Blake Shelton teases possible return to The Voice as a coach or ‘surprise appearance’

Country singer Blake Shelton was one of the original coaches on The Voice, and though he left the show in 2023 fans would love to see him back and he teased the possibility recently

Blake Shelton was one of the first coaches on The Voice and he might be coming back to the hit show.

Blake might make a return to the hit singing competition (Image: NBCUniversal)

The country singer appeared on every season of the singing competition since the show started in 2011 until season 23 in 2023. He holds the record for most wins of any coach with his team going on to win nine seasons.

The show has since continued with other celebrity coaches – this season consists of Reba McEntire, country duo Dan + Shay, Chance the Rapper, and John Legend. But diehard fans of the show want to see the veteran judge make his return.

He was on the show for 23 seasons (Image: Evans Vestal Ward/NBC via Getty Images)

Blake said during an interview on Sunday with Extra TV: “I don’t ever plan on working at The Voice again.” While he isn’t planning an official return to the show, he didn’t rule it out entirely in the future. He added: “Who knows? That’s me sitting here as I say that right now.”

“I can’t say I wouldn’t come by for a surprise appearance,” He continued, “That show is the greatest and most important thing I’ve ever been a part of in my career. It changed my life.”

Blake also said: “When I left, I feel like I really left; we all love each other.” Besides flexing his professional skills on the show and mentoring up-and-coming artists, the show also impacted his personal life. Blake met his now wife, Gwen Stefani, on the show when she was also a judge.

The two started dating in 2015 and became engaged in 2020. A year after their engagement, Gwen and Blake married in a chapel on Blake’s property in Oklahoma.

He said the show didn’t give him time for anything else

In the Extra TV interview, Blake admitted that he left the show after the toll it took on him and how he wanted to focus on his family. “I’ve done it for 23 seasons without missing a single season, you know?” he said.

“I know what you feel like, Pat Sajak!” he added. Pat is leaving his hosting duties on Wheel of Fortune this year after 41 straight years of hosting the game show.

Blake continued: “If you’re on back-to-back seasons, there’s really no time for any other thing, you know? If you didn’t want to have a family and a life that much you could do it, but something has to give. It was time for The Voice to be the thing that gives.”