Last night, the CW network debuted its contribution to the talent competition reality show movement: The Next.

The Next features four celebrity recording artists–Latin dance-pop icon Gloria Estefan, Midwest rapper Nelly, teen idol Joe Jonas, and country-rock superstar (and Reservoir catalog artist) John Rich–mentoring some of the country’s most prominent regional musicians.  Working in 72-hour time blocks, the job of the four celebrity mentors, as the CW puts it, is to help these artists “mak[e] the leap from opening act to headliner.”

Mentorships don’t only involve studio sessions and dance rehearsals. John and the other celebrity coaches follow their respective mentees around their hometowns, accompanying them to work and local hangouts.  All the while, the coaches prepare the musicians for a head-to-head performance against the three other contestants.  The winner of each show gets to represent his or her hometown in a semi-final round until, after six cities and six rounds, the ultimate competition takes place, where the grand prize winner will be rewarded with a recording contract at Atlantic Records.

The Next airs on The CW on Thursdays at 9pm/8pm CT.