The inaugural season of the CBS competition series ‘The Road’ has officially crowned hit songwriter Adam Sanders as its first champion following a high-stakes finale at the Ryman Auditorium. Sanders secured the victory after a series of performances that earned high praise from mentor Keith Urban who famously noted that the Florida native played the stage like a fiddle. The victory includes a massive quarter-million-dollar cash prize along with a recording contract and a coveted performance slot on the Mane Stage at “Stagecoach 2026”. After years of penning chart-topping hits for other artists, the transition to center stage marks a definitive new chapter for a performer who has already surpassed two hundred million global streams.
While traditionalist Channing Wilson and powerhouse Cassidy Daniels delivered incredible final sets, the audience vote ultimately favored the polished showmanship that Sanders developed while opening for Urban on the Midwest tour circuit. Producers Blake Shelton and Taylor Sheridan looked on as the winner performed his original anthem “All Summer Long” to a capacity crowd in Nashville. Sanders remains a significant force in the publishing world through Liz Rose Music where he has crafted number one hits like “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey” and “Hell of a Night”. With a dedicated following and a string of successful independent singles like “Bible in a House Fire”, the new champion is perfectly positioned to headline the “Red Bull Jukebox” show at The Pinnacle later next year.