WATCH: Keith Urban Impersonator Covers the Superstar’s Biggest Hits On New Singing Competition
20 of American’s best tribute acts are competing on E!’s new music competition series, Clash of the Cover Bands, for…
20 of American’s best tribute acts are competing on E!’s new music competition series, Clash of the Cover Bands, for a chance at a big cash prize and the opportunity to perform on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
This week, contestant Adam Rutledge showcased his best Keith Urban performance in front of judges Meghan Trainor, Adam Lambert and Ester Dean.
Rutledge is a native of Virginia, who performed in a rock band for 10 years. He became a fan of the country superstar when he took a liking to his guitar-slinging skills.
To transform into character, Rutledge sported a wig and prepared for his performance.
First, Rutledge took the stage to sing Urban’s “Somebody Like You” and had the live audience cheering and clapping along. Judge Meghan Trainor, who was admittedly a big fan of Urban’s, told Rutledge that he needed to work on his stage presence and they ultimately paired him with a vocal and movement expert to help him feel more comfortable on stage.
Late, Rutledge moved on to the next round of the competition, going head-to-head with a Tim McGraw look-alike for the final battle.
Dubbed the “Country Kings,” the two faced off while performing some of McGraw and Urban’s biggest hits.
For his part, Rutledge performed “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me” and “Days Go By.”
While his performance and stage presence appeared to have improved, the Tim McGraw impersonator ultimately won the battle and Rutledge’s time on the show came to an end.
Click below to watch the battle round.
https://youtu.be/nVl6jkEv7yA
Prior to the show’s premiere, Queen frontman and former American Idol contestant, Adam Lambert shared what he believes makes the show so exciting.
“I think it’s really exciting because some of the impersonations are literally like doppelgängers,” he told E! News. “I had friends that watched the teaser that was out and there was a flash of a couple of the artists and they were like, ‘Oh, did J.Lo come on the show?’ They didn’t understand. I was like, ‘No, no, no. That’s not her!’ They were like, ‘What?!’”
He continued, “I think people are going to be really, really fascinated by the likeness of some of these people, both the way the look and the way that they perform, their sound. We just had a lot of fun. In addition to all of that, there’s really something for everybody on the show. We have current pop divas, we have bands from the ’80s and the ’90s, we have classic icons. It’s sort of like something for everybody, which I love.”
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
