Adam Levine and Blake Shelton have been part of the hit singing competition The Voice since its beginnings in 2011. Levine left his coaching position after season 16, which left Shelton as the only original coach. Now, Shelton is set to depart the show after season 23, leaving Levine to make his first comment since the departure announcement.
In October, Shelton made a statement on Instagram announcing his departure from the series. The 46-year-old musician thanked everyone who has been involved in making the show successful, from the writers and crew to the singers and coaches. Shelton also thanked his wife Gwen Stefani and his fellow coaches.
“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 said in a statement shared in October. “This show has changed my life in every way for the better and it will always feel like home to me.”
He 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.”
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When asked about Shelton’s departure from The Voice, Levine said, “It’s about time!” Levine, 43, was part of the show’s original coaching panel along with Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green. Since Levine’s exit, the show has featured a variety of celebrities as coaches, including Miley Cyrus, Shakira, Usher, Nick Jonas, and more.
Shelton has been a coach on The Voice for 23 consecutive seasons and has won nine times. The Voice airs on NBC on Monday nights at 8 p.m. EST. Fans can expect to see Shelton on the show for the remainder of the season before his departure.
