Highly acclaimed country singer, Blake Shelton has announced that he’s creating a singing television show after leaving The Voice in May 2023. Of course, his departure from the show was bittersweet. Shelton was the last remaining original coach in season 23. However, all good things must end, and The Voice is still thriving without the country star. With that said, Blake Shelton is creating a new music show titled, The Road. So, what can we expect from this new show? Grab a snack and let’s discuss everything we know so far about Shelton’s new era.
When One Door Closes
Shelton was one of the original four vocal coaches cast for NBC’s The Voice when the show aired in 2011. During his time there, he met his wife, singer Gwen Stefani. The two met in 2015 and were married in 2021. After their marriage, Shelton left the show to focus on his family. He became a stepfather to Stefani’s three children, Kingston, Zuma, and Apollo, and wanted to spend more time committed to them. It’s a heartfelt and humble reason to take a break from the hustle of show business.
Another country singer, Reba McEntire, took over Shelton’s coaching role on season 24 of The Voice. She appeared on the show for seasons 25 and 26 before announcing she would not return for season 27. Instead, Kelsea Ballerini, another country music expert, will be featured as a new coach. Despite Shelton and McEntire’s departure, The Voice will continue indefinitely with an ever-rotating cast of coaches. Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani have also returned to the show in some capacity. Shelton appeared in season 2024 to celebrate the 25th season of the show. Meanwhile, Stefani returned to her coaching role for season 26.
Another Door Opens
On November 11th, 2024, CBS announced that Shelton will be executive producing a new series titled, The Road. Similarly to The Voice, The Road will be a singing competition show. However, it will be completely different. This show is described as a “docu-follow” series following artists on tour as they win over the crowds. Shelton has been working with Yellowstone creator, Taylor Sheridan on the project. Lee Metzger known for Barmageddon (2022) and David Glasser, who also worked on Yellowstone are reportedly working with the team alongside Shelton and Sheridan. The show aims to discover new talent and give them a platform to express it.
In contrast to The Voice, The Road seems grittier overall. The idea of the show is more cutthroat. Instead of auditioning for vocal coaches, contestants will perform in front of live crowds at busy venues. They are expected to live together on a tour bus traveling the country. Each contestant has the opportunity to wow the crowds and win the crown. While no exact air date has been announced, CBS stated the show to premiere sometime in fall 2025. While it’s not exactly clear if Blake Shelton or Taylor Sheridan will have any on-screen roles, the duo surely have plenty of planning to do.
Final Thoughts
Shelton is hopping back on the show-biz train rather quickly after leaving his previous position at The Voice. Furthermore, with Gwen Stefani back as a coach for NBC, the couple will work on two completely different shows on different networks. Could this lead to some discourse? Maybe, but we think this power couple can keep it together.
It will be interesting to see how The Road performs compared to The Voice. It could be the next big hit in the singing competition genre. However the show turns out, this project is important to Shelton and everyone involved. It could also unveil some extremely talented new stars. It’s an exciting new idea that brings fresh faces to the spotlight. What’s not to love?
