Keith Urban offered insight on The Road about a marriage song before his high profile divorce from Nicole Kidman.
During the Sunday, November 23, episode of the CBS series, Urban, 58, provided guidance to the contestants ahead of a concert at the iconic Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jenny Tolman was practicing her song “Married in a Honky Tonk” when Urban suggested she switch to a higher note.
Tolman was grateful for the advice, though she was ultimately sent home at the end of the episode despite the help.
The Road follows 12 emerging musicians as they compete to become an opening act for Urban while he tours across America. The contestants advance to the next city based on the reaction from the crowds at their respective shows. By the end of the season, only one act is left standing.
All the Changes Keith Urban Made in His Life Amid Nicole Kidman Split
In addition to Urban and Blake Shelton, Gretchen Wilson appears in the role of tour manager, and executive producer Taylor Sheridan appeared this season to offer advice to the remaining group. Urban filmed The Road before Us Weekly confirmed in September that the country artist and wife Kidman, 58, had split after 19 years of marriage.
They former couple met in 2005 following the actress’ divorce from Tom Cruise. After one year of dating, Kidman and Urban got married in Australia and expanded their family in 2008 with the arrival of their daughter, Sunday Rose. Two years later, Kidman and Urban welcomed daughter Faith via surrogate. (Kidman is also the mother of daughter Isabella and son Connor, whom she adopted with Cruise, 63.)
Earlier this season, Urban opened up about the highs and lows of life on tour while filming The Road.
“Where do we start? It’s a calling, and you’re going to do it or you’re not going to make it,” he explained. “When you wake up on a tour bus at 3:30 in the morning and you’re sick as a dog, you’re in the middle of nowhere and you’ve got to play your fifth show later that night, and you haven’t slept, and you miss your friends, and you’re missing your family, and you’re completely lonely and miserable and sick — and you say to yourself, ‘Why am I doing this?’”
Meet the Musicians Competing as Opening Acts for Keith Urban in ‘The Road’
He added: “The only answer can be: because this is what I’m born to do. We’re going to find out who’s made for that stuff [on this show].”
Urban previously spoke exclusively with Us about the “discipline” required to succeed as a musician.
“I just played a show in Vegas last night and I had another one tomorrow night, and [taping] this finale fell in between. So I came home after the show last night, got in at 5 a.m., here we are, and then take off tomorrow, go to Vegas,” he shared before the show’s premiere. “I think that never changes, as far as the discipline required to do what we do. And it’s been great watching Gretchen handle them as well and give really good advice. [She’s] like Mama Bear, in the best way.”
The Road airs on CBS Sundays at 9:30 p.m. ET before streaming on Paramount+.
