"Open Road" is a song recorded by American singer Bret Michaels.[1] It was released on April 19, 2005, as the third and final single from his solo country album Freedom of Sound.[2][3]
The track reflects Michaels' shift into contemporary country music during the mid-2000s. Michaels debuted the song live on the April 26, 2005, episode of the USA Network series Nashville Star,[4] where he served as a judge during the show's third season. The televised finale performance was later released as the single's official music video.[5]
Background
On July 19, 2003, while out on his "Songs of Life tour" Michaels revealed in a interview with Thomas Orwat Jr. of RockMusicStar.com that he was offered a record deal by Curb Records in 1996 to record a solo country album and had declined their offer, but after years of experimenting with country music he revealed he had officially began work on a solo country album, and hoped to release it within the next couple of years, stating: "It's not something I want to do as a one off thing, but more as singer songwriter. I want to do a good job on it. I think I'm close now, but I’m going to wait until I have 12 very strong songs before releasing it."[6][7]
Michaels returned to Nashville in late 2003 and became increasingly active on Music Row. During this period he performed alongside major country artists including Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry.[8][9] He collaborated with Nashville songwriter Jeffrey Steele on the single "Good Year for the Outlaw", which charted on the Hot Country Songs chart.[10] During this period Michaels appeared in the music video for Tracy Lawrence's single It's All How You Look at It,[11] produced Forty5 South's second album, and contributed vocals to its lead single "We're Country Because We Can".[12] He also collaborated with Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker on the track "Last Night Again", and later performed with Chris Cagle at the 2004 CMA Music Festival.[13][14] These collaborations helped lead to Michaels’ appointment as a judge for the third season of Nashville Star.[15]
Throughout the summer of 2004, Michaels posted preview clips of new material from his upcoming country album—then titled The Other Side of Me—on his official website. These included early versions of "Open Road", along with several other tracks.[16] In early 2005 Michaels renamed the album Freedom of Sound, stating the new title better reflected his desire for musical flexibility across rock, country, and alternative influences.[17][18]
Release and promotion
Following the single "All I Ever Needed" featuring Jessica Andrews—which became Michaels' first solo entry on the Hot Country Songs' chart, peaking at No. 45[19]—"Open Road" was announced in March 2005 as the next promotional release from Freedom of Sound. Physical CD singles were sold through Michaels' official website, and the track was serviced to U.S. country radio on April 19, 2005.[20]
Michaels promoted the song extensively during his stint as a judge on Nashville Star. He performed "Open Road" on the April 19 broadcast and again during the April 26, 2005, season finale. The finale performance was later released online as the single's official music video.[21]
In subsequent years, "Open Road" was reissued multiple times on later Bret Michaels albums.[22] It appeared again on Michaels’ 2010 studio album Custom Built, and later on his 2015 compilation album True Grit. These later releases reflect Michaels' broader practice during the 2000s and 2010s of reissuing key tracks across multiple projects.[23][24][25]
Composition and sound
"Open Road" is a mid-tempo contemporary country song blending acoustic and electric guitars with mandolin and violin. The track reflects the sonic style emerging from Nashville's Music Row during the early 2000s while incorporating subtle alternative rock influences characteristic of Freedom of Sound. Lyrically, the song centers on themes of escape, renewal, and the emotional pull of travel—ideas that Michaels often associates with touring life.
In a 2005 interview with The Buffalo News, Michaels compared "Open Road" to earlier Poison and solo material, stating: [26][27]
Kevin Coyne of Country Universe reviewed the single positively, writing: "The former lead singer of Poison sings a decent story song in the vein of "On The Road." Get some promotion behind this and a good video, and it might be a hit."[28]
Consequence of Sound described the track as "a summer anthem" appealing to fans of country-rock themes of freedom and travel.[29]Sleaze Roxx also reviewed the song positively in its coverage of Freedom of Sound, praising Michaels' blending of rock and country influences.[30]Metal Odyssey called "Open Road" a strong country rock track and commended Michaels' traditional country vocal delivery.[31]
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Freedom of Sound.[32]
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