Blake Shelton Opens Up About the Unexpected Artist Who Played a Key Role in Revitalizing His Music and Inspiring His Comeback

The Real Reason Why Blake Shelton Isn’t Returning to ‘The Voice’

It’s official: The Voice season 28 is almost here.

The latest installment of the NBC series is set to return on Monday, September 22, 2025, and fans are ecstatic to see which new artists get their chance to compete on TV. With Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, Niall Horan and Snoop Dogg all coaching the latest batch of musicians, it’ll be hard to root for just one team this season!

But with the news of The Voice coming back, let’s not forget how folks are already pumped about the fact season 29 has also been confirmed for the spring of 2026. Set to be called The Voice: Battle of Champions, viewers will see returning coaches Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend all try to prove that they are the mentors to beat. But with all these famous faces back on our screens, how come we haven’t talked about Blake Shelton? After all, he was part of the original program since day one, but he famously left The Voice after 23 seasons back in May 2023.

So, is there a chance that Blake Shelton is returning to The Voice as well? Well, we hate to break it to you, but it may be a while before we see him pop back up on the competition series.

the voice 2025 season 28 blake shelton
NBC

As for the reason behind why Blake won’t be returning to The Voice, that’s due to him co-executive producing and starring in another singing competition series on CBS.

Titled The Road, the project will follow Blake, Keith Urban and Gretchen Wilson as they search to find the next big music superstar. And if that’s not enough, the show is also from the minds of Taylor Sheridan, Lee Metzger and David Glasser. And for those wondering when they can see Blake back be their TV screens, CBS revealed The Road‘s official release date will be Sunday, October 19, 2025.

“#TheRoad to music stardom begins Sunday, Oct 19 on @CBS and @ParamountPlus,” the caption read alongside the Instagram announcement on July 11.

Blake Shelton's Hometown Dedicates 'Blake Shelton Boulevard'

But that’s not all. At the time of Blake’s exit from The Voice, he mentioned how he wanted to be more present as a husband to wife Gwen Stefani (who he married back in 2021) and stepfather to sons Kingston, Zuma and Apollo (Gwen shares her sons with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale).

“I think the only way for me to really [parent] right is to step away from being committed to something like The Voice that demands a lot of your time,” he shared back then to Access Hollywood. “There’s no way around it. If you’re going to do it and do it right, you have to be 10 percent in. And I just feel like those days are behind me for now. I got a more important job.”

the voice 2025 season 28 blake sheltonBlake Shelton is opening up about his experience with burnout, and how another celebrity in the music industry helped him out of a music slump.

Following his exit from The Voice after being a judge on the singing competition show for 23 seasons, the country crooner admitted that it took him “about a year” before he could even think about what was next for him.

While speaking in a new interview with People, Shelton revealed that it wasn’t until Post Malone called him up to collaborate on their hit duet, “Pour Me a Drink,” that he got the wheels turning for his next album.

Shelton, 48, said the success of the song “lit a fire” under him to get back into the recording studio, and now, he has already earned his 30th No. 1 hit with his new album’s lead single, “Texas.”

“I’ve always been a nerd for country music stats,” he told the outlet. “Early on I thought it was important to know these things about my heroes…Now to have my own chapter where I can go, ‘Man, this is my catalog and my legacy.’”

“It really is exciting,” the “Sangria” singer added.