Blake Shelton Dishes About How ‘The Voice’ Could Be Better and What’s Different on ‘The Road’

Blake Shelton knows a thing or two about singing contest TV shows. He was a coach on The Voice from 2011 to 2023, per Country Now. He notched an amazing nine wins during his stint on the program. Unfortunately, however, no one who stood on that stage ever became the next Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson. They are bona fide superstars who elevated their genres. Shelton suggested some reasons why that never happened for The Voice alums. When he hosted Country Countdown USA alongside Lon Helton, the popular “Sangria” singer offered some thoughtful insights.

How Shelton Thinks ‘The Voice’ Should Change Its Focus

Shelton spoke sincerely about the tweaks he would like to see on The Voice. Per the outlet via Country Countdown USA, he said, “It bothered me more than it bothered the TV people. It’s easy to see why. By the time the artist wins the show, 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.”

‘The Road’ Is Based Upon a Very Different Concept

Shelton created The Road with Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind the Yellowstone juggernaut, Both are executive producers, as is Keith Urban. The weekly CBS show, which began on October 19, features 12 emerging country singers. They are the openers for Urban at venues in three states. The audiences are discerning and vote for their faves each week. The vocalist left standing gets $250,000, a chance to perform at the Stagecoach Festival in California next year, and a recording contract.

Shelton crossed paths with Sheridan and they clicked. He sounds like an ideal collaborator. “I met him through a mutual friend. He’s an amazing guy to work with.  He’s a creative genius. He can have a huge impact on the way a show looks. He has done a lot with music on Yellowstone, and he really wanted to be part of a music competition show.”

Then Urban jumped aboard. Shelton said, “I got Keith on the phone, and told him our idea, and we came up the same way. That’s how this show was developed. Once he heard the idea, he was in. It’s a fun way to do a show.”

The Contestants Sing Original Songs

Shelton observed, “I think we found stars. Because they will perform an original song. Some of those original songs will take off and go viral. Whether they win or not. Their music will be available when the show airs, so they won’t have to wait for the end of the show to buy their music.”