Blake Shelton, the country singer, has opened up about his life after leaving the reality singing competition, The Voice. The 47-year-old confessed during the November 17 episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show that he is currently enjoying his time off since leaving the show earlier this year. Shelton, who joined The Voice when it premiered in 2011, revealed that he doesn’t miss his coaching gig yet, adding, “I mean, I did that show for 23 seasons.”
Shelton admitted that he had wanted to step away from the show earlier, but the COVID-19 pandemic thwarted his plans. “To be totally honest about it, I wasn’t even planning on being there that long,” he said. “I was planning on wrapping it up around 20 seasons or 21 seasons, and then, obviously, COVID hit, and then I didn’t want to walk out on the show in the middle of COVID and them trying to scramble and figure out what to do, so I stayed. I didn’t have anything else to do anyway, so I stayed a little bit longer. But I stayed too long for me to now miss it, I can promise you that.”
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Shelton also revealed that he received a major keepsake to commemorate his time on the show, the signature red chair. “I got my chair,” he said. “It was the one thing I wanted – besides a bunch of money – I wanted to take home from The Voice, so they did, they sent it to Oklahoma.”
The Voice changed Shelton’s life in many ways, the most impactful being his relationship with now-wife Gwen Stefani, whom he met while filming the show in 2014. “It all goes back to The Voice,” Shelton said of his life with Stefani, 54, who returned as a coach for the 24th season, airing now. “The Voice, it connected everything. I was having a country music career, but then they asked me to be on The Voice, and it literally changed my life in so many ways. I mean, look at the family right there. It’s like all of a sudden, I’m The Brady Bunch.”
When Shelton and Stefani tied the knot in 2021, he became stepfather to her and ex-husband Gavin Rossdale’s three sons, Kingston, 17, Zuma, 15, and Apollo, 10. His time away from The Voice has allowed for more bonding with the kids. “It’s been such a relief to have more flexibility with his schedule,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly in September. “Seeing Blake ultra-relaxed and in family mode is so endearing to Gwen and reminds her what a catch he is.”
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As a result, Shelton has been able to focus on his music career and release new songs, including his latest single, “Come Back As A Country Boy.” The song, which was released on November 12, is an ode to his roots and a reflection of his life growing up in Oklahoma. Shelton has also been busy with The Friends and Heroes Tour, which kicked off on August 18 and features special guests Martina McBride, Tracy Byrd, Trace Adkins, and Lindsay Ell.
Shelton’s departure from The Voice has left fans wondering who will replace him as a coach on the show. The Voice has seen a revolving door of coaches over the years, with the likes of Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, and Pharrell Williams all taking turns in the red chair. However, Shelton’s departure marks the end of an era, as he was the only coach to have appeared in every season of the show.
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In conclusion, Blake Shelton’s departure from The Voice has allowed him to focus on his music career and spend more time with his family. While he doesn’t miss the show yet, he acknowledged that it changed his life in many ways and allowed him to meet his wife, Gwen Stefani. As for his future plans, Shelton has plenty of music projects in the works, and fans can look forward to hearing more from him in the coming months.
