Blake Shelton Tapped For New Singing Competition Show Following 'The Voice' Exit

CBS has announced its latest venture into the talent competition space with "The Road," a new music series helmed by country music star Blake Shelton and "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan.

This project comes on the heels of Shelton’s recent departure from "The Voice," where he secured a record-breaking nine wins over his 23-season run, making him the coach with the most wins in the show's history.

Now, Blake Shelton is set to bring his expertise to "The Road," which will mark CBS’s first talent competition since "Come Dance With Me" in 2022, and its first music-focused show since "Rock Star" in the mid-2000s.

"The Road" will follow contestants who perform as opening acts for an established, yet-to-be-announced music star on tour. Each contestant will vie to win over audiences in different cities, with fan support determining who advances to the next location on the tour.

This marks a high-profile collaboration for CBS, with Shelton and Sheridan both serving as executive producers.

“I’m a big fan of Taylor’s incredible work, and I’m excited to team with him and my long-time collaborator, Lee, on 'The Road',” Shelton said in a statement, per The Hollywood Reporter. “I know a thing or two about singing competitions and what it’s like to chase a music dream and live life on tour. I’m looking forward to discovering new talent and giving them this platform.”

“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 added. "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.”

Beyond his work on the sprawling "Yellowstone" franchise, Taylor Sheridan has built an impressive portfolio across Paramount+ with hit shows like "Tulsa King," "Mayor of Kingstown," "Lioness," and "Landman." He also brings his executive production expertise to CMT’s competition show "The Last Cowboy" and previously served as an EP for the Paramount+ docuseries "Willie Nelson & Family."

For CBS and its viewers, "The Road" offers a fresh blend of country music charm and on-the-road competition, driven by two of the entertainment industry's most influential voices.

The series is expected to debut in the fall of 2025.

The announcement of "The Road" also arrives just as "Yellowstone" returns to Paramount Network for the highly anticipated second half of its fifth season.

Following an impressive 12-year run and nine victories, Season 23 of "The Voice" marked Blake Shelton’s final stint as a coach.

In October 2022, the country music star shared that he would be departing from NBC’s popular singing competition—a choice he revealed had been on his mind for some time. "I've been wrestling with this for a while, and I've decided that it's time for me to step away from 'The Voice' after season 23," he shared on Instagram at the time. "This show has changed my life for the better and will always feel like home to me."

Shelton’s coaching journey started back in the first season of "The Voice," alongside Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and CeeLo Green. Shelton and Levine quickly became fan favorites, their lively camaraderie drawing viewers in until Levine’s departure in Season 16. Over the years, the iconic red chairs have hosted a rotating lineup of star coaches, including Ariana Grande, Nick Jonas, and Shakira, each bringing their unique energy to the show.

In his exit announcement, Shelton added, "It's been a hell of a ride over these 12 years of chair turns, and I want to thank everyone at 'The Voice' from NBC, every producer, the writers, musicians, crew, and catering people; you are the best."

After Shelton announced his exit, it was revealed that Reba McEntire would return to NBC’s hit competition series, this time stepping into the role of coach for the upcoming 24th season.

The legendary country star joined a star-studded panel that includes Season 23 coach Niall Horan and longtime favorites Gwen Stefani and John Legend.