powerful range of music and entertainment platforms," according to the network.

TMZ reported earlier this month that Diddy and DJ Khaled had signed on, and that Meghan was being eyed for a position on the panel along with female artists Fergie and Bebe Rexha.

Fox announced it had ordered The Four in August 2017.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski