Blake Shelton leaving 'The Voice' after Season 23: 'It's time'

Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read
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No more blind auditions, blocks or friendly rivalries with music's biggest stars for Blake Shelton after the country music star announced via social media he was leaving the "The Voice," the NBC singing competition he's served as a judge since its inception.

Shelton took to Twitter to announce it was time to step away from the show, where he has spent the last 12 years as a judge, celebrating, engaging and mentoring America's best undiscovered talent as they endure head-to-head competition.

"The show has changed my life in every way for the better and it will always feel like home to me," Shelton said in a Twitter post.

Shelton thanked NBC/Universal, saying he made life-long bonds with fellow coaches.

"I have to give a huge shoutout to the singer, 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 as their coach," Shelton said in the tweet.

Shelton said in his tweet the show would not happen without the fans, thanking them for supporting the artists each week.

During his career, the “God’s County” star has collected sold 52 million singles and 13 million albums. He’s also garnered 28 No. 1 country singles and nearly 11 billion global streams.

During his tenure, Shelton has served as a coach for eight champions, including Season 20 winner Cam Anthony. Other winners that worked with Shelton include Chloe Kohanski, Sundance Head, Craig Wayne Boyd, Danielle Bradbery, Cassadee Pope, Jermaine Paul and Todd Tilghman.

Shelton isn’t the lone judge leaving his red chair after Season 23. His wife, Gwen Stefani (they married in 2021), as well as Camila Cabello and John Legend, are not returning, while former coach Kelly Clarkson returns; she’s joined by new coaches Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan (One Direction).

Shelton will return to the road this spring for 18 dates with the Honky Tonk tour kicking off Feb. 16 in Lincoln, Neb.

"The Voice" airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 7 p.m. (CT) on NBC.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Blake Shelton is leaving 'The Voice' after Season 23