After 10 long weeks, we finally know who won The Road.
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For those not familiar with the weekly CBS reality singing competition, The Road takes place while on tour, setting it apart from other shows like American Idol and The Voice. Blake Shelton co-created the show with Yellowstone's Taylor Sheridan. A few weeks ago, he shared how the differences between this new series and his prior experience as a coach on The Voice benefitted the contestants.
"By the time the artist wins [The Voice], they've already moved on to the next season. But also, that show was more about the coaches, and that's why it was so popular, and not as much focus on the artists."
How Is 'The Road' Different From 'The Voice'?
Throughout the season, a dozen contestants opened for Keith Urban during his tour. Rather than focusing on how well they perform for judges, contestants are evaluated by how well they perform their original songs live and how the crowd reacts to their performance. They also gain some real-world touring experience along the way. The vocalist left standing gets $250,000, a chance to perform at the Stagecoach Festival in California next year, and a recording contract.
Last night, the three finalists performed at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, and the audience held their fate in their hands. Here's who won big and who went home empty-handed.
What Happened on the Finale?
After a competitive season, the three contestants left standing were Channing Wilson, Adam Sanders, and Cassidy Daniels. In the finale, each performed a cover, an original number, and performed The Band's "The Weight" together.
Wilson sang "The Ride" by David Allan Coe and his song, "Blues Comin' On." Urban, who was in the crowd with Shelton, Sheridan, and "road manager" Gretchen Wilson, said he loved Channing's cover more than his original song.
Known for his verve, Sanders changed things up with a cover of "That Ain't No Way to Go" by Brooks & Dunn. Urban admired the change but told him it didn't show what he did best. However, it was Sanders' rousing original, "All Summer Long," that got the crowd going.
Taylor Sheridan questioned Daniels about choosing the rock song, "Crazy On You" by Heart. However, it was her original, "Crazy Love," that won over the crowd. When it was announced she placed third, Daniels wondered if her song choice had hurt her chances.
And the Winner Is...
Urban announced that the audience had chosen Sanders as the winner. The Florida-born singer-songwriter has been performing on the Nashville music scene for over a decade, building his reputation as a dedicated and talented artist. Now, he could be Music City's next big star.
