Own USAvision Song Contest 5

Own USAvision Song Contest 5, often referred to as OUSC #5, is the 5th edition of Own USAvision Song Contest. It took place in TBA, Arizona, following the state's victory in the 4th edition with the song "Exhumed" by Zola Jesus. Organised by the Own Public Broadcasting Service and host broadcaster KSAZ-TV, the contest was held at TBD, and consisted of two semi-finals and the final. The three live shows were hosted by TBA.

Location
Further information on the host state: Arizona

Host City
To be announced

Venue
To be announced

Semi-final Allocation Draw
The draw to determine the allocation of the participating states into their respective semi-finals took place on 31 January 2022. The draw decided in which half of the respective semi-finals each country would perform, with the exact running order determined by the producers of the show at a later date. From each semi-final, 10 states joined the big 6 in the final, where a total of 26 states participated.

The semi-finalists were allocated into six pots, based on their geographical place and cultural similarities. Drawing from different pots helps in reducing the chance of so-called neighbour voting and increasing suspense in the semi-finals. Each time a country was drawn from the pot, its semi-final and half of the semi-final was determined.

The six pots were the following:

Semi-final 1
Eighteen states participated in the first semi-final. Kentucky, South Carolina and Virginia also voted in this semi-final.

Semi-final 2
Eighteen states participated in the second semi-final. Arizona, Mississippi and Pennsylvania also voted in this semi-final.

Final
Twenty-six states participated in the final, with all 42 participating states eligible to vote.

Other states
Eligibility for potential participation in the Own USAvision Song Contest requires a national broadcaster with active OUPB membership that would be able to broadcast the contest. As in every edition, an invitation to all the members has been sent in order to confirm whether they will participate or not.
 * The state initially confirmed with the song "Keep It Undercover" by Zendaya, but the entry was submitted after the deadline, thus forcing the state to withdraw.
 * The state didn't respond to the invitation sent by the OPBS, thus not being present in the final list of participating states.
 * The HoD resigned their position, forcing the state to step away for another edition.
 * Even though the broadcast initially showed interest, the HoD decided to withdraw on the last day of confirmations.
 * The state didn't respond to the invitation sent by the OPBS, thus not being present in the final list of participating states.
 * Due to low funding the state will not return to the fifth OUSC edition, at least for now. Oklahoma will return in the near future under the same HoD, as they are just waiting for the correct timing.
 * Due to poor viewership numbers, Utah would take a break from the contest to formulate a new participation strategy. A return is likely next edition.
 * The state didn't respond to the invitation sent by the OPBS, thus not being present in the final list of participating states.
 * The state didn't respond to the invitation sent by the OPBS, thus not being present in the final list of participating states.