Blake Shelton Jokes Kelly Clarkson 'Actually Got Me Fired' From 'The Voice'
By Kelly Fisher
February 28, 2023
Blake Shelton is gearing up for his final season of The Voice, and the country music giant isn’t slowing down on his jokes aimed at Kelly Clarkson just yet.
Shelton, the show’s winningest coach and longtime jokester with his fellow coaches, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday night (February 27). The pair talked about Kimmel giving Shelton a flame-thrower, Shelton kicking off new tour dates (the “Back To The Honky Tonk Tour” with Carly Pearce and Jackson Dean), and, of course, his final season of the smash-hit NBC competition show, among other conversation topics.
“Kelly finally got me fired. I wanted to announce that here, on the show. Kelly Clarkson actually got me fired,” Shelton joked, as Kimmel brought up his upcoming exit from The Voice. “NBC stands for ‘Nothing But Clarkson.’ …She’s on every late night show, she’s got the daytime show…”
Shelton announced in October that he would end his time on The Voice after “wrestling” with the decision for a while. He said in a statement at that time, in part: “This show has changed my life in every way for the better and it will always feel like home to me. ...I’ve made lifelong bonds with Carson (Daly) and every single ons of my fellow coaches over the years, including my wife Gwen Stefani!”
Season 23 also features Clarkson, Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan as coaches, alongside Shelton. Fellow country superstar Reba McEntire is set to join as a Mega Mentor, returning to the show after acting as a Battle Advisor during the show’s first season in 2011.
Shelton could make history if he emerges victorious in his final season, which would mark 10 victories and launch him into double digits, becoming the first coach to do so.
The Voice season 23 is set to premiere on Monday, March 6 at 8/7c and Tuesday, March 7 at 9/8c, per NBC. Shows will be available the following day on Peacock.