Exclusive: Clinton Kelly to host 'Miss America: Behind the Curtain' on TLC

EW has exclusively learned that What Not to Wear host Clinton Kelly will host a one-hour Miss America special, set to air at 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, the night before the Miss America pageant on TLC. The special, titled, Miss America: Behind the Curtain, will take viewers behind the scenes of the pageant and serve up details about the 53 contestants. (In addition to participants from the 50 states, women from Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia compete, totaling 53.) The special will be unique in that it will include never-before-seen footage from the preliminary competition that lead up to the live event. Additionally, Behind the Curtain will reveal the 12 state titleholders who will be eligible for “America’s Choice,” which allows the viewing public the chance to send contestants to the Top 15.

Kelly will also serve as a special correspondent the night of the pageant, which airs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30. Mario Lopez is hosting the pageant, and judges include actress Vivica A. Fox, Miss America 2002 Katie Harman, Olympian Shawn Johnson, Grammy nominee Dave Koz, radio host Rush Limbaugh, actor Paul Rodriguez, and American Idol contestant Brooke White.