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Today, Taylor Sheridan is known as the man at the center of a vast TV empire that stretches from "Yellowstone" and its many spin-offs to multiple other premium dramas which include "Lawmen: Bass Reeves," "Lioness," and "Tulsa King." Taylor Sheridan TV shows are almost too numerous to count at this point. But the man wasn't always the prolific writer and producer he's known as today. In fact, he started out on a very different career path in Hollywood.

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Specifically, Sheridan started as an actor in the mid-90s, appearing in several small film and TV roles before landing the recurring role of Deputy Chief David Hale on "Sons of Anarchy." Prior to that he could be seen appearing in episodes of "Walker, Texas Ranger," "Veronica Mars," and "Star Trek: Enterprise," His acting background is part of the reason Sheridan cast himself as Travis Wheatley on "Yellowstone," though he also happened to be one heck of a horse rider, making him the perfect fit for Travis the rodeo star. He can also be seen in the "Yellowstone" spin-off 1883 as real-life rancher Charles "Charlie" Goodnight, and in "Lioness" as Cody Spears.

Sheridan's writing talents came to prominence with 2015's "Sicario," which, with the help of director Denis Villeneuve, easily became as one of the best movies of the 2010s. After that, Sheridan's writing career was off and running, but he still found time to act in small roles. That's how he ended up in 2018's "12 Strong," an underrated war movie that also starred Chris Hemsworth.

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Taylor Sheridan had a small role in Chris Hemsworth's war movie

Warner Bros.

"12 Strong" is a war movie directed by Danish filmmaker Nicolai Fuglsig. It tells the true story of U.S. Army Special Forces sent to Afghanistan in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, and it's based on Doug Stanton's non-fiction book "Horse Soldiers." The movie stars Chris Hemsworth as U.S. Army Captain Mitch Nelson, who leads a team of ten other soldiers into Afghanistan, alongside Michael Shannon's Special Forces Officer Hal Spencer, on a perilous mission to take down the Taliban. Nelson and his team quickly find themselves overwhelmed, however, and they have to fight their way back out.

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Hemsworth has struggled for hits outside of his Marvel Cinematic Universe films, though he has had some success with his "Extraction" movies on Netflix, even if he won't be starring in the upcoming "Extraction" TV series. "12 Strong" is another underseen and overlooked entry in his filmography which managed to do reasonably well at the box office but failed to make much of an impression critically. It is, however, one of only a handful of movies from the 2010s that features Taylor Sheridan.

The "Yellowstone" creator shows up briefly in the movie, which debuted the same year as "Yellowstone" first aired, as field officer Brian. After Nelson and his crew land in Afghanistan, they're attacked by Brian and his team, who mistake them for enemy forces. Soon after, Brian realizes his mistake and welcomes the team to Afghan soil, introducing them to the headquarters known as The Alamo. It's a very small role for Sheridan, but considering the man was one the verge of becoming one of TV's most influential figures, it's probably not something he's too worried about.

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12 Strong was neither a critical hit nor a complete disaster

Warner Bros.

"12 Strong" made $71 million at the worldwide box office on a budget of $35 million, which certainly isn't anything to be ashamed of. It's at least as solid a performance as the Taylor Sheridan-scripted "Hell or High Water," which made $37.5 million on a $12 million budget. "Hell or High Water" was Sheridan's last acting role before "12 Strong," with the writer playing a small part as a cowboy in his neo-Western.

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While "Hell or High Water" is often cited as one of Sheridan's best movies, "12 Strong" — written by Ted Tally and Peter Craig — didn't receive anywhere near as much critical acclaim. A 50% critic score and a 5.6 out of 10 average rating on Rotten Tomatoes should tell you most of what you need to know. It seems critics were somewhat divided, with some praising the action sequences and performances, while others, such as the Times' Kevin Maher, dubbed the film "intense jingoistic nonsense."

Perhaps with eight years of middling streaming films between us and the debut of"12 Strong," we might revisit the movie today and find it to be underrated. As it stands, it's lamentably one of many forgotten entries in Chris Hemsworth's career and a fun little on-screen moment for Sheridan, who at this point in his career surely isn't too bothered about "12 Strong" flying under the radar.

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In a move that’s already got country music fans buzzing, Deadline broke the news that “Yellowstone” mastermind Taylor Sheridan has joined forces with country icon Blake Shelton to bring a new reality series to CBS. The show, titled “The Road,” promises to deliver a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the music industry while discovering the next big artist in country music.

Set to launch this Fall, the show follows superstar musician Keith Urban as he takes emerging artists on the road, with these hopefuls performing as his opening acts. These budding stars will battle it out for a spot in the next city, competing for a chance to remain on the tour and make a name for themselves. Urban’s involvement in the series is a natural fit, given his vast experience in the music world and his previous stints as a judge on “American Idol” and “The Voice.”

The excitement around “The Road” is already palpable, and for fans in North Texas, the journey kicks off this March. Urban will perform at Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall in Fort Worth on March 2, followed by a show at The Factory in Deep Ellum, Dallas, on March 5. These concerts will feature emerging musicians competing for a chance to continue on the tour, with the final stop being the iconic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 2. Tickets for the shows are free, though they will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so fans will have to move quickly.

As for what makes “The Road” stand out from other music competition shows, Urban himself explained the real-world challenge the artists will face, “I spent a lot of my underage life playing in some seedy pubs, sometimes just for the bartender,” Urban said. “So I love the idea of throwing artists into a real-world environment to find out if they are artists. It’s where the rubber meets the road. But it’s the only road to take if you want to be a performer.”

Shelton, Urban, and Sheridan have been working together for months to bring this vision to life. Sheridan, known for his gritty and uncompromising storytelling in “Yellowstone,” said, “There is a revolution taking place in country music. Building a platform with Blake for the next leaders of that revolution is an incredibly exciting venture.”

The series will strip away the gloss of shiny stages and studio audiences, offering viewers an unfiltered look at what it takes to make it in the music business.

It’s a true labor of love for the show’s team, including executive producers David Glasser and Lee Metzger, who’ve been collaborating with Shelton and Sheridan to bring “The Road” to life.

The real beauty of “The Road,” however, is its authenticity. With the artists touring in real venues and working to win over local fans, it’s a departure from typical reality shows where the competition is often dictated by flashy studio sets and audience votes. This is as much about the grind of the road as it is about talent.

The final performance at the Ryman Auditorium will be a crowning moment for one of the contestants, as they’ll have proven their mettle to not only Urban but also the fans who have followed their journey across the country. It’s a true testament to what it takes to succeed in the world of country music, where it’s all about the journey — and the fans who cheer you on along the way.

As the show gears up for its fall premiere, “The Road” is already shaping up to be a game-changer in the world of music competition TV. Fans can look forward to a series that’s as much about discovering raw talent as it is about the heart and soul of the country music world. And with stars like Shelton, Sheridan, and Urban at the helm, it’s guaranteed to be entertaining.

"It’s always a thrill to host a premiere at Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall!" celebrity chef Tim Love said. "Taylor Sheridan always puts Fort Worth first when launching a new show, and I’m incredibly honored that CBS has chosen Tannahill’s and the Stockyards as the backdrop for this exciting new music competition. Let the best rise to the top 'On the Road'!"

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