Blake Shelton’s new singing competitors takes viewers on tour with opening acts prepared to rework into headliners
“I’ll be sincere, I wasn’t precisely dying to do one other singing present,” admits Blake Shelton, who was a coach on The Voice for 23 seasons earlier than departing in 2023. And but, two years later, the nation famous person is bringing a model new singing competitors present to CBS.
So, what modified his thoughts? “[Executive producer] Lee Metzger and I began kicking round this concept: What if we constructed a present that truly seemed like what it takes to make it as an artist?” Shelton explains. “Sleeping on buses, enjoying for crowds that didn’t purchase a ticket to see you, writing songs that will or could not pay the payments. That’s actual.”
The blokes received Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan and producer David Glasser on board as govt producers, and The Highway “all fell in place.”
The sequence follows 12 rising artists opening for Keith City, one other singing competitors vet who was beforehand a choose on American Idol for 4 seasons and Australia’s model of The Voice for 3, in music venues throughout the nation. “I liked the idea of the present, particularly as a result of there isn’t one other one prefer it,” City says. “There are some exhibits that spotlight nice singers, however that is the one one which emphasizes enjoying dwell and being on the highway.”
Opening for City, who Shelton says is “mainly the nicest man in nation music,” will give these contestants a once-in-a-lifetime alternative to be taught from a man who’s “been by all of it” after enjoying venues of all sizes, from little golf equipment to huge stadiums.
“He is aware of what it takes to outlive on the market, and he’s top-of-the-line musicians on the earth,” Shelton factors out. “Plus, he’s a man who genuinely cares about serving to different artists.”
Evan Mulling/CBS
All through the season, Sheridan, Shelton, and different soon-to-be introduced nation stars will be part of City and Gretchen Wilson, who’s serving as “tour supervisor,” to information the artists as they carry out for the dwell audiences that may decide whether or not they transfer on to the following metropolis.
“The cool twist right here is the viewers was actually the choose,” Shelton provides. “Keith’s followers got here to see him. They didn’t know who was opening. So in the event that they didn’t such as you, they might stroll out, hit the bar, no matter. That’s as actual because it will get. On the finish of the evening, when you can win over Keith’s followers, you’ve earned your spot.”
City agrees, including, “This present is all in regards to the audiences within the venue. They vote in real-time, identical to it’s while you’re on the highway. You understand whether or not you reside or die, evening after evening, proper after every efficiency.’
One of many 12 artists who have been handpicked by Shelton and Sheridan’s groups will stroll away with a report contract and $250,000 on the finish of the present. “We needed artists who’d already put in some miles,” Shelton shares. “A few of them have written hits for different folks, a few of them have been grinding it out on the highway for years. The frequent thread is all of them have authentic music that’s prepared for radio proper now.”
For the present’s first season, Shelton says it was intentional to “lean into” nation artists, which is “house base” for him and Sheridan. “There’s a little bit Americana within the combine, however preserving it largely nation means you’re evaluating apples to apples,” he explains. “Down the road, who is aware of the place it goes, however this felt like the suitable strategy to begin.”
The Highway‘s behind-the-scenes have a look at the grueling lifetime of a touring musician will set it other than the opposite singing competitors exhibits which are on the market, says Shelton. “This isn’t one other shiny stage present the place folks simply belt out cowl songs,” he insists. “You’ll see the nice moments, however you’ll additionally see the downtime, the homesickness, the nights the place a crowd in Texas loves you and the following evening in Memphis they stroll out on you. That’s the fact of chasing this dream.”
And whereas the money prize and report contract are a pleasant bonus, Shelton advises that “profitable isn’t the end line” for the victor. “This present begins the place others finish, which is on tour,” the “Honeybee” crooner provides. “The objective is to construct an actual fanbase on the market with Keith’s crowd. If you are able to do that, then hold it going. Hold writing. Hold enjoying. Hold grinding. Don’t sit round ready on successful report to magically change your life. You’ve received to construct it, one present, one fan at a time.”
The Highway, Collection Premiere, Sunday, October 19, 9/8c, CBS