Keith Urban's The Road Showcases 12 Musicians Competing Nationwide for $250,000 Prize

Keith Urban is hosting and executive producing the CBS music competition series The Road, where 12 emerging musicians compete as opening acts on his U.S. tour for a $250,000 prize, a recording deal, and a major festival performance. Contestants perform original songs and covers in front of live audiences, with crowd reactions determining who advances, reflecting the gritty realities of life on tour. Alongside Urban, Blake Shelton executive produces the show, while Gretchen Wilson serves as Tour Manager, and other country stars act as guest advisors. Urban emphasizes the pressure and resilience required to win over live audiences who did not come to see the contestants, offering a raw look at the challenges of breaking into the industry. Urban also performed his song "Straight Line" on the series premiere, which he described as a message about breaking free from soul-crushing routines, a theme reflecting his own recent personal changes. The show provides an unfiltered backstage experience of the music business, focusing on the contestants' musical and emotional journeys as they vie for a career breakthrough.