Reba McEntire Is Replacing Blake Shelton On ‘The Voice’

Reba McEntire has officially announced her role as a coach for season 24 of The Voice, replacing fellow country music icon Blake Shelton. 

Prior to his exit from the American series, Shelton was the longest-running member of its coaching roster – he debuted in season one (2011) alongside Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green, and stuck around full-time for every one of the show’s first 23 seasons. For reference, Shelton’s tenure is followed in length by Levine’s, who featured as a full-time coach for 16 seasons. 

McEntire has some big shoes to fill, too. Not only was Shelton the most consistent coach on The Voice, he was also the most successful: in all but one of his 22 completed seasons (the outlier being season five), at least one artist from his team made it through to the grand finals. Of those he mentored, nine artists went on to be crowned the show’s first-prize winners.

McEntire is no stranger to The Voice, though. She appeared as Shelton’s advisor in season one, and returned as an advisor to all the coaches (in the role of “mega mentor”) during seasons eight (2015) and 23 (ongoing). For next year’s season, she’ll be joined by fellow full-time coaches Gwen Stefani (Shelton’s wife), John Legend and Niall Horan.

In a new clip aired during this season’s semi-final, McEntire said of her excitement joining the Voice team: “I’m looking forward to being here with all of y’all, you’ve treated me so nicely – I appreciate the hospitality so much, that you showed me earlier. And to be able to come in and form my team, I’m so looking forward to it!”

Shelton announced his departure from The Voice last October, writing in a statement: “I’ve been wrestling with this for a while, and I’ve decided that it’s time for me to step away from The Voice after [the] next season. 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. It takes a lot of work, passion, and adult beverages (ha!) to pull off a live show twice a week. I’ve made lifelong bonds with Carson [Daly] and every single one of my fellow coaches over the years, including my wife, Gwen Stefani.

“I have to give a huge shoutout to the singers – the ‘Voices’, who come on this stage season after season and amaze us with their talent and a special thanks to those who chose me to be their coach. Lastly, it’s about ya’ll, the fans, who watch and support these artists, us coaches and everyone at The Voice who are chasing their dreams. It would not happen without you.”

Elsewhere, McEntire is said to be working on her 33rd studio album – the follow-up to 2019’s Stronger Than The Truth – after she signed a new record deal with MCA Nashville in 2020. She’s also kept busy as an actress, having recently starred as the lead in her Lifetime movie The Hammer. 

Shelton, on the other hand, was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame last week. It comes shortly after his performance at the 2023 CMT Music Awards.