Though Blake Shelton was a coach on “The Voice” for 23 seasons, he couldn’t be happier that he’s distanced himself from Hollywood and returned to his nation music roots.
“I really, and I mean really indulged in not being on a television show anymore,” Shelton advised Individuals.
“It’s just been great for me to get back in the mode of, ‘Hey, I’m a country singer first.’ That’s what I left Ada, Oklahoma, when I was a teenager to go be. I never want to get that far away from what I feel like I meant to do ever again.”
After asserting his exit, Shelton admitted that he’d been itching to go away for some time.
“I think I was close to calling it a day right when COVID hit. And then because of COVID, I didn’t want to walk away from the show, and leave everybody in a bind. I mean, this show changed my life,” he admitted to “Today” host Carson Daly, who additionally hosts “The Voice,” in February 2023.
However Shelton says there’s a situation that might intrigue him sufficient to return.
“If they were ever able to put together the original four coaches again, maybe [I’d return] for one season, a one-off,” he shared on the time.
“That would be fun for me… That would be something I would be interested in doing,” he stated of reuniting with CeeLo Inexperienced, Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine.
Maroon 5 frontman Levine left the present after 16 seasons, whereas Aguilera and Inexperienced’s tenures have been a lot shorter.
Within the meantime, Shelton is pleased with creating nation music once more.
“The last couple of years, especially since I’ve retired from ‘The Voice,’ I’ve just kind of been trying to be very mindful of the next thing that I do, be thoughtful about it and be sure that I’m not just doing things because I’m on the hamster wheel anymore,” Shelton advised Individuals.
“It happens, and before you know it, you go, ‘My God, where have the last 10 years gone?’”
Earlier this 12 months, Shelton left Warner Music Nashville after 25 years and signed with BMG. In taking a while off, the musician was capable of make “big, big changes” in his profession, which has restored his ardour for creating nation music.
Shelton’s newest single, “Texas,” dropped on Friday.
“It was just time for a new chapter, honestly. And I’m ready for it,” he advised the outlet. “When we just started down this road, the song just jumped out to me. There was something familiar about it — and then something that felt like a step forward at the same time. It’s always in the back of my mind: What’s something I haven’t done that’s not going to make people go, ‘What does he think he’s doing?’”
Despite the fact that Shelton is getting again to his roots, he has maintained that his expertise on “The Voice” modified his life.
“It was the biggest, most important career move of my life. I’ll always be grateful for that, and everybody that worked at that show helped me get where I am,” he stated.
Blake’s multi-decade stint on the singing competitors present additionally led him to his spouse, Gwen Stefani. She can also be releasing new music, as Stefani’s newest album, “Bouquet,” debuted on Friday.
“It comes out the same day my single comes out, which is funny to 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 advised Individuals.
“We want it to be about our family — and then everybody else can have it back.”
Shelton defined that as he gears as much as proceed to create music, he has set some strict boundaries round his work-life steadiness.
“It probably drives my manager and people that work with me crazy. I say, ‘Alright, y’all book me here to do things, but leave my Fourth of July alone.’ And when it’s fall, I don’t want to be doing stuff. That’s my time to be,” he stated.
“Of course, there’s always exceptions, but for the most part I’m able to write my own schedule, and it feels good because after all these years of doing what I do, I know the times that I get super frustrated, and so I do protect that.”
Shelton’s most valuable time is spent at residence together with his household watching soccer. Stefani has three kids — Kingston, Zuma and Apollo — along with her ex-husband, Gavin Rossdale. Shelton doesn’t have any organic kids.
“I’m still a huge Arizona Cardinals fan. Last Sunday, I told Gwen, ‘I’m having the best day.’ We had family over, cooked a good meal,” he stated.
“My team won. It was like, ‘I want to have this day every day for the rest of my life — just laid-back family and watching football.”
Regardless of all of Shelton’s success — which incorporates six ACMs and 10 CMAs — today he’s “living a pretty simple life.”
