Reba McEntire is heading to The Voice! The Country Music Hall of Fame member has been announced as a Mega Mentor for the upcoming Season 23. McEntire will join Kelly Clarkson, Niall Horan, Chance the Rapper and Blake Shelton, for what will be Shelton’s final season on the hit NBC TV show.
McEntire will be on hand to help the contestants who make it through the Battle Rounds. as they begin the Knockouts. It’s fitting that McEntire is returning to The Voice, since she also joined Shelton for its inaugural season, as his Battle Advisor — and was originally offered the role of a coach, which went to Shelton after she turned it down. When asked if she would take the spot that Shelton is vacating, the 67-year-old remained coy on her answer.
“Who could fill Blake’s shoes?” McEntire reflected to Entertainment Tonight. “That’s gonna be tough. He did a great job, and kudos to him.”
McEntire has previously said that she regrets not doing The Voice, even though the premise of the show wasn’t appealing when it was presented to her.
“It was a very popular show in Holland, I’m pretty sure,” McEntire told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live. “I watched the tape and I said ‘No, I’m going to pass on that, because I don’t think I’d ever be able to tell somebody that they’re terrible, or ‘Go find another job’ or ‘Hope you like your nighttime job.’ I couldn’t do that, day in and day out. I just couldn’t do it. So I did pass on it. Blake was the perfect choice. He’s done a wonderful job.”
In October, Shelton announced that he was leaving The Voice after Season 23, a decision that wasn’t easy for him to make.
“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,” the singer shared 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 later revealed that a large part of his reason for leaving was to devote more time to his three stepsons, and his wife, Gwen Stefani.
“If I walked away from my career at this time, the only thing that I run the risk of is having regrets that I’m missing out on some more important things in life,” Shelton told People. “For now, that’s our kids. This isn’t about me anymore and never will be again.
“Even though I’m a stepparent, I take that job very seriously,” he continues. “The kids see me as a very important person in their life. [When they ask], ‘Why isn’t Blake here?’ I take that stuff to heart. I’ve made plenty of money, but you can’t buy time back. I don’t want any regrets.”
Season 23 of The Voice premieres on March 6 at 8:00 PM ET on NBC. The Knockouts, featuring McEntire, will begin on April 17.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of The GreenRoom / Robby Klein
