When Blake Shelton left The Voice after Season 23 in 2023, he said it was to focus more on his three stepchildren, and to spend more time with them. Although it seems unlikely that he will ever return, the Oklahoma native said he might return for one season, but only under one condition: if the other four original coaches — namely Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green — also returned.
“If they were ever able to put together the original four coaches again, maybe [I’d return] for one season, a one-off,” Shelton hints to Entertainment Tonight. “That would be fun for me… That would be something I would be interested in doing.”
Shelton who says he feels “better about that decision” every day, admits it was still bittersweet.
“I miss the people,” Shelton says. “I mean, those people became like family to me, literally from the crew all up to the producers of the show. I was with them more than I was with my family… I miss that,” Shelton said, adding that he doesn’t miss the job part, even if he misses the people associated with it.”
Still, the rigors of the job, especially since was with The Voice since Season 1, make Shelton grateful that he walked away.
“I totally needed a break from that, because if I wasn’t into it then it wasn’t good for whoever was on my team,” Shelton explains. “I don’t want to be someone who’s just going through the motions. Those artists need somebody fighting for them.”
The 47-year-old still remembers when he knew it was time for him to walk away.
“The second I started feeling like, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t even remember what season this is anymore. Who are the coaches on this season?'” he recalls.
Shelton originally planned to leave The Voice earlier than he did, but decided to stay when the pandemic disrupted how the show normally operated. When he finally announced his departure, he admitted it was hard for him to say goodbye.
“I’ve been wrestling with this for a while and I’ve decided that it’s time for me to step away from The Voice after next season,” Shelton wrote on social media. “This show has changed my life in every way for the better and it will always feel like home to me. It’s been a hell of a ride over these 12 years of chair turns and I want to thank everyone at The Voice from NBC, every producer, the writers, musicians, crew and catering people, you are the best. It takes a lot of work, passion, and adult beverages (Ha!) to pull off a live show twice a week.
“I’ve made lifelong bonds with Carson [Daly] and every single one [of] my fellow coaches over the years, including my wife Gwen Stefani!” he continued. “I have to give a huge shoutout to the singers – the ‘Voices,’ who come on this stage season after season and amaze us with their talent and a special thanks to those who chose me to be their coach.”
Shelton did return for the Season 25 finale of The Voice, to perform “Purple Irises” with his wife, Gwen Stefani. His replacement, Reba McEntire, claimed her first win, with Asher HaVon.
