**THE ROAD: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?**
**Opening Shot:**
A producer asks Blake Shelton and Keith Urban about an example of the challenges of being on the road, and Urban replies, “Where do we start?”
**The Gist:**
On *The Road*, twelve country artists go on tour at clubs around the country, each performing one original song before Keith Urban takes the stage. They are coached by country legend Gretchen Wilson. During their performances, Urban and Shelton—both executive producers, along with Taylor Sheridan—sit in the back of the club, not only enjoying the performances but also gauging how engaged the crowd is with each song.
The audience scores each artist through a phone app during the performance. The top three scorers are recognized, while the bottom three face elimination. Before everyone gets on the tour bus for the next location, one artist is eliminated.
The grand prize includes a record contract, a slot at the Stagecoach Music Festival, and $250,000.
We get a biographical sketch of each of the twelve hopefuls, whose ages range from 23 to 49. Many have written songs for established country artists and have been playing clubs for years. They are all songwriters and discuss why they chose the song they performed for the first show. We also see clips from their final auditions in front of Shelton, Urban, and the producers, as well as behind-the-scenes moments during soundcheck.
**What Shows Will It Remind You Of?**
*The Voice*, if it eliminated the blind auditions and focused solely on country music.
**Our Take:**
*The Road* distinguishes itself from singing competitions like *The Voice* and *American Idol* in three key ways:
1. **Experienced Professionals:** Nearly all contestants are seasoned professionals who have written and recorded music for years. Most have already faced the grind of touring and playing in front of diverse audiences.
2. **No Traditional Rounds:** While we see clips from the final auditions, the show skips the usual audition and battle rounds. Instead, it centers purely on live performances in real clubs instead of TV studios.
3. **The Touring Challenge:** Artists travel to different cities and perform in varying environments, working to connect with wildly different crowds—some rowdier than others.
The straightforward format feels sturdy and authentic. As contestants advance, the relentless touring lifestyle and the pressure to create original, engaging songs will intensify. We anticipate that episodes will likely shorten from 90 minutes (with ads) to 60 minutes as the competition progresses, potentially adding duets, cover songs, or multiple originals per venue to keep things fresh.
Most contestants look ready for the challenge, which is refreshing compared to rookies who sometimes seem out of their depth. You can see their experience in performers like Adam Sanders, Channing Wilson, Cody Hibbard, Briana Adams, and Cassidy Daniels, all of whom know how to engage a crowd. Billie Jo Jones, despite not feeling her best, rallied to wow the audience on stage.
Even the artists receiving the lowest audience ratings this round are highly talented, and all the songs offered are excellent—though some selections didn’t quite fit the vibe at the first venue in Fort Worth, Texas.
**Sex and Skin:** None.
**Parting Shot:**
The remaining eleven artists board the tour bus, heading next to nearby Dallas for their next show.
**Sleeper Star:**
Gretchen Wilson doubles as the tour mom and vocal coach, offering valuable guidance during soundchecks. She also knows when to hold back, like when she advises the sick Billie Jo to rest and conserve her voice for the performance later that night.
**Most Pilot-y Line:**
We were not fans of how the producers introduced Cody Hibbard’s biographical segment by obscuring his face for a few seconds, supposedly “surprising” viewers when they reveal he’s Korean. We thought producers were past such tactics.
**Our Call: STREAM IT.**
*The Road* reinvents the singing competition format by literally taking it on the road, adding the grueling realities of touring to the pressure of creating and performing original music. The contestants’ experience and talent make for an entertaining and authentic competition.
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**How To Watch The Road**
Paramount+ offers two subscription plans:
– The ad-supported *Essential* plan at $7.99/month.
– The ad-free *Premium* plan (which includes Showtime and live CBS) at $12.99/month.
New subscribers can also take advantage of a seven-day free trial.
https://decider.com/2025/10/20/the-road-cbs-review/
