Jennifer Lopez's 'World of Dance' Adds Derek Hough, Ne-Yo as Judges

Jennifer Lopez‘s dance competition series “World of Dance” has filled out its judging panel.

“Dancing With the Stars” vet Derek Hough and Grammy-winning recording artist NE-YO will join executive producer Jennifer Lopez at the judging table for the 10-episode show from Universal Television Alternative Studio and Nuyorican Productions.

A two-time Emmy winner for Best Choreography, Hough is also set to co-star in NBC’s upcoming “Hairspray Live!,” following NE-YO’s role as the Tin Man in the network’s “The Wiz Live!” last December.

Also Read: Jennifer Lopez to Judge NBC Competition Series 'World of Dance'

“Jennifer, Derek and NE-YO are three of the most accomplished dancers of their generation, and their incredible insight from the judges’ table will be both inspiring and wholly constructive to the world-class level of dancers who are competing on the show,” said Meredith Ahr, president, Universal Television Alternative Studio. “We feel so very honored that the three of them are giving back to the dance community in this way.”

Handpicked from qualifying events around the nation and thousands of online submissions, competitors are divided into three divisions: Junior (any size act under 16 years old), Upper (groups of 1-4, over 16 years) and Team (groups of 5+, over 16 years). The finale sees the winners from each division duke it out for $1 million and the title “Best in the World.”

Also Read: Jennifer Lopez Dance Competition Series Gets 10-Episode Order at NBC

Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina will executive produce through Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions banner. Kris Curry, Matilda Zoltowski, David Gonzalez, Matthew Everitt and Al Hassas will also executive produce. The series will be produced by Universal Television Alternative Studios in association with Nuyorican Productions.

13 Jennifer Lopez Career Highs and J-Lows (Photos)

She was a Fly Girl and Jenny from the Block before she was a TV singing competition judge and an older neighbor romancing a high-school stud in film "The Boy Next Door."
"In Living Color" (1991) - Lopez got her first break as one of the Fly Girl backup dancers on Fox's "In Living Color." She stayed on the show for two years before leaving to pursue an acting career.
Fox
"Money Train" (1995) - Lopez's first big role came opposite Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson in "Money Train." She also gained critical acclaim for her role in "My Family" opposite Edward James Olmos and Jimmy Smits.
Columbia
"Selena" (1997) - Lopez's breakout role was in the biographical film "Selena," which netted her a Golden Globe nomination. She also starred in "Anaconda," which turned off critics but was a box-office success.
Warner Bros.
"Out of Sight" (1998) - Lopez became the first Latina actress to earn over $1 million for a role in "Out of Sight," a Steven Soderbergh film starring George Clooney.
Universal
"On the 6" (1999) - JLo's debut album surprised critics and successfully transitioned the movie star into a pop music career.
Work Group
"The Wedding Planner" (2001) - With her first role in a romantic comedy and the release of "J.Lo," Lopez became the first entertainer to have a No. 1 film and album simultaneously.
Columbia
"Gigli" (2003) - Lopez teamed up with then-fiancée Ben Affleck to make a box office bomb that is still regarded as one of the worst films ever made.
Revolution Studios
"Como Ama una Mujer" (2007) - J.Lo silenced some naysayers who felt the singer had a limited vocal range with "Como Ama una Mujer." Critics generally agreed that the album was vocally superior to her past music.
Epic Records
"American Idol" (2011) - Lopez joined the tenth season of the long-running reality competition "American Idol." She has served as a judge for three out of the last four seasons.
Fox
"Dance Again...The Hits" (2012) - J.Lo released her first greatest hits album, "Dance Again...The Hits," which critics agreed was a nice reminder of all the success the singer had accumulated.
Epic Records
World Cup (2014) - Lopez teamed up with Pitbull and Claudia Leitte for "We Are One (Ole Ola)," the official song for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
RCA
"Booty" (2014) - If anything "broke the Internet" in 2014, it was Lopez's Sept. 18 release of the full music video for the song "Booty" featuring Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.
"The Boy Next Door" (2015) - Lopez stars in "The Boy Next Door" as a newly divorced woman who spends the night with a high school boy in her neighborhood, but soon realizes the boy is obsessed with her.
Universal

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A survey of JLo’s career so far — as a dancer, singer, judge and movie star — including her Iggy Azalea booty bump and ”Hustlers“

She was a Fly Girl and Jenny from the Block before she was a TV singing competition judge and an older neighbor romancing a high-school stud in film "The Boy Next Door."

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13 Jennifer Lopez Career Highs and J-Lows (Photos)

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