Since FOX’s “American Idol” is rapidly losing viewers and NBC’s “The Voice” is continually increasing in popularity, ABC has decided to create and air a new singing competition that seems to be a mixture of the two. The brand new, classic singing competition is called “Duets” and it premieres on Thursday, May 24 at 8|7c on ABC.

“Duets” has been incorporated into television’s summer lineup to draw fans into a new show that is similar to other reality singing shows, but one that has its own twist. Rather than having four judges sit in spinning chairs with their Coca-Cola drinks in hand, “Duets” will send out four celebrity superstars to choose two partners to duet with, and then mentor them to singing stardom. “Duets” will send out “Idol”‘s pop-rock vocal powerhouse, two-time Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson; R&B’s nine-time Grammy winner, John Legend; country group Sugarland’s frontwoman, three-time Grammy winner Jennifer Nettles; and R&B/rap/soul collaborator Robin Thicke. Due to other commitments, R&B-soul king Lionel Richie, who was previously set to be one of the dueting celebrities, was ousted from the show and replaced by Legend as a mentor for the show.

Clarkson, Legend, Nettles, and Thicke will travel across America, holding auditions in hope of finding two perfect duet partners each. The winner of the show will score a recording contract with Hollywood Records. Chances are, finding ideal duet partners will be difficult, but it will add a great entertainment element to the show; one that no other classic singing show has ever had. “Duets” should provide a dose of various singing genres from pop to R&B and country to rap, being that the four mentors all have experience in at least one of these genres.

Created by the notorious Simon Cowell, Duets will have the chance to prove itself worthy to be up with Cowell’s “American Idol” and “X Factor,” which have both broken out of their zones to rise up and above the competition. However, after 11 seasons American Idol is falling apart, due to bigger and better singing shows on the rise. “X Factor” originally aired in the United Kingdom, as “X Factor UK,” but then was added to America’s television lineup during the fall of 2011, as “X Factor USA.” Probably based on the fact that American Idol was losing viewers, “X Factor USA” was aired to fill America’s love of reality singing competitions once again.

Now, “Duets” is set to air for the same purpose, but it is unique. Instead of judges watching their contestants sing, the mentors on “Duets” will perform with their aspiring newcomers. It will start a brand new generation of reality singing shows, and hopefully it captures viewers’ attention across America.