CORI ELIMINATED FROM UPN'S "THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT"

Orlando, Fla. Rocker Is the Second To Be Asked to Leave the Tour

Cori, a 21 year-old recent college graduate from Orlando, Fla., was the second performer eliminated from UPN�s new dramality series, THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, reducing the pool from 12 participants to 11.

While at Jimi Hendrix's Electric Lady studios, judge/music producer Dallas Austin asked the performers to begin composing original lyrics to Missy's new music track. As the performers freestyled to the beat, rocker Cori stepped up and dove into new territory with a rap of her own, but it was Nyline's vocalization of her strong attraction to Nic that surprised everyone.

Later, during the road challenge, tour manager Steve Lobel tested the competitors' performance skills, giving them 30 minutes to earn donations from passersby on the streets of New York. Split into teams, Cori harmonized with Nilyne and Melissa. In the end, the trio of Eddie, Jessica and Deltrice made the most money, winning all of four teams' combined earnings and an evening of bowling with Missy and her dancers Holly, Eboni and Oth�than.

As the tour bus left New York and rolled into Maryland, the participants faced a second impromptu performance challenge to see how much progress they have made in creating a new song to Missy's track -- to determine who would get eliminated. After explaining that the music track could be their first hit single, the judges critiqued each individual's performance. After watching Cori struggle with her rendition of the song, Dallas said, "You gotta make sure that the confidence comes through more�You could have made me believe whatever you were doing a lot more."

Ultimately, the judges offered Cori and Nic, who receive criticism on the limited range of themes in his lyrics, up to Missy for final elimination. As Nic went in to plead his case, Missy exclaimed, "So soon, Nic?�You just gotta be cool 'til the bitter end," and asked him to freestyle something that showcased his more sensitive side. Meanwhile, Cori admitted to Missy, "I just had a little trouble with (the track) because I'm trying to remain rock as much as I can." After questioning Cori about the ability to merge musical styles, Missy had her sing something new. Missy summed up the song, "Kinda remind me of a little Britney."

So, despite her visible annoyance with Nic's cockiness, Missy declared, "Cori, I feel like you're going places�and one of the places is home."

On UPN'S THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, 13 aspiring vocal performers travel coast-to-coast with Grammy Award-winning artist Missy Elliott, living together on the road in an austere tour bus and competing against each other for a record contract, a released single and $100,000. Missy leads the panel of music industry judges, including Grammy Award-nominated R&B artist Teena Marie, Grammy Award-winning producer Dallas Austin, and president of Violator Management Mona Scott.

THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT airs Wednesday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.

RATING: To Be Announced