Everything to know about his final season
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Blake Shelton is leaving “The Voice” and his exit has been a major focus of Season 23.
The country singer announced in October that he would be ending his tenure with the NBC singing competition. Shelton is the only judge who has remained on the show since its debut in 2011. During his time on “The Voice,” he’s coached the most winning contestants and met his wife, former judge Gwen Stefani.
“This show has changed my life in every way for the better and it will always feel like home to me,” Shelton said in his statement announcing his departure.
Here’s everything to know about Shelton’s final season and how his “Voice” family is commemorating the moment.
Why is Blake Shelton leaving ‘The Voice?’
When the “God’s Country” singer announced his departure he said he’d been “wrestling with” the decision to leave for a while. But he said he hopes to use his time away from the show to focus on his blended family with Stefani.
Since his marriage to Stefani, Shelton has become a stepfather to Stefani’s three children from her first marriage with Gavin Rossdale: Kingston, 16, Zuma 14, and Apollo, 9.
“I’m not the first person that I think about anymore,” Shelton told Access Hollywood in February on being a stepdad. “I think the only way for me to do that right is to step away from being committed to something like ‘The Voice’ that demands a lot of your time.”
How is the show sending Shelton off?
Before the March 6 premiere, Shelton and the other Season 23 coaches, including newcomers Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper, made a parody of “The Office” centered around the singer’s constant reminders that it’s his last season.
“It’s definitely about Blake,” fellow judge Kelly Clarkson said in the skit.
In other promo videos for the current season, Horan gave his best impression of Shelton’s southern drawl, mimicking the seasoned coach’s recruiting tactic.
“I’m Blake Shelton. This is my last season on ‘The Voice’ and I would be honored if you were to be on the last ever Team Blake,” Horan said.
During blind auditions, Shelton solidified his exit even more by giving contestants who join his team a custom T-shirt reading: “I’m on Blake’s last team.”
Even Jimmy Fallon got in on Shelton’s last season, surprising him with a blind audition.The late-night host sang a Michael McDonald song, leading three judges to turn their chairs around.
However, Shelton did not turn his chair around so Fallon approached the judge’s chair to punch the button for him.
“I’m across the parking lot doing our show ‘That’s my Jam’ and I texted Carson (Daly) I said ‘I gotta come over’,” Fallon said. “Hey buddy, 23 Seasons, congratulations. You’re a legend.”
What Adam Levine, John Legend, more judges have said about Shelton’s exit
Judges who have worked with Shelton in past seasons of “The Voice” have also weighed in, including Adam Levine who was a judge from 2011 to 2019.
Entertainment Tonight asked Levine about Shelton’s exit during Vanity Fair’s Oscar after party to which he joked, “It’s about time.”
Former judge John Legend also addressed Shelton’s exit to Entertainment Tonight in October. Legend is taking a break from “The Voice” to focus on his family and other projects.
“He’s been the heart and soul and anchor of the show for a long time,” Legend said.
Who is replacing Blake Shelton on the ‘The Voice?’
The show has yet to announce the judges for Season 24. However “Voice” coaches have come and gone since the singing competition’s inception in 2011, with Shelton being a mainstay.
Original judges for the first season included Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, Levine and Shelton. Other judges throughout the years have included Shakira, Usher, Stefani, Ariana Grande, Nick Jonas, Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Legend, Jennifer Hudson and Camila Cabello.
‘The Voice’ Season 23 recaps
Contributing: Edward Segarra