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Reba McEntire Taking Blake Shelton’s Place As Coach On ‘The Voice’

Source: Screenshot YouTube Source: Screenshot YouTube

Ever since the country music star Blake Shelton announced that he would be leaving “The Voice” after the current 23rd season, fans have been clamoring to find out who will be replacing him. Now, his replacement has been revealed to be the legendary country music singer Reba McEntire!

McEntire Replacing Shelton

People Magazine reported that McEntire, 68, has signed on to become a head coach on the upcoming 24th season of “The Voice.” She will be joining Niall Horan, Gwen Stefani, and John Legend for the season that is set to air in the fall of 2023.

This news was announced by the TV personality Zuri Hall at the 2023 NBCUniversal Upfront event on Monday.

“I am so thrilled to announce the Season 24 coaches: Niall Horan, John Legend and Gwen Stefani returning, and in the fourth red chair, the queen of country, who will appear this season on ‘The Voice’ as a coach for the first time ever, Reba McEntire,” Hall said, according to TODAY.

McEntire Previously Turned Down ‘The Voice’

Though McEntire has appeared on “The Voice” many times over the years, this will be her first time being an official coach. In a 2020 interview, McEntire revealed that she’d been asked to be a coach on the first season of “The Voice” when it premiered back in 2011.

“It is very true,” McEntire said. “It was a very popular show in Holland, I’m pretty sure, and I watched the tape, and I said, ‘No, I’m going to pass on that,’ because I don’t think I could ever be able to tell somebody that they’re terrible or go find another job or hope you like your nighttime job. I couldn’t do that day in and day out. I just couldn’t do it. So I did pass on it.”

McEntire went on to admit that this was a decision she later came to regret.

“I mean, after you see a very successful show that’s been running, what, 15 years? Uh, yeah!” she said with a laugh. “I’m like shoot, I should have done that.”

Check out her full comments on this in the video below.

Shelton Leaving ‘The Voice’

Shelton announced back in December that he would be retiring from “The Voice,” which he’s been a coach on ever since it premiered back in 2011.

““I’ve decided that it’s time for me to step away from ‘The Voice’ after season 23,” Shelton said, according to Yahoo News. “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,” he continued. “It takes a lot of work, passion, and adult beverages (Ha!) to pull off a live show twice a week.”

Shelton later told People Magazine that he’s “open” to whatever comes his way in the future.

“I’ve had people say, ‘Man, come on. You’re not quitting ‘The Voice’ [to do] nothing!’ But I really am. Please, I’m accepting ideas,” he said with a laugh. “I have ‘Barmageddon’ — we can do a whole season in a couple weeks, and it’s a blast for me — and my Lands’ End clothing line. It’s time to push some of this [work] stuff out and let more family and personal life in.”

While Shelton will be dearly missed on “The Voice,” McEntire is certainly a worthy replacement for him. We can’t wait to see what McEntire brings to “The Voice” in the fall!

James Conrad

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