Blake Shelton opened up about his decision to leave as a judge on the popular reality competion series “The Voice” and admitted he’s actually been thinking about doing so for a long time.
During the 46-year-old singer’s appearance Monday on the “Today” show, Shelton talked about how he was looking forward to doing a “little bit of nothing” when he leaves the show at the end of the 23rd season which starts in one week.
“I think I was close to calling it a day right when COVID hit [in 2020],” the country star told host Carson Daly.
WATCH:
The new season of The Voice @NBCTheVoice begins in a week 🎶
Carson Daly got to catch up with coaches @blakeshelton, @kellyclarkson, @chancetherapper, and @NiallOfficial about Blake’s final season, looking at Niall’s experience in a singing competition, and more! pic.twitter.com/In1Uad8qQH
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 27, 2023
“And then, because of COVID, I didn’t want to walk away from the show and leave everybody in a bind,” he added. “I mean, this show changed my life. I’ll stay here until the world kind of gets back to normal again.”
The “Red River Blue” star said the show not only changed his life professionally but personally as well, noting that it’s where he met his wife, singer Gwen Stefani.
“I met my wife on this show,” Shelton shared. “It’s changed my life in every way it possibly can, from a personal standpoint.”
“When I came on as a coach on this show, I mean, everything in my life was turned upside down,” he added. “And in a good way, you know? This has been incredible, but it’s time, you know. It’s time for not even what’s next. A little bit of nothing would be nice.”
In 2011, the country star joined the reality series when it first launched. Three years later Stefani would become a judge. At the time the two met, both were married to other people. The pair then went through separate divorces and in 2015, Shelton and Stefani started dating.
They made headlines when they got engaged in October 2020 and again when they finally tied the knot at an intimate ceremony in July 2021.
In October 2022, Blake said it was time to share the news he’d been grappling with for a while about leaving “The Voice,” the outlet noted.
“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 Season 23,” Shelton wrote. “This show has changed my life in every way for the better and it will always feel like home to me. 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.”