Keith Urban & Blake Shelton Debut New Reality Show The Road
Country music’s newest reality competiton, The Road, premiered with a bang on Sunday, October 19th. The highly anticipated series follows Blake Shelton and Keith Urban as they search for the next great musical star.
The seasoned country musicians partnered with yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan and producers David Glasser and Lee Metzger to make the show a reality. Additionally, Gretchen Wilson serves as a mentor to the contestants in her role as the “tour manager.”
Twleve aspiring musicians pile onto a tour bus and travel around the country getting a taste of the “gritty and unforgiving life of a touring musician.” While on The Road, the contestants get the opportunity of a lifetime to open on tour for Keith Urban.
At each show, the live audience votes on who they believe were the bottom three performers. Shelton and Urban will make the final call of whom from those three goes home.
At the end of the season, the winner will receive $250,000 and a recording contract.
The Contestants Hope To Win Over The Live Audience And Avoid Elimination
The challenge – the musicians must perform an original song that they feel best represents them as an artist. The first stop on the tour is Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Up first, Adam Sanders turned the party up with his original song, “What If I’m Right.” The song is the title track off of his debut album, for which he sold a catalog of songs he wrote for other artists in order to fund.
Next, Brittnee Kelogg performed a vulnerable song inspired by motherhood, “Hey Mama.” Naval veteran Cody Hibbard tugged on heartstrings “Looking Back Now.” Nashville-native Jenny Tolman showcased a playful tune “I Know Some Cowboys.”
Forrest McCurrin performed “Small Prayers, Big Blessings,” which he wrote about what a gift it is just to be alive. Mother of four, Billie Jo Jones, fought through illness to deliver her high-energy song “Some Girls Don’t Cry.”
Briana Adams stepped out of her comfort zone by joining the show. Her song “You Only Know The Name,” pays homage to her hometown, Winchester, Texas, which has a population of 50.
Channing Wilson has been performing for more than 25 years. He achieved commercial success as a songwriter with “She Got The Best Of Me,” which he co-wrote with Luke Combs and Rob Snyder. Combs released the song in 2018, and it reached number-one on the U.S. Country Airplay Chart. Wilson treated The Road audience to his song “Blues Comin’ On.”
Blaine Bailey honored his late father and his native American heritage by wearing a special feather in his hat during his performance of “T-Shirt.” Olivia Harms, daughter of country singer Joni Harms, called on rodeo fans with her song “This Ain’t My First Rodeo.” Jon Wood’s song “Too Country” embodied what Blake Shelton described as the true “honky tonk sound.”
Finally, Cassidy Daniels concluded the performances with her song “Crazy Love,” an anthem for any woman who has ever been scorned.
The Road Makes Its First Elimination… Spoilers Ahead!
The The Road premiere featured twelve memorable performances, but only eleven performers can advance to the next week.
The audience members in Ft. Worth were active particpants in the fate of hopeful contestants. After all of the musicians had showcased thei songwriting and artistry on stage, Olivia, Forrerst, and Blaine, were voted into the bottom three.
Ultimately, Blake Shelton and Keith Urban felt that Blaine Bailey had the least amount of connection with the audience. His journey on The Road came to an unfortunate end.
Watch The Road every Sunday at 9/8 central on CBS and Paramount+.