Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson to host US' answer to Eurovision, the American Song Contest

Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson have been announced as the hosts for the US' answer to Eurovision, the American Song Contest. 

The programme is not an official spin-off of Eurovision, but instead a competition that is heavily modelled and adapted from its European counterpart. 

The American Song Contest will see 56 acts take to the stage, 50 to represent each of the American states, plus one from the country's capital Washington, DC and five other US territories. 

Announcing the news yesterday (February 14), Snoop said he was honoured to MC the event "alongside my lil sis Kelly, aka Miss Texas."

MORE: Mika to co-host Eurovision 2022

Kelly added: "I have been a fan and love the concept of Eurovision and am thrilled to bring the musical phenomenon to America."

The American Song Contest will be broadcast over eight weeks on NBC; premiering March 21, before the grand final on May 9. 

As for Eurovision, this year's contest will take place in Turin, Italy following Maneskin's record-breaking win last year. While the UK's entry has yet to be announced, they will be hand-selected by the management team behind Dua Lipa and Lana Del Rey. 

Ireland's representative in Turin will be the pop star Brooke Scullion, who won a national public vote to perform her entry, That's Rich. 

Over the weekend, Snoop Dogg performed at this year's Super Bowl Halftime Show, alongside peers including Dr Dre, Mary J Blige, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar.