Aspiring Country Artists Fight For Victory On The Road
Five weeks into CBS’s new reality show, The Road, eight hopeful artists are still in the running for the ultimate grand prize. The winner of the competition will receive $250,000, a recording contract, and a coveted spot in the lineup for Stagecoach Festival.
The new show has enlisted the help of country music veterans Blake Shelton and Keith Urban to serve as hosts and judges. Each week, a live audience in a new city decides the fate of the contestants. As they perform, the crowd rates the artists in real time. Once the bottom performers are revealed, Shelton and Urban must decide who stays and who goes.
The show is produced by Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan. Gretchen Wilson serves as “Tour Manager” to help guide the aspiring stars on The Road.
Visit this page to see what happened on last week’s episode of The Road.
Contestants Hope To Earn The Favor Of The Crowd In Oklahoma City
This week, the second half of the contestants performed one cover song and one original at Oklahoma Ranch in Oklahoma City. The group was stacked with talented musicians and Gretchen Wilson admitted, “I’m really glad I ain’t voting…” See each of their original performances below! Cover performances can be found on The Road’s official YouTube channel.
Seasoned artist Channing Wilson has been touring for many years. He opened the show with Hank Williams Jr.’s 1981 hit, “Weatherman.” Next, he introduced his original song saying he wrote it “about your woman leaving and you don’t care if she comes back or not.” The high-energy tune, “Gettin’ Outta My Mind,” got the crowd dancing along. Urban remarked that he played to the audience “perfectly.”
Billie Jo Jones struggled with illness during her first few performances on The Road. Determined to redeem herself, she performed a cover of “Broken Wing” by Martina McBride to show off her vocal range. Next, she dedicated her original song, “Whose Tequila Are You Drinkin’,” to “all the ladies who’ve ever had their heart broken.”
Briana Adams took a risk and covered Dolly Parton’s iconic love song, “I Will Always Love You.” Urban and Keith were unsure about the song choice, but commended her for hitting the high notes right out of the gate. She then switched it up and performed her feel good drinking song, “Belle of the Beer Bash”
Adam Sanders has been trying to find the balance between putting on a good show and not sacrificing his vocal quality. In true fashion, he brought the energy with his cover of Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California.” His original song, “Burnin’ Roses,” highlighted a different side of his artistry that he had not yet showcased in the competition. Afterwards, Urban affirmed that Sanders “knows how to work a crowd.”
Finally, Britnee Kellogg brought the second Dolly Parton cover of the night with “Jolene,” which, in her opinion, is “one of the best country songs of all time.” Her original song, “She’s Come A Long Way,” was inspired by her own journey of chasing her musical dreams. Wilson described her as “the real deal” and added that she had an “instant connection” with the crowd.
The Road Makes Its Fifth Elimination Of The Season
After all five performers had given their all on stage, Keith Urban closed the show with his 2013 hit, “Somewhere In My Car.” Then he joined Blake Shelton to deliver the results of the night. They revealed that Channing Wilson received the top vote for the night – the second time this season that he has come out on top.
Billie Jo Jones and Briana Adams were the bottom two. Ultimately, Shelton and Urban chose to send Jones through to the next round. As a result, it was the end of the road for Adams.
Next week, The Road will continue with the added element of group performances. Tune in Sunday at 9/8pm central on CBS and Paramount+.
