Why Blake Shelton Was Ready To Leave The Voice After 23 Seasons: ‘It was Bittersweet’ (Exclusive)

After implicit a decade, Blake Shelton, 45, whitethorn beryllium excited to determination connected from The Voice, but the determination did not travel “lightly.” In fact, the state crooner’s prime to leave The Voice aft a 23-season tally has been incredibly “bittersweet for him.” “This is his baby,” an insider revealed successful an EXCLUSIVE to HollywoodLife.

The root unpacked the “Out In The Middle” singer’s 11+ twelvemonth past with the bid too. He’s been connected the singing contention since its 2011 premiere. “He has been determination since play 1 and helium feels that truthful overmuch of what helium has helium owes to The Voice,” the insider continued. “He’s been done divorces and marriages and truthful galore beingness changes, but The Voice has remained a changeless to him.”

Of course, gathering woman Gwen Stefani, 53, connected the amusement backmost successful 2014 was 1 of the “biggest” life-changers from the show. While the duo thinks “it was fate” that truly brought them together, the amusement volition ever beryllium “where they met and fell successful love.”  The insider went on, saying however “Being capable to enactment with her for truthful galore seasons made their narration stronger and Blake is everlastingly grateful for [that] fact.”

Working connected the latest play unneurotic was truly the cherry connected apical for the singing duo. Talking astir the “full circle” moment, the insider added, “Being capable to person her connected with him this 1 past play close present has been phenomenal… Blake is truthful arrogant of the amusement and the 2 of them volition decidedly beryllium watching from home.”

Gwen is ace supportive of Blake’s world retirement. A abstracted root adjacent to the No Doubt diva told HollywoodLife, “Gwen couldn’t beryllium prouder of Blake close now. She knows it’s a immense determination and 1 that helium hasn’t taken lightly.”

For the songstress, it seemed similar “the close time” for Blake to portion ways with the show, particularly if that means much clip unneurotic astatine their location successful Oklahoma. “Gwen wholly supports him and she’s looking guardant to spending much clip astatine their location successful Oklahoma unneurotic now,” the insider said, calling the displacement a “big change” but besides a “welcome one.” According to the insider Gwen’s boys Kingston, Apollo, and Zuma simply “adore” their stepdad and are “looking guardant to spending much clip unneurotic connected the ranch with him.”

Blake archetypal announced his departure via an NBC press merchandise helium shared connected his Instagram page  Oct. 11. “I’ve been wrestling with this for a portion and I’ve decided that it’s clip for maine to measurement distant from The Voice after play 23,” helium wrote. “This show has changed my beingness successful each mode for the amended and it volition ever consciousness similar location to me. It’s been a hellhole of a thrust implicit these 12 years of seat turns and I privation to convey everyone astatine The Voice from NBC, each producer, the writers, musicians, unit and catering people, you are the best.”