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Keith Urban is slated to headline an upcoming competition series executive produced by country superstar Blake Shelton, Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan and others. Urban’s involvement with the show, titled The Road, was revealed on Tuesday morning (February 25).
The Road will feature emerging musicians playing shows at several venues in Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Those artists, who have yet to be announced, will perform as Urban’s opening acts, and the audience will help decide which singers advance in the competition. Urban and the emerging artists on The Road will perform at the following locations, per a press release issued Tuesday. Tickets are free, and available on a first come, first serve basis:
- 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, Okla.
- Wednesday, March 12 – Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Okla.
- Monday, March 24 – Minglewood Hall in Memphis, Tenn.
- Friday, March 28 – Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tenn.
- Wednesday, April 2 – Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
“I spent a lot of my underage life playing in some seedy pubs, sometimes just for the bartender. So I love the idea of throwing artists into a real-world environment to find out if they are artists,” Urban said in a statement. “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.”
Urban added in a video recorded in Las Vegas, where he recently wrapped up a 10-show run at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, that he’s “so excited” to join the show. The four-time Grammy winner said he’s looking forward to “helping Blake Shelton find America’s next big star.”
The Road is executive produced by Shelton, Sheridan, Lee Metzger and David Glasser. The upcoming CBS series was first announced in November. Shelton, formerly a coach on The Voice, said at that time: “I know a thing or two about singing competitions 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.”
“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,” Sheridan said in a statement in November. “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.”
The Road will premiere this fall on CBS. Find more info about the venues and tickets here.