Even though Blake Shelton has been a coach on The Voice for 23 seasons, he couldn't be happier to have distanced himself from Hollywood and returned to his country music roots.
“I'm really, and I mean really, overwhelmed about not being on a TV show anymore,” Shelton told People.
“It's been great for me to get back into 'Hey, I'm a country singer first' mode. That's what I left in Ada, Oklahoma, when I was a teenager. I never want to stray that far from what I feel like I'm meant to do again.
After announcing his exit, Shelton admitted that he had been itching to leave for a while.
“I think I was about to call it a day when the coronavirus came out. And then because of the coronavirus, I didn't want to step away from the show and leave everyone in the lurch. “I mean, this show changed my life,” he admitted to “Today” host Carson Daly, who also hosts “The Voice,” in February 2023.
But Shelton says there is a scenario that would interest him enough to return.
“If they can get the original four coaches together again, maybe [I’d return] “For one season, one time,” he shared at the time.
“That would be fun for me…that would be something I would be interested in doing,” he said of his reunion with Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine.
Maroon 5 frontman Levine left the show after 16 seasons, while Aguilera and Green's tenures were much shorter.
In the meantime, Shelton is happy to be making country music again.
“The last couple of years, especially since I retired from The Voice, I've been kind of trying to be very mindful of the next thing I'm going to do, and be deliberate about it and make sure that I'm not doing things just because I'm not on a hamster wheel anymore,” Shelton told People. .
“It happens, and before you know it, you're like, 'Oh my God, where have the last 10 years gone?'
Earlier this year, Shelton left Warner Music Nashville after 25 years and signed with BMG. By taking some time off, the musician was able to make “pretty big changes” in his career, reigniting his passion for making country music.
Shelton's latest single, “Texas,” was released on Friday.
It's time for a new chapter, honestly. And I'm ready for it,” he told the outlet. “When we were just starting down this road, the song just popped into my mind. There was something familiar about it — and then there was something that felt like a step forward at the same time. It's always on my mind: What is it that I haven't done that won't make it?” People wonder: What does he think he's doing?
Although Shelton is returning to his roots, he says his experience on “The Voice” changed his life.
“It was the biggest and most important career move of my life. I will always be grateful for that, and everyone who worked on this show helped me get to where I am now.”
Blake's multi-decade stint on the singing competition show also led him to his wife, Gwen Stefani. She's also releasing new music, with Stefani's latest album, “Bouquet,” debuting on Friday.
“It came out the same day my song came out, which is funny for both of us. I said, 'Well, at least we're not competing with each other on an album…but we just want to take over that day for one day,'” Shelton told the magazine. People.
“We want it to be about our family — and then everyone else can have it back.”
Shelton explained that as he prepares to continue making music, he has set some strict boundaries around work-life balance.
“It would probably drive my boss and the people who work with me crazy. I say, 'Okay, you're going to keep me here to do stuff, but leave the Fourth of July alone.'” And when fall comes, I don't want to do anything. “This is a good time to be “In it.”
“Of course, there are always exceptions, but for the most part I'm able to write my own agenda, and that feels good because after all these years of doing what I do, I know when I get really frustrated, and so I protect that.”
Shelton's most valuable time is spent at home with his family watching football. Stefani has three children – Kingston, Zuma and Apollo – with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale. Shelton does not have any biological children.
“I'm still a huge Arizona Cardinals fan. 'I'm having the best day,' I told Gwen last Sunday. 'We had family, and we cooked a good meal,' he said.
“My team won. It was like, 'I want to live this day every day for the rest of my life — just relaxing family and watching football.'
Despite all of Shelton's success — which includes six ACM certifications and 10 CMA certifications — he “lives a pretty simple life” these days.
