Gretchen Wilson is joining the upcoming series executive produced by Blake Shelton, Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan and others, officials announced on Monday (April 28).
Wilson will serve as the “tour manager” on The Road, a competition show that features emerging artists performing as Keith Urban’s opening acts at shows in Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Artists competing on the show have yet to be announced. Wilson — known for hits like “Redneck Woman,” “Here for the Party” and more — will offer guidance to the emerging musicians in her role as “tour manager,” per a press release from CBS. The release also notes that The Grammy-winning country star will also deliver her own performance as part of the show.
“Stepping into the role of ‘tour manager’ for THE ROAD has allowed me to take everything I’ve learned over all of my years of touring and pour it right back into these emerging musicians,” Wilson said in a statement. “Helping them sharpen their talents to capture the attention of these crowds across America, and guiding them through the real and raw grind of life on the road, has been a highlight of my career. Working with Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Taylor Sheridan and the rest of the team and our incredible crew was absolutely amazing. It was an honor to be a part of this team and I can’t wait for the world to watch!”
Urban previously said he “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. 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. 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.”
Shelton teamed up with Sheridan, Lee Metzger and David Glasser to executive produce The Road. The show is slated to premiere this fall on CBS. an exact release date has not been announced as of publication time.
“There is a revolution taking place in country music. Building a platform with Blake for the next leaders of that revolution is an incredibly exciting venture,” Sheridan said in a previous statement. “No more shiny floors and studio audiences. This is where the rubber meets the road – literally. Get in the van, go to the next town and win the crowd. Do it enough, and you become the next leader. Simple as that.”