American R&B artist B. Howard is set to represent the United States in Russia’s counterpart to Eurovision, with the competition kicking off in Moscow next month, as announced by the organizers on Thursday.

The event, known as Intervision, revives a Soviet-era alternative to Eurovision that was briefly held during the 1960s and 1970s. Russia was excluded from Eurovision in February 2022 due to its invasion of Ukraine.

Organizers praised Howard as a “world-renowned artist whose music crosses boundaries and brings cultures together.” He will compete against Shaman, a pro-war pop artist from Russia, along with acts from 17 other nations during the live broadcast on the state-run Channel One.

Brandon Howard, as he is formally known, has drawn media attention for his resemblance to pop icon Michael Jackson and alleged ties to Jackson’s inner circle. However, DNA tests that were reportedly conducted did not yield conclusive results, and there is no definitive evidence to support such claims.

As of Thursday afternoon, there was no official confirmation of Howard’s participation in Intervision on his verified Instagram account.

Scheduled to commence on September 20, 2023, Intervision promotes itself as a “depoliticized” musical celebration, although it has been noted that senior Kremlin officials were personally appointed to its board and organizing committee by President Putin in February.

The organizers mentioned that the 2025 edition is expected to include performers from all over the world, representing “every continent.” They also noted that the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan have recently withdrawn from the competition due to scheduling issues.