Meet the Road Musicians Competing on CBS for a Chance to Open for Keith Urban
Taylor Sheridan‘s latest competition series, The Road, not only showcases legendary musicians like Keith Urban and Blake Shelton, but also highlights emerging talents in the country music scene.
Premiering on October 19, The Road follows 12 up-and-coming musicians as they vie to be opening acts for Urban at various venues across the U.S. Contestants will perform in front of live audiences, advancing to the next city based on the crowd’s response. Ultimately, one act will emerge victorious, claiming a prize of $250,000 and a record deal.
Alongside Urban, Blake Shelton serves as an executive producer, while Gretchen Wilson takes on the role of Tour Manager. Special guest advisors throughout the season will include country music stars Jordan Davis, Karen Fairchild, Dustin Lynch, and Brothers Osborne.
“Without a shiny floor in sight, the docu-follow format explores the high-stakes, unfiltered musical journeys of these triple threats — singers, songwriters, and instrumentalists — providing an inside look at the tough and uncompromising life of a touring musician,” states the official synopsis. “With exclusive access to the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the music industry, viewers will witness what occurs when some of the best rising musicians board a tour bus and take on a demanding schedule to chase their dreams.”
Before the series aired, Urban spoke with Us Weekly about the “discipline” needed to thrive in the music industry, sharing his insights with the emerging artists.
“I just played a show in Vegas last night and have another tomorrow night, and [filming] this finale fell in between. So I returned home after last night’s show, got in at 5 a.m., and here we are before heading back to Vegas,” he recounted. “The discipline required for our profession never changes. It has been wonderful watching Gretchen guide them and offer solid advice. She’s like Mama Bear, in the best sense.”
The Road premieres on CBS on October 19 at 9 p.m. ET before streaming on Paramount+. The show will air at 9:30 p.m. ET on October 26 and November 2, following the NFL Doubleheader, and returns to its regular 9 p.m. ET timeslot on November 9.
Continue reading as Us Weekly exclusively introduces each musician striving for their shot at victory on The Road:
Britnee Kellogg
Kellogg cites Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood as her musical inspirations, having released tracks like “Back of My Mind,” “Hey Mama,” “Where My Girls At,” and “Keep You in the Dark.”
Channing Wilson
Prior to joining The Road, Wilson released his own music and penned songs for Luke Combs. “Back in the Depression era, Jimmy Rogers was a huge hit because he sang sad songs that connected with people experiencing tough times,” Wilson reflected. “Many are struggling with issues like mental illness right now, yet we still don’t discuss it enough. With this record, I hope to help people recognize that they aren’t alone; that others feel the same. To me, that’s the first step towards healing.”
