BREAKING: Blake Shelton Is Leaving ‘The Voice’

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After 23 seasons as a coach on NBC’s The Voice, Blake Shelton has officially announced his departure from the Emmy-winning singing competition show.

The country superstar and “No Body” singer took to social media on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 11) to share the sad news with fans via a statement.

“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 revealed.

Blake Shelton; Photo Courtesy of NBC/The Voice

The 46-year-old hitmaker went on to detail the impact that the show has had on his life and career as well as thank everyone who makes the show possible.

“This show has changed my life in every way for the better and it will always feel like home to me,” Shelton continued. “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.”

Shelton also shared gratitude for all of those who have come into his life thanks to the show and all the contestants who chose him as their coach.

“I’ve made lifelong bonds with Carson [Daly] and every single one of my fellow coaches over the years, including my wife Gwen Stefani! 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.”

He concluded his statement by saying, “Lastly, it’s about y’all, the fans, who watch and support these artists, us coaches and everyone at The Voice who are chasing their dreams.”

Shelton holds the title for the longest running coach as well as the coach with the most overall wins on The Voice.

Team Blake has been crowned the winner of The Voice eight times. Members of Team Blake who won include Cam Anthony, Jermaine Paul, Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery, Craig Wayne Boyd, Sundance Head and Chloe Kohanski.

The announcement comes just hours after The Voice revealed its Season 23 coaches. Shelton will be joined by Kelly Clarkson, Niall Horan and Chance The Rapper on the 2023 season.

Shelton and his The Voice cohort Carson Daly are gearing up to launch a new TV series in 2023, dubbed Barmageddon. The show, which will air on the USA Network, takes place in Shelton’s Downtown Nashville bar, Ole Red, will feature Daly as a bartender and Shelton as live entertainment alongside the bar’s house band.

“With Daly behind the bar and Shelton taking the stage with his house band for live music singalongs in front of a rowdy crowd, both the icons and celebrity favorites show a new side to themselves in this anything but ordinary game show,” a statement about the show read.

Hosted and led by WWE Hall of Famer Bella, “celebrity friends go head-to-head in a series of classic bar games with a fun twist, including air cannon cornhole, keg curling, drunken axe hole, sharts (‘Shelton darts’) and many more,”

“The games are bigger, the antics are louder, and the competition is ludicrous in the best way,” the statement continued.

Y’all heard it from Carson on @TheTodayShow first!!! #Barmageddon is coming soon to a TV near you on @USA_Network. It’s so stupid you can’t not watch it.. Can’t wait for friends, old and new, to join us and THE Nikki Bella for drinks, music, and fun at @olered. More to come!!! pic.twitter.com/evIQX02tYW

— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) May 5, 2022

Barmageddon is produced by White Label Productions and JLP Pictures for USA Network with Shelton, Daly, Lee Metzger, and White Label’s Chris Wagner serving as executive producers.

“Nashville is known for great music and hospitality, which makes it the perfect setting,” Shelton said (per the USA Network). “I’m excited about Barmageddon and can’t wait for friends, old and new, to join my buddy Carson and me for some drinks, music and high-spirited fun at Ole Red.”

“Blake, Lee and I wanted to create a show where the audience can feel like they’re hanging out with us at Ole Red in Nashville, having a drink and cheering on friends as they compete in the ultimate test of athleticism and endurance – bar games!” Daly added.

Each episode of the show will find two celebrities playing a unique set of five games in Ole Red to win a prize for a viral internet sensation each has chosen to support. “Plucked from obscurity following their epic misadventures on the Internet, these now-infamous stars find themselves at Ole Red hoping to be redeemed. The competition heats up when the losing rival of each round has a chance to even the score by spinning the Wheel of Redemption, a risky move with hilarious consequences,” per the show’s official press release.

The release continues, “Shelton and Daly will offer words of encouragement – and heckling, of course – to their celebrity friends. On occasion, they might even step in to show off their skills and play a game or two. Ultimately, the winning team takes home a prize while the losing celebrity must accept the shame of defeat. But this is Barmageddon – even if they did not win, at least they had a ton of fun trying.”

Additionally, Shelton will soon hit the road on his 18-date winter 2023 tour with special guests Carly Pearce and Jackson Dean.

“We’re throwing one hell of a party in 2023… the #BackToTheHonkyTonk Tour with @carlypearce and @thejacksondean is coming to a city near you!!! It’s going to be big,” Shelton wrote. “Tickets on sale September 16th and September 23rd – visit blakeshelton.com for more info. See y’all out there!!!”

The trek, dubbed the Back To The Honky Tonk Tour, will kick off on February 16 in Lincoln, NE at Pinnacle Bank Arena and continue through March 25, where the tour will wrap up at Keybank Center in Buffalo, NY.

“There’s nothing like getting out on the road and taking music to the fans,” Shelton said. “I feel just as excited to step on stage and perform as I did the very first time. I know my tour mates Carly Pearce and Jackson Dean feel the same, and I can’t wait for y’all to get to know them better. Break out the hats and boots, ‘cause we’re going back to the honky tonk!”

Fans can still watch Shelton on the current season of The Voice airing on NBC every Monday and Tuesday at 8/7c.

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