Blake Shelton and Taylor Sheridan are among the executive producers for the CBS competition series.
Country music megastar Keith Urban is getting his act together and taking it on the road — for The Road, the new music competition series slated to premiere this fall on CBS.
As we reported last November, the show is the brainchild of Blake Shelton and Yellowstone mastermind Taylor Sheridan, who are among its executive producers. The premise is simple, yet instantly intriguing: The Road will follow Urban on a journey to discover the next big country artist. Singers will join him on tour, performing as opening acts in venues across the country. They will compete to win over local fanbases to secure a spot in the next city and remain on the tour.
“I spent a lot of my underage life playing in some seedy pubs, sometimes just for the bartender,” Urban said in a prepared statement. “So I love the idea of throwing artists into a real-world environment to find out if they are artists.
“Paying your dues sucks, but there are things in this business that can’t be taught, like how to put together a set list, whether to extend or cut a song during your performance, or how to work the crowd. For me, touring has always been my first love. It’s where the rubber meets the road. But it’s the only road to take if you want to be a performer.”
For Shelton, The Road will mark his return to televised music competition since ending his long run as a judge on The Voice.
“I know a thing or two about singing competitions,” he said in November, “and what it’s like to chase a music dream and live life on tour. I’m looking forward to discovering new talent and giving them this platform.”
Sheridan added: “There is a revolution taking place in country music. Building a platform with Blake for the next leaders of that revolution is an incredibly exciting venture. No more shiny floors and studio audiences. This is where the rubber meets the road – literally. Get in the van, go to the next town and win the crowd. Do it enough, and you become the next leader. Simple as that.”
Here's a schedule, released by CBS, of The Road performances by Urban and emerging musicians:
- Sunday, March 2 - Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall in Fort Worth, Texas
- Wednesday, March 5 - The Factory in Deep Ellum in Dallas, Texas
- Sunday, March 9 - Oklahoma Ranch in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Wednesday, March 12 - Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Monday, March 24 - Minglewood Hall in Memphis, Tennessee
- Friday, March 28 - Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee
- Wednesday, April 2 - Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee
Tickets to special performances on the road with Urban will be free, allotted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Click here to learn more.
