Blake Shelton's replacement on The Voice Revealed - they were originally offered his spot in Season 1 (2023)

Since he announced his retirement as coach after 23 seasons, fans have had one question:Replacing Blake Shelton on The Voice? Well, the answer has finally come out, and Shelton's replacement was initially offered his spot in Season 1.

The stemis NBC's reality television singing competition in which four celebrity coaches form teams of contestants through blind auditions - where the judges can hear but not see the singers - and compete against each other until there is one winner. The series on which it is basedHolland's voice, premiered in 2011 with coaches Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green. Green on the left in season 5; Aguilera left in season 10; while Levine left in season 16. Shelton was the last original coach to leave, announcing his departure in 2022 after 23 seasons.

"I think I almost ended it when COVID hit," Shelton said of his decision to leaveThe stemin an interview withTodayin February 2023. “And then, because of COVID, I didn't want to walk away from the show and corner everyone. I mean, this show has changed my life. I'll stay here until the world gets a little normal again'.

Shelton told that tooTodayabout howThe stem- where he met his wife, Gwen Stefani - has changed his life. "I met my wife on this show," he said. "It has changed my life in all sorts of ways, from a personal point of view." He continued: "When I came on this show as a coach, I mean everything in my life was turned upside down. And in a good way, you know? It was incredible, but it's time. It's time to not even the next. A little nothing would be nice."

Now that he is officially leaving,who will replace Blake Shelton on The Voice? Read on for who Blake Shelton's replacement isThe stemwill be. (Hint: they've been on the show before.)

Who will replace Blake SheltonThe stem?

Who will replace Blake SheltonThe stem? NBC announced during the May 15, 2023 Upfronts that Reba McEntire will replace Shelton after he leavesThe stemat the end of season 23. Reba will be one of four judges in season 24, along with Niall Horan, John Legend and Shelton's wife, Gwen Stefani. Reba performed her 1991 song "Fancy" at the NBC Upfronts following her announcement.

Season 23 is not Reba's first time playingThe stem. She first appeared in Season 1 in 2011 as Team Blake's Battle Advisor. She returned in season 23 in 2023 as a mega mentor to the contestants. In an interview onSee what's happening live with Andy Cohenin 2020, Reba revealed that she was asked to be a judge in Season 1, but turned it down, and her spot later went to Shelton. "That's very true," said Reba. "It was a very popular show in Holland, I'm pretty sure, and I looked at the tape and said, 'No, I'll pass that on,' because I don't think I'd ever be able to tell to somebody. Tell them they're terrible, or find another job, or hope you like your night job. I couldn't do it day in and day out. I just couldn't. So I passed on it."

Reba also admittedSee what's happening livethat she regretted her decision. "I mean, after you watch a very successful show that's been running for 15 years? uh, yeah!" she said. "I like to shoot, I should have."

Why is Blake Shelton traveling?The stem?

Why is Blake Shelton traveling?The stem? Shelton announced that he was leavingThe stemafter 23 seasons in oneInstagram rapportin October 2022. "I've been struggling with this for a while and I've decided it's time for me to say goodbye to 'The Voice' after next season," he wrote. "This show has changed my life for the better in every way and it will always feel like home to me. and it will always feel like home to me. It's been an amazing ride through these 12 years of changing seats and I would like to thank everyone at NBC's The Voice, every producer, writers, musicians, crew, and caterers, you are the best. It takes a lot of work, passion, and adult beverages (Ha!) to put on a live show twice a week."

In an interview withPeoplein December 2022, Shelton hinted that he decided to leave The Voice to focus on his family, which includes his wife, Gwen Stefani, and his three stepsons—Kingston, Apollo, and Zuma—from Stefani's marriage to ex-husband, Gavin Rossdale. "Gwen and I have traveled and toured and worked so much for the first half of our lives that now we're like, 'Hey, I can put on my sweatpants at 18. and see Ozark eight times,” he said. "It's our life now and we love it."

Shelton also told People how becoming a stepfather changed his outlook on his career. "If I were to end my career right now, the only thing I would risk is the regret of missing out on some more important things in life. For now, it's our children. This is not about me anymore and never will be about me," he said. He continued: "Even though I'm a step parent, I take that job very seriously. The kids see me as a very important person in their lives. When they ask, 'Why isn't Blake here?' I take it to heart. I've served many money, but you can't buy back time. I don't want regrets."

As for why he decided to stay on The Voice for so long, Shelton sharedPeoplethat he stayed with the show for over a decade because of how much it did for his career. "The setback over the years is that it is difficult for me to let go. I've been here literally from the first minute," he said. "When I startedThe stem, which was 10 years into my career as a country artist. I never really got to the A level for country artists until I became a coach. The show did a lot more for me than I brought to the table at the time. I have surpassed everything I thought I could ever achieve in the world of entertainment.

Shelton told that tooPeoplethat he wanted to leave the series to pursue other career opportunities such as his USA Network game showBarmageddeonwith which he producesThe stemhost Carson Daly. "All my time working in television, I've really just been a guy that the network or the producers say, 'Hey, go over here and then go over here and be funny,'" he said. "I never really understood what goes on behind the scenes." He continued: "I'm media trained, but I've never been cut from that cloth, and Carson is so good at capturing that personality of being in the moment." He was the perfect man for me to do this with and learn from.”

Still, despite his new career opportunities — including his clothing line with Lands' End — Shelton saidPeoplethat he was most looking forward to relaxation. "I've heard people say, 'Man, come on. You're not leaving The Voice [to] do nothing!' But it's really me. Please, I accept ideas," he said. "I've got Barmageddon — we can do a whole season in a few weeks, and that's great for me — and my Lands' End clothing line. It's time to push some of this [work] stuff out and close more family- and privacy in.

The stemairs Mondays at 8:00 PM and Tuesdays at 9:00 PM on NBC.

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