Keith Urban Revealed as Headlining Artist for CBS’ Singing Competition, ‘The Road’

Keith Urban will be headliner of “The Road,” a new singing competition show from CBS that tests up-and-coming musicians’ ability to perform in front of live audiences.

The series, releasing this fall, follows Urban’s special performances across Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma. The show’s participants will open for Urban, and the audience at each venue can determine which musicians get to stay on the tour.

“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.”

The series is executive produced by Blake Shelton, Taylor Sheridan, David Glasser and Lee Metzger.

The special performances are all free, and tickets are distributed first-come, first-serve. The schedule includes Tannahill’s Tavern and Music Hall in Forth Worth on March 2, The Factory in Deep Ellum in Dallas on March 5, Oklahoma Ranch in Oklahoma City on March 9, Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa on March 12, Minglewood Hall in Memphis on March 24, Marathon Music Works in Nashville on March 28, and Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on April 2.

“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 concluded.